NOTE: Originally scheduled to shutter in Auguat, The Laurie Beechman Theatre will remain open through September. For the Beechman’s public performance calendar, clIck here.

BY SCOTT STIFFLER | When word started spreading fast a few weeks ago that West 42nd Street’s West Bank Cafe would be closing its doors this month, that meant the same fate would await iconic downstairs performance space, The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Through the decades of its legendary lifetime, the space launched countless Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony, and MAC Award-winning musicians, actors, comedians, and writers. In recent years, it served as a proper home when a queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race brought a solo show to town.

Now, on August 17, the Beechman welcomes back RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World and RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars favorite Scarlet Envy. The supermodel, designer, and actress previously appeared at the Beechman in 2017, in the title role of the documentary theater bio drama The Legend of Yma Sumac and in her 2019 solo cabaret show Reflections and Other Shiny Things. (Chelsea Community News saw that show, and enjoyed it immensely.) The show Scarlet brings in tow—a world premiere, actually—is Bad Advice, described by advance press as “a journey of behind the scenes Drag Race tea and hilarious stories of what not to do.” Expect the performance to be heavy on cabaret-style covers of Scarlet Envy originals along with new songs from her upcoming album Rain in Hollywood. Chelsea Community News recently posed some questions to Scarlet, yielding the below spirited Q&A.

Scott Stiffler for Chelsea Community News (CCNews): Talk about the show/shows you’ve brought to the Laurie Beechman Theatre: What stage was the work in (World premiere? Mid-tour? One-off?)? If being at the Beechman influenced the material or your performance moving forward, how so?

Scarlet Envy (Scarlet): “Almost good” – Michelle Visage. Bad Advice was infamously undercooked for the first episode of Rupaul’s Drag Race UK Vs The World. Not much has changed, the full show is likely still underwhelming. Come find out! The cabaret show is full of scandalous advice and stories set to live piano by Blake Allen. There are no refunds, not because the show is bad, but because the theatre may close after the show.

CCNews: Let’s play a game called Sweeping Generalizations: Are there things about the Beechman and/or NYC audiences that set them apart from other venues/towns you’ve played?

Scarlet: I love New York audiences and always look forward to performing for them in August. Nothing lowers the bar like a 90-minute, 90° ride on the ACE train. I think when it’s hot enough in New York, people care less about the show and more about the air conditioning.

CCNews: Have you experienced any “anomalies” during Beechman performances, i.e. laughter or audible reactions to a part of the show that never got that reaction before? Conversely, did something flop that usually killed? Do you recall any improvised quips, saves, or audience interactions that became “keepers”?

Scarlet: I usually kill, but this show is probably my flop. I don’t recall any improvised quips. Between blocking out trauma and traumatically blacking out, I don’t recall much of anything, actually.

CCNews: Any lasting memories, life lessons, miscellaneous thoughts, and/or anecdotes, regarding off-stage aspects of the room such as tech rehearsals, pre-show rituals, post-show goings-on, meet-and-greets, Beechman drinks, menu items, staff, etc.?

Scarlet: I enjoy the risotto balls and the dirty martinis at the Beechman. Legend of Yma Sumac comes to mind as a nice memory of one of my shows that was actually good. I’ve had a few successful Beechman shows over the years—it’s a shame my last one is so bad… I wanted to dedicate this performance to Joan Rivers since she used to work out her stand-up routines at the Beechman, but Joan wouldn’t want to be associated with this show.

CCNews: Not to get morbid, but are there other venues you’ve played that are no longer with us? If so, what did their presence contribute, and what about their absence is felt?

Scarlet: I have played many venues that have since closed. Many of them were likely my fault. TNT comes to mind. It was a gay bar in Williamsburg that closed in 2016. I romanticize it, but it was basically a crack den. I think it’s a Build-A-Bear workshop now.

Scarlet Envy’s “Bad Advice” (musical direction by Blake Allen) premieres Saturday, August 17, 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre (inside West Bank Cafe at 407 W. 42nd St. at Ninth Ave.). Tickets are $26 for general admission or $45 for VIP (which includes reserved seating and a meet and greet/photo op). Please note that there is also a $25 food/drink minimum. To purchase tickets, visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com.

SCARLET ENVY BIO: An alluring combination of supermodel, designer, and actress, Scarlet Envy made her debut in Brooklyn, NY with Glammy nominated drag show Scarlet Fever. She is the creative culmination of Louisville, Kentucky native Jacob James. Rooted in dive bar glamour, Scarlet has been simmering on New York City stages for nearly a decade. Making her mark on the downtown scene, Envy dropped her debut torch song Press On as part of an original cabaret show entitled Smoke and Mirrors with follow-ups Feeling is Mutual (2019) and Move On (2020). Notable editorial work includes walking for Opening Ceremony SS19, features in Harper’s Bazaar US as the late Princess Diana and Buzzfeed Beauty. Television work includes performances on NBC’s Saturday Night Liveas well as Netflix, HBO, TV Land and REVRY’S Queens of Kings. She previously appeared at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in the title role of Steve Willis’ acclaimed 2017 documentary theater bio drama The Legend of Yma Sumac and in her solo cabaret show Reflections and Other Shiny Things in 2019.

BEECHMAN BIO: West Bank Cafe opened on West 42nd Street in 1978 at a time when Hell’s Kitchen lived up to its name. Owner Steve Olsen opened The Laurie Beechman Theatre downstairs from the Cafe, which staged plays and hosted events nightly. A young Lewis Black was named playwright-in-residence; and the restaurant’s regulars included Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller and Bruce Willis. It has been a launching pad for countless Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony, and MAC Award-winning musicians, actors, comedians, and writers. The Beechman stage is where Joan Rivers performed her final set, where the original cast of Sunday in the Park With George rehearsed, where The Who gave four live performances while their musical Tommy was debuting on Broadway, and where countless stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race (including Jinkx Monsoon, Jackie Beat, Sherry Vine, BenDeLaCreme, Trixie Mattel, Latrice Royale, and Alyssa Edwards) premiered shows.