Susan Campanaro: Artist Profile

All About Solo's Editorial Team recently caught up with Susan Campanaro, star of Lavinia!, to learn about her journey through the world of solo theatre.

Susan will be hosting Broadway Solo Karaoke as part of United Solo's 20th Annual Theatre Festival at Theatre Row in New York City. Admission is free, and Broadway Solo Karaoke will be hosted on March 22, March 29, April 5, and April 12 at 3:30 pm at Theatre Row.

Learn more here.

What drew you to creating a solo piece?

I have been a solo performer for over 30 years in NYC. I was a headliner in Cherry Grove, Fire Island, and my DJ Richard Kennedy and his husband Mark inspired me to write my life story of Lavinia Draper, and I asked Lynn Portas to write the music. Over about 6 years, we developed DOING TIME WITH LAVINA

Describe your show in 6 words.

FUNNY, HEARTBREAKING, INSPIRING, ZANNY, AUTHENTIC, ENTERTAINING

Lavinia is a character you’ve lived with for a while. Tell us about how she was born.

The character of Lavinia Draper was born out of a four-person cabaret written in 1999 with Janine Molinari, the CEO of Dance Molinari, and the accompianist Darius Frowner. It was a show called TYA (Theater For Young Audiences), and we were all contract players. Lavinia was 29 and just too old to really be a chorus girl and needed a job cuz she was falling into alcoholism and drug addiction. She was the lead in this company performing for children, and in our comedy style, she horrified the kids by throwing up on stage, being drunk and disorderly while performing for screaming kids. From there she was discovered by various promoters and had a 10-year residency at Therapy Bar in NYC and 15 years at The Ice palace and now is a fixture at The Stonewall Inn-Upstairs every Monday night.

What is the most challenging part of inhabiting Lavinia?

There is no hard part to be Lavinia. She is the strong part of me. The fearless part of me. The unapologetic part of me. The outrageous part of me. It is being Susan that is hard and keeping Lavinia in the pulse of things that is challenging. This is entertainment, not rocket science. I am basically having fun for a living as Lavinia. She has given me so much. I am grateful.

What’s next for Lavinia?

For the United Solo, I will be hosting three open Broadway Karaoke sessions from 3 pm to 5 pm on March 22, 29 & April 12th at Theatre Row. Come sing a number with me and Wendy-Lane Bailey!

In June (Pride Month), I'm going to be performing at WOODSTOCK PRIDE (representing The Stonewall Inn) & DENVER PRIDEFEST with my comedy partner Chcocolatina Q Dessert (The Pie Queen of Denver).

In August, I will be performing DOING TIME WITH LAVINIA at the EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL presented by C VENUES (8/5to 8/16) and hosting their Nighttime Cabarets

On Monday Nights I will continue to perform at The Stonewall Inn. Each week, a new show to enjoy.

Follow me on FB/IG: @mslavinianyc

Susan will be hosting Broadway Solo Karaoke as part of United Solo's 20th Annual Theatre Festival at Theatre Row in New York City. Admission is free, and Broadway Solo Karaoke will be hosted on March 22, March 29, April 5, and April 12 at 3:30 pm at Theatre Row.

Learn more here.