Doris Dear Explained

Doris Dear
Birth Name:Ray DeForest
Birth Place:New York
Other Names:Perfect American Housewife
Occupation:Actor, cabaret singer, comedian

Doris Dear is a fictional female actor, cabaret singer and comedian created and played by Ray DeForest.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Overview

Doris Dear, also known as “Perfect American Housewife”, is based on DeForest's mother, Taffy. The stories are based on the life of Doris and her mother. When Taffy (Doris Dear's mother) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she decided to write a show and share her stories of growing up with Taffy, Duke and her sister Nancy in Staten Island. It was her way of sharing and honoring the people who gave her life, love and soul.

A Doris Dear illustration was created by artist Tess Fowler.[5]

Education and Careers

She studied in University of Maryland and after college, she worked for the Disney Productions as a “Kid of the Kingdom”. After staying in Disney for 5 years, she moved to Denmark where she wrote, produced and performed.

She later travelled to Paris to model, London to sing, and Vegas to perform. She then started hosting her own shows on Food Network, HGTV, Lifetime, and a syndicated TV design show.

She did her own one-woman show, Doris Dear Girl Talk in residence at “Don’t Tell Mama”.[6]

Doris Dear premiered her new lifestyle talk show on Broadway on Demand a new streaming service on Nov 6, 2020, entitled "Doris Dear's Gurl Talk".[7] The theme song for Doris Dear's Gurl Talk was written by Blake Allen. The second season is in post production, with a projected premiere in late Spring 2021.

The Doris Dear Christmas Special premiered for one-night only on Broadway on Demand in December 2020, and received a 5-star rating from NYC.com.[8] The show featured Karen Mason, Amra-Faye Wright, Benny Benack III, Sean Harkness, Lina Koutrakos, Lisa Yaeger, Kristina Nicole Miller, and was directed by Koutrakos and music directed by Blake Allen.[9]

The Doris Dear Christmas Special 2023 "Christmas Through the Ages" premiered on Dec 16th for a 2 night sold out star studded run at the Triad Theater off-broadway in NYC. [10] It exclusively streamed on BroadwayonDemand streaming services for the last 2 weeks of December 2023 [11]

Doris Dear has raised money for The Alzheimers Association through sales of her custom designed pins that she sells at her live off-Broadway shows [12]

Doris Dear appeared at the Provincetown Cabaret Festival in the summer of 2023, a performance which received a positive review.[13]

Doris Dear is celebrating 10 years of performances after she created her character because her mother was dying of Alzheimers.[14] The show is an all night celebration with over a dozen guests from all walk of life in the entertainment business. Featuring stars like Sandy Duncan, Don Correia, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Meg Flather, Those Girls, The daSilva boys and more.[15]

Popular Shows

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryShowResult
2016MAC AwardsBest Drag Artist or Impersonator[24] [25] [26]
2017GLAM AwardsBest Cabaret Show[27] Doris Dear Mother's Day Special
2018BroadwayWorld Cabaret AwardsBest Drag Artist or Impersonator[28]
2019MAC AwardsBest Drag Artist or Impersonator[29]
2020MAC AwardsBest Drag Artist or Impersonator[30] [31] [32]
2021BroadwayWorld Cabaret AwardsBest Musical Comedy CabaretThe Doris Dear Christmas Special
BroadwayWorld Cabaret AwardsBest VocalistAn Evening With Frank Sinatra
BroadwayWorld Cabaret AwardsBest Show Art[33] The Doris Dear Christmas Special

References

  1. News: Ray DeForest talks Doris Dear, Feinstein's 54/Below, Theater, Family & More - Downtown Magazine. 2017-01-25. Downtown Magazine. 2018-02-07. en-US.
  2. Web site: Doris Dear Get Out! Magazine - NYC's Gay Magazine. Shapiro. Eileen. getoutmag.com. en-US. 2018-02-07.
  3. News: Doris Dear's Gurl Talk with Ray DeForest. 2016-04-30. Cabaret Scenes. 2018-02-07. en-US.
  4. News: Doris Dear Mother's Day Special - Downtown Magazine. 2017-05-25. Downtown Magazine. 2018-02-07. en-US.
  5. https://cabaretscenes.org/2021/12/02/a-conversation-with-doris-dear/
  6. News: A DORIS DEAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Comes to the Metropolitan Room This Holiday Season. BWW News Desk. BroadwayWorld.com. 2018-02-07. en.
  7. Web site: BWW News Desk. DORIS DEAR'S GURL TALK Premieres November 6. 2020-11-09. BroadwayWorld.com. en.
  8. News: Doris Dear 5 Stars. NYC.com. NYC.com.
  9. Web site: Doris Dear Christmas. BWW News Desk. BroadwayWorld.com.
  10. Web site: Photos: THE DORIS DEAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Brings Joy to the Triad Theater .
  11. Web site: THE DORIS DEAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL to Stream on Broadway on Demand .
  12. Web site: The Doris Dear 2022 Christmas Special Joins Forces with the Alzheimer's Association .
  13. https://cabaretscenes.org/2023/08/18/cabaretfest-provincetown-2023-sondheim-by-the-sea-a-celebration-of-his-musical-life-work/
  14. https://dorisdear.com/about
  15. https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/DORIS-DEARS-10-YEAR-CELEBRATION-MORE-STARS-THAN-THERE-ARE-IN-HEAVEN-Is-Coming-To-The-Triad-Theater-This-May-20240203
  16. Web site: Lea Salonga, Klea Blackhurst, and Andrew Rannells Coming to Feinstein's/54 Below Playbill. Playbill. en. 2018-02-07.
  17. News: May 12: Doris Dear. 2017-05-10. Cabaret Scenes. 2018-02-07. en-US.
  18. News: THE DORIS DEAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Returns This December. BWW News Desk. BroadwayWorld.com. 2018-02-07. en.
  19. News: A DORIS DEAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Comes to Feinstein's/54 Below This Winter. BWW News Desk. BroadwayWorld.com. 2018-02-16. en.
  20. Web site: Doris Dear's Gurl Talk. 2020-11-09. broadwayondemand. en.
  21. Web site: Review: THE DORIS DEAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Live (Online) From The TRIAD Brims With Holiday Cheer.
  22. Web site: DORIS DEAR'S GURL TALK Returns for Second Season April 30th.
  23. Web site: Casting Announced for THE DORIS DEAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL .
  24. Web site: - The Triad. www.triadnyc.com. 2018-02-07.
  25. Web site: Interview: Princess Royale Doris Dear: "Raise Your Voice ll". Shapiro. Eileen. 2016-07-02. Huffington Post. en-US. 2018-02-07.
  26. News: 2016 MAC Award Winners and Nominees - Manhattan Association of Cabarets. 2016-05-22. Manhattan Association of Cabarets. 2018-02-07. en-US.
  27. Web site: 19th Annual Glam Awards .
  28. Web site: Voting Now Open for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards!.
  29. Web site: Anita Gillette and Drag Race's BenDeLaCreme Among 2019 MAC Award Winners. 27 March 2019.
  30. Web site: 2020 MAC Award Winners!. 2020-03-31. Cabaret Scenes. en-US. 2020-04-02.
  31. Web site: Congratulations to MAC Award Winners and to a Successful Live-Stream Show. nitelifeexchange.com. 2020-04-02. 31 March 2020.
  32. Web site: 2020 MAC Winners!. HotSpot!. Cabaret. Cabaret HotSpot!. en-US. 2020-04-02.
  33. Web site: Winners Announced for the 2020 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards.