I must confess I have been a Jackie Beat Fan since the early 90's from the Wigstock Movie and a little 90's Indie Comedy called GRIEF. I had the pleasure of seeing her perform LIVE at ReBar a few years back where I said I would love an interview and now finally the timing was great to chat up her upcoming Battle of the Bitches with the Hirlarious, Sherry Vine for ONE Night Only. I chatted with Jackie by email.
MK Scott: Welcome back to Seattle, What do like about performing in Seattle?
JACKIE BEAT: I like the money! It smells like rain and coffee. Just kidding. Seattle is such a beautiful city and the audiences are great. And it's home to the genius Dina Martina whom I adore! I love that there seems to be a real community in Seattle and I appreciate that it's diverse: Drag queens, leather daddies, club kids, lesbians, etc. Sadly, sometimes here in Los Angeles it can be very separatist. I recently co-hosted the Pride parade with Mama Tits and the feeling of unity was really heartwarming.
JACKIE BEAT: First of all, I think it's so sweet of you to say Sherry is hysterical. Because she's not. I mean, the fact that she thinks she's still a twentysomething sex kitten is pretty hysterical, but it's equally pathetic. Anyway, back to The Battle of the Bitches… It's just too much fun! We choose topics out of a hat - anything from uncut cock to politics to food - and then we each do one of our infamous song parodies, trying to top each other. Sherry and I are best friends, but there really is an underlying competitiveness there. We're like Lucy and Ethel. And personally, I prefer Ethel. I think most people do. She's much funnier and not as crabby because she actually ate carbs!
MK: You and Sherry just finished another show, The Golden Girlz Live and you did over 30 shows?
JACKIE BEAT: Yes! We have both been in this business for over 25 years - she's going to kill me for saying that, she started when she was 7 - and the one thing that sells out faster than anything we have ever done is the live-on-stage version of this hilarious sitcom. Sherry plays Blanche, of course. Perfect typecasting because she's such a shameless slut. And I play Dorothy for all the obvious reasons. I mean, she's smart and sassy and 6 feet tall in flats. We're doing it again right after this Battle mini tour and I know people who are flying into LA just to see it. To them I say, "Thank you for being a friend!"
MK: Just saw you in the Mario Diaz documentary, Club King, what is the best thing you can say about Mario?
JACKIE BEAT: Well, he's my favorite person on the planet. Because he's such a hunk, many people don't realize how truly talented, intelligent and fucking funny he is. We're also both very sensitive. I mean, both our jobs are essentially just to make people happy so when someone says something snarky online, we can be surprisingly thin-skinned. And it's funny how I will actually get madder at people for saying something about him than about myself, and vice versa. He has gone off on some people who made the mistake of being mean to me!
MK: Do you have any advice for any new and upcoming Drag/Commedians?
JACKIE BEAT: Yes. I think it's important that Gay or Drag not be the very first thing on the list that describes you or what you do. If you are a comedian then the first thing should be "funny." It's 2015 and not enough to just be a Gay this or that. You actually have to be good. And then, the fact that you are Gay or in Drag can be icing on the cake. Great, now I want cake!
MK: What is Next for You?
JACKIE BEAT: I am putting on the gray wig, painting on those owl eyebrows and rocking triple shoulder pads as Dorothy Zbornak again. But I try not to look too far into the future. Right now I am completely focused on kicking Sherry Vine's skinny ass at Julia's on Broadway this Thursday!
Check OUT her current Schedule HERE
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