Tori Scott, named one of Time Out New York’s top 10 Cabaret artists, is coming to London with Vodka is the Reason for the Season. This exciting show recounts her early childhood fascination with Dolly Parton in the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and her time spent as a singing elf in an old peoples’ home. Tori takes the audience on a festive autobiographical journey to celebrate what is truly special about this time of year.
We caught up with Tori to find out more about the show.
You’re bringing Vodka is The Reason For The Season to London, what can you tell us about it?
I love the campness of Christmas! So I celebrate the camp of Christmas in the show with the music, the festiveness, the debauchery, the stories. But, I also enjoy looking back at the moments that make it such a stressful time of year and how we deal with family and what we have to do to avoid talking about politics or religion or dating with our grandparents or aunts. This show is a musical journey about navigating through this time of year and the drama that can bring. I also go back to my childhood and talk about what Christmas was like for me growing up in Texas. I think people enjoy the show because it’s so easy to see themselves in many of these stories. And I don’t mind making fun of myself.
It’s autobiographical, what’s the hardest thing about sharing your life with an audience?
I don’t mind sharing and as long as enough time has passed since any of the embarrassing moments I discuss actually happened. If the wound is still fresh, well then, I won’t actually do the story justice. But, for the most part, nothing is really off limits. The hardest thing is when my mother comes to the shows. I mean she loves it, but I get very personal at times and I really have no problem being self-deprecating and celebrating or laughing at the bad decisions I’ve made in my life. But, I do like to make fun of my childhood and growing up in Texas so when I know my mother is out there in the audience, I never want her to upset her… at least not too much. Thankfully, she can take a joke and finds it all hilarious. She also really loves the attention.
You made your UK debut at Live at Zedel earlier this year, why is it such a good venue?
I love Zedel. Everyone that works there is so wonderful! Not only is it an absolutely beautiful room, but the energy and the intimacy of the space is so comfortable. It makes it feel more conversational having the audience so close, even though I am doing all the talking….well most of the talking… I dealt with some very lovely, but very loud audience members from Scotland back in July who really got into it. But the intimacy and the vibe in the space is just so ideal for the kind of show I do.
Do audiences in London react differently to those in America?
Audiences in New York City and London are so similar! I love London audiences. I love how much they enjoy themselves and really appreciate the quick humor. One thing they do in America that I haven’t found to be the case in London, is they sometimes sing along with me if the song is really popular. I have to name drop, I’m sorry, but this story is too good. When I performed in LA this past spring, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were in the audience. They were basically in the front row and they were so lovely! But, Ashton got really into my final song and started to sing along. Then other people in the audience heard him and they started singing as well until everyone was singing the final chorus with me. You couldn’t have planned it better! That was a great audience participation moment led by Ashton Kutcher that I will never forget. Now, the only thing that will top that is if I can get Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders to come to the show in London and sing a Christmas carol with me!!! (Dear French and Saunders I love you and hope you are you reading this!!!)
How did you choose the songs?Are there any you would like to have included but didn’t?
While I do sing many great Christmas songs in the show, I am not limiting myself to only Christmas songs for this show. A lot of times, the stories I’m telling dictate the songs I sing because I want the songs to move the story or the joke along. I always think of it like putting together a mix tape. There are those songs from your life that when you hear them, it immediately takes you back to a specific place and time. That’s what I like to accomplish when I’m telling a story. I have had several songs that I keep on my wish list that I just haven’t been able to include in a show. I am a huge Steve Nicks fan but have yet to find a place to sing one of her songs.
How would Dolly Parton describe Vodka is The Reason For The Season?
I’m giggling at the idea of Dolly Parton seeing one of my shows Can you imagine? But, I think she would love it! There is a great quote Dolly Parton posted on twitter a while back that really stuck with me. “Find out who you are and do it on purpose”. I love that! I’d like to think that if she saw this show she would say that it’s about a woman navigating through life to discover who she is and embrace her imperfections. But, I would also love it if she just described it as a woman with a big voice who talks dirty, looks cheap, and made her laugh. What a thrill that would be.
Tori Scott: Vodka is the Reason for the Season is at Live at Zedel, 20 Sherwood Street London 18th, 19th & 22nd December 2017.
