Singer-raconteur, Ira Lee Collings, premieres his latest show, NAKED—From The Neck Up on Sunday, September 23rd at 5:30 PM, at Don’t Tell Mama in New York City. The Gay Geezer will dispense his usual sly patter and infectious enthusiasm in a very personal show, full of music and surprises and never-before-told secrets. Collings promises to bare all, from the heights of success to the darker moments of sorrow—aimed at at creating a feel-good experience. With Music Director, John M. Cook, and under the direction of Sally Darling, the curated set of songs include “On the Other Side of the Tracks,” “An Occasional Man,” “Mr. Wonderful,” Nothing Can Stop Me Now” and more. NAKED—From the Neck Up will also play at Don’t Tell Mama on Sunday, September 30th at 7 PM; Tuesday, October 2nd at 7 PM and Monday, October 15th at 7 PM.
NAKED—From the Neck Up is a story that could no longer be contained. After eleven years in the cabaret world, Collings decided, “If not now, when?” Whereas his homosexuality was a problem in achieving success before, in changed times he decided to embrace it and wear it proudly. “My art and passion come out of my gay experiences,” Collings says. Thus, the octogenarian determined he’d at last create this show, sharing his experiences as a gay man in the days when it was dangerous to be “out.” He’s come a long way to resolve guilt and lack of self-esteem—coping with beliefs in a false reality that being gay was a “sickness.” Collings’ experiences are told in chapters from an intense personal point of view, but are, he says, very much part of the human experience that all people can relate to.
Collings’ brand of Geezer Power and NAKED—From the Neck Up is full of humor. He’s a natural storyteller with a Midwesterner’s appreciation for the homey aphorism – spiced with trenchant observation:
- We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
- Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
It so happens that Collings’ story begins in the heartland. A child performer on radio with some of his seven siblings, Collings eventually landed in Chicago before moving to New York in early 1960s. He won a singing contest run by a gay bar, did some performing and worked in dinner theater, but decided to turn his back on entertainment for a steady paycheck as he approached midlife. He turned to the business world, where he stayed until hitting retirement age, deciding then to revisit his former career. The 83-year old Collings has since garnered a 2018 Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) nomination for best “musical comedy performer” as well as receiving the prestigious MAC Hanson Award in 2017 (the award is given to a performer in recognition of a body of work well-done over an accumulation of years).
NAKED—From the Neck Up opens at Don’t Tell Mama on Sunday, September 23rd at 5:30 PM. Repeat performances are on Sunday, September 30th at 7 PM; Tuesday, October 2nd at 7 PM and Monday, October 15th at 7 PM.
There is a $15 cover for all shows, plus a 2-drink minimum, cash only. Tickets are available at 212-757-0788 (after 4 PM) and at www.donttellmamanyc.com/shows
Don’t Tell Mama is located at 343 West 46th St., New York City
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