The Interview: Martha Graham Cracker

Phillyist has confessed our love for Martha Graham Cracker, the spectacularly unmatched queen of the Philadelphia drag cabaret, before. Lucky Phillyist recently had the opportunity to ask Martha (in other worlds also known as Pig Iron Theatre Company co-founder Dito van Reigersberg) a few burning questions before her upcoming monthly performance.

Can you talk about the birth of Martha? I believe she first publicly appeared for a Pig Iron fundraiser? What about before that?
I did attend the Martha Graham School of Dance, in which I heard a lot of nail biting, enthralling stories of the brilliant and cruel genius that was Martha. When I started doing little shows for my friends in the living room in NYC, she was a touchstone. An unabashed diva. Cruel because we are all frustrated handmaidens to the goddess of art.

You (that is, the Dito you) are a co-founder of Pig Iron Theater – one of the city's most respected companies. Pig Iron tackles some serious stuff, theatrically. Is Martha a kind of release, a campy cultural commentary that’s still hilarious?
Bingo, girl, bingo. You can’t be pushing the theatrical envelope all the time—a girl needs to freak out too.

(More after the break)

What performative buttons is Martha pushing? Is that a deliberate part of your performance, or do you think of it as more of a bonus?
I think my training as a clown (eg. a lover of mistakes and being aware and in love with the audience) and as an improviser have informed how Martha works. Before a show I try to clear my head, warm up my voice, get into Martha’s psyche and think a little about what’s caught my attention that week. Then I freefall, following the character and the audience throughout the night. My dear band’s infuriating hijinks and the totally unpredictable audience are two waves I try to “surf”; I guess I also just try to sing my heart out.

I ride the line between sincerity and irony, rage and joy, hope and despair, self-glorification and shame.

Who are Martha’s biggest inspirations?
Aretha, gospel singers like Jevetta Steele, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, and of course the tragedienne Martha Graham herself….plus the drag queens Joey Arias and Raven O.

How many total Martha Graham Cracker cabaret performances have there been at L'Etage?
Well we celebrated our 1 year anniversary (with a lineup of songs with a ONE theme) last August...so that must mean the next one is the 19th cabaret. Or so.

Do you ever have special guests?
Yes, we've had opening acts and wacky additions and surprise guests and everything else. Hot and Crusty (Christie Parker) is a regular guest; we had an evening of IN BED WITH MARTHA with all duets... It's a revolving door of fantastical creatures. We're looking forward to a guest guitarist Troy Herion this coming March 1 show...

You can really sing – no Bob and Barbara’s lip-synching in your repertoire (no disrespect to Lisa Lisa), and your cover of "Rocket Man" does me in every time. What are your favorite songs to perform, and why?
Ooooh. That’s like choosing between children. A Sophie’s choice you give me.

I love "Rocket Man" too, thanks for that. I really enjoyed singing the Bowie and Stevie Wonder covers I’ve done recently, and surprising ones like Van Halen’s “I’ll Wait” and Suzanne Vega’s “Luka”…and “One” with Andrew Nelson on bass.

I take requests.

Where did you meet Victor Fiorillo, your accompanist?
We worked together in the Brothers Suggarillo, a band he and James Sugg started, where Martha used to make an occasional appearance. Then when Jimmy and David of L’Etage asked me to start making a cabaret happen…the rest is herstory.

What is the crowd like? Rowdy? Adoring? Who are your most loyal crowd members?
It takes all kinds. Sometimes they are rowdy and I have to school them. Sometimes they seem to need advice and I'm their emotional bartender. I can't stereotype them, except they have good senses of humor.

I read in the INKY about my most loyal fans who are from New Jersey and have to get up for work the next day at 4am. Amazing! And of course my dear Michelle Hong, she is LOYAL.

Chest hair. Fabulous. How do people feel about a drag queen that doesn’t try to hide her manly side?
I dunno. They could choose not to look? It’s not illusion drag, it’s monster drag. If you know what I mean. I am the tallest drag queen I know.

Where do you buy your size 13 strappy shoes?
Erogenous Zone on South street. I love that place.

The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret was recently voted the best drag show in town by readers of City Paper, and you were selected by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation as "hostess" of a promotional party in January. How do you feel about being a local celebrity?
I am a true Philly fan. Please don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. I don’t want a backlash. I remain your humble drag servant.

Martha rarely makes it out more than once a month. How can we increase that number? What are your goals for the cabaret?
I have some grandiose ideas about singing with a string quartet (Phil Spector style), and a regular set of backup singers, and even a Martha Graham Cracker behind the music? And certainly a beautiful stylish Supremes-style dress. And a mechanical bull. And Dolly Parton as a guest star.

When’s the next show, and how early should readers get there to get a good seat?
March 1 at 10 pm. Get there at 9 if you wanna good seat or if you wanna chat with my mom.

THE MARTHA GRAHAM CRACKER CABARET
With Dito van Reigersberg, Victor Fiorillo, Ned Sonstein + Andrew Nelson
+ Special Guest vocalist Christie Parker + Special Guest DJ Kik
THIS THURSDAY, March 1st, 9pm
$10 Cover
L'Etage, 2nd floor of Beau Monde, 6th and Bainbridge, Philly, 215-592-0656