Blackburn + Sweetzer Has Moved

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— Text and (non-show) photos by Lilliam Rivera

As soon as I heard the ripping guitar of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” and saw Joey Arias strapped to a rotating wheel with puppet aliens ready to probe, I knew my night at Redcat was going to be far from sedate. Drag queen icon Joey Arias took over Disney Hall’s basement Wednesday night with the grand opening of his new show, Joey Arias with a Twist. He’s teamed up with award-winning puppeteer Basil Twist for an insane cabaret/Twilight Zone episode/Lady Sings the Blues hilarious romp.

More on the show and tons of photos!

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Arias not only rocks a Thierry M. Mugler corset (eat your heart out Lady Gaga) but the diva belts out the tunes. From jazz standards to the Beatles, Arias never fails. Punctuating every scene are Twist’s wild puppets, appearing as naughty slithering snakes, gyrating devils or a sweet marionette jazz ensemble.

“We just wanted to bring a taste of New York to Los Angeles,” says Twist. And boy did they. My favorite scene was watching a “giant” Arias stomp over a New York City skyline, complete with crushing subways. Haven’t we all dreamt of doing exactly that? He even gives a shout out to the Puerto Ricans (Holla!).

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The opening bash was hosted by a multitude of LA’s Who’s Who including the always fab A+R owners Rose Apodaca and Andy Griffith, actresses Lisa Edelstein, Rosanna Arquette, designer Katy Rodriguez, Bryan Rabin, Anne Crawford and Dudly DeZonia. And those were just the hosts. A stunning Ann Magnuson grooved to the DJ while Party Monster’s James St. James manned a microphone. Jewelry designer Michael Schmidt strutted in with a cowboy hat while drag legend Constance stepped out in a glory of sequins. “I wish they weren’t four inch heels,” Constance says after accidentally stepping on someone’s toes. Fashion is painful.

“It was brilliant, innovative. I was moved and turned on,” Arquette jokes. She plans to bring her whole family to the show. And so should you. Well, except if they are kiddies. This is not a Disney-fied show.

Opening night was sold out so don’t delay. Arias with a Twist runs through December 13. Wed-Sat, 8:30pm. Sun 7pm. 631 West 2nd Street, Downtown.