Happy 60th Birthday to the Iconic SHERRY VINE

Illustrious drag phenomenon Sherry Vine will be celebrating her 60th birthday on March 2 at Sony Hall (235 West 46th Street) in New York City with the biggest, and most dazzling extravaganza….and you’re all invited. Sherry has pulled out all the opulent stops for this event, with sparkling costume changes, backup singers and dancers and an array of special guests, including an opening video by Bianca Del Rio. The show is produced by Daniel Nardicio, whose nightlife presence is astounding.

Sherry Vine, aka Keith Levy, is and has always been an exciting part of New York, Fire Island, and L.A. nightlife, as well as being internationally renowned. Her humor and talent and musical parodies have elevated Sherry to becoming one of the most in demand queens of modern times. She is involved in television, theater, and so much more. I spoke with Sherry regarding her birthday event and exactly what else she’s up to now….

SO, LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR BIG PARTY FIRST. TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT.

Well, it’s a milestone birthday. I can’t believe it, but I’m going to be 60.

WELL, YOU DON’T LOOK IT. ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT THIS IN PRINT? LOL.

Well, thank you. It’s funny because Jackie Beat, who turned 60 last year, we were having a whole conversation about it and we were both like…. you know what, I mean I’m mortified about my age, but  we have so many friends that didn’t make it to the age of 30. So boohoo, we lived and I am embracing it and I’m coming out. Happy and honored to be able to say I’m 60. Look, if I didn’t perform, I probably wouldn’t care one way or the other. I always kind of lied about it. But then I was like, well, let’s use it to my advantage. Maybe people would be like, “Oh, my God, we have to go see her show.” Like a marketing tool, lol.

SO, TELL ME WHEN, HOW, ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF.

At first, I was like, “I’m just going to do my normal show and kind of guilt people into coming. And just make money.” But then I was like, “You know what? It’s my 60th birthday and I’m going to do the show I always wanted to do, but never did because it was going to cost a lot of money and I probably won’t make any money. So that’s what this is. It’s four backup dancers. Two backup singers. Special guests. Videos from other queens. Costume changes. It’s the biggest show I’ve ever done. It’s called “Smoke & Mirrors”. It is a New York show on March 2nd at Sony Hall. Daniel Nardicio is producing it. I’ve got Joey Arias and Peppermint confirmed as special guests. Bianca Del Rio is doing the video intro. And then, hopefully, some surprises, but nobody I could really commit to the process because they’re not 100% sure. It’s a big, gorgeous show.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR NAME?

I don’t know why Sherry came up, but that was the first time I ever did drag. I was living in L.A. back then. My roommate at the time, he was the one that kind of did the look and the wig and the makeup because I had never really done it before. And I asked him, “What’s my name?” And he said, “You should be Sherry.” I don’t know why, but it just sounded to me like a showgirl, so it was just Sherry for a while. Then, a guy I had worked with at a restaurant, he was like, “Oh, my god, did you know there’s an apartment building on Vine Street off of Hollywood and Vine called the Sherry?” And I went up there to see it and it looked like a busted down whorehouse. Perfect. Sherry Vine. Because the Vine actually comes from Vine Street. Hollywood Boulevard used to be so glamorous and people would come here expecting that, and when you go see it, you’re like devastated. But that’s where it comes from.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE DOING PRESENTLY AND THEN WE WILL GET BACK TO THIS PARTY THING.

I moved to L.A. five years ago, so it’s full circle. Sherry Vine started in L.A. and then I was in New York City for almost 30 years, and now I’m back in L.A. five years ago. I moved here because I wanted to shake things up. I feel like life is like a snow globe and you just want it really shaken up. I wanted to do more TV stuff, so I moved here, and with the help of a production company, I am able to sell the Sherry Vine Variety Show. We are currently right now selling season 3. That is on Out TV, the first two seasons. And will premiere the first of June. That is super, super exciting, and another dream come true. We do Golden Girls live on stage here twice a year with an all-male cast. We are getting ready to do that at the end of this month. Then, I have two months of doing my birthday show all over the world. So crazy–I’m booked through the end of May. It’s crazy to be this age and 33 years performing in drag and be busier than I’ve ever been.

LET’S GET BACK TO THIS PARTY. WHAT ARE YOUR COSTUMES GOING TO BE?

I have really turned the volume up. I have never spent so much money on costumes. But I was kind of like, “If I’m going to walk on stage and be a 60-year-old drag legend, then I need to look the part.” I don’t mean looking 60, but you know what I mean. So, David is a genius and he’s been doing stuff for me for 30 years. David is making the opening gown, which is going to be a showstopper. Then I’m doing this kind of Judy Garland tuxedo, I’m having that made, but in like a yellow sequin as kind of a nod to Judy Garland. And then, I have this purple sequined gown that looks so royal and rich. So, three new, gorgeous, over the top, very expensive costumes, but I’ll be able to wear them for a long time. I want to first walk out and have people go, “Oh, my gosh, she looks great for 60, yay.” And then I want to make them laugh their ass off. I want them to have a gorgeous time and maybe see some stuff they’re not used to seeing Sherry Vine do. I’m doing this Judy Garland number that’s not a parody. I’ve wanted to do it for 20 years but never had the nerve. I’m working with a vocal coach. I want to knock this song out of the park. Lots of surprises!

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TOUR DATES 

More to be added 

PHOENIX 2/16

TUCSON  2/17

LA 2/27

NYC 3/2

MONTREAL 3/7

DC 3/9

DUBLIN 3/13

OSLO 3/15

RIGA 3/16

LONDON 3/20

REYKJAVIK 3/23

KEY WEST 3/31

BERLIN 5/21