Matthew Martin, a Bay Area Legend, Brings his Leading Ladies to Palm Springs

With the words iconic and legendary being thrown around casually as of late, Palm Springs is getting a true icon to take the stage at Oscar’s Palm Springs on Saturday, February 3^rd. With four decades of working in the entertainment biz under his girdle, Matthew Martin (the queen who is so good he never took a sassy pseudonym) has not only become a legend himself but brings Hollywood legends of the past to the stage as he transforms himself to the likes of Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn, Peggy Lee, and more. Audiences are treated to an evening of song, stories, humor, camp, and a lot of heart as this Treasure of San Francisco continues to thrill.

His current fare, simply titled An Evening with Matthew Martin, is the culmination of eons of shows that Martin has performed throughout his career that include titles like Shit & Champagne, Baby Jane?, TROG Live, Eve (a musical version of All About Eve), Christmas with the Crawfords, and recent fare, like Golden Girls Live. This time, he’s bringing Drew Sebastian to add a little daddy energy and song to the proceedings.

Matthew started singing and dancing in high school, then moved on to major in theatre at Francisco State University. He has credited his parents for their support throughout his childhood and career. Little fun fact, his mother appeared in local commercials and even played Martha in a production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  

Martin’s first professional drag performance came when he was cast in After Dark at the Alcazar Theatre in 1984. Matthew got his first real-life brush with a classic Hollywood starlet a year before when he was called in to replace a dancer in a local production of Sugar Babies with the incomparable Ann Miller. He’d continue to mix with Hollywood stars as he took the stage for performances that included guests Patty Duke, Lorna Luft, Piper Laurie, Jane Russell, Mitzi Gaynor, and once again, Ann Miller. His roster of characters he portrays has grown over the years and also includes fictional characters alongside his popular Hollywood diva list. He’s played Helen Lawson from Valley of the Dolls, Mama Rose from Gypsy, Blanche from The Golden Girls, and Victoria Grant from Victor/Victoria. Who can’t he play?

We caught up with Matthew between costume changes to get the tea about his career and what to expect from An Evening with Matthew Martin.

When did you first become a fan of classic Hollywood divas?

I fell in love with the Silver Screen Divas at a very young age.  I was fascinated by their personalities and the drama of the world they lived in. 

Would you consider yourself a drag queen?

I always say I’m an actress/actor, not a drag queen, with no disrespect to any who identify themselves as that.  A rose by any other name!

You first performed drag in 1984 at the Alcazar Theatre in After Dark, did you fall in love with doing drag at that point, or did the love affair with drag develop over time?

I was very fortunate to get into After Dark; it was a wild cabaret show from Sweden.  I never really considered what I was doing as “drag” per se, I was playing the part, and an actor could or should be able to play any part, or attempt to.

You have been doing drag for 40 years. In your opinion, how has drag culture changed the most?

Time flies! The art form certainly wasn’t new when I first started doing it, but definitely not in mainstream culture. I think it has become much more accepted by most, although you see drag bans and conservative groups against Drag Time Storytelling, and one realizes that we haven’t made as much progress as we think.

What is the key to creating your characters as an homage rather than just a cheap imitation?

I always try to come from a place of deep respect and admiration. That is where my attraction to these women begins, and an understanding of what they were conveying in the various roles that they played onscreen.  While I don’t want to be overly serious in doing so, I also want to perform with humor as well and capture the essence as much as possible so that it rings true with audiences.

What Hollywood starlet has been the biggest challenge in getting right?

None! [Laughs]

What of the Hollywood starlets do you secretly love doing the most?

Honestly, I love all that I do.  Some are more popular and recognizable with audiences, but it would be difficult to state one favorite out of so many glorious stars!

What can we expect from your show at Oscar’s?

A night of classic Hollywood stars being conjured onstage with love, respect, and humor.

What do you love most about performing in Palm Springs?

The audiences have been very receptive in Palm Springs and “get” what I’m trying to do.  They know and love these ladies as well.

Over the years in your career, how have you personally changed the most?

In many ways, I am the same person I have always been.  I take nothing for granted in life or onstage and only try to get better with both as I go along.

If you were to add a new diva to your roster of characters, who would it be?

I have had some ideas to add Lucille Ball to my pantheon of stars.

Favorite part about doing drag? 

The audience!

Least favorite part about doing drag? 

Hair, makeup, and nails! I have never been outstanding in any of those departments.

Favorite hotspot?

The Oasis here in San Francisco, owned by my wonderful friend and star Darcy Drollinger.

What would the name of your biography be?

The wonderful designer Chris March always suggested it be The World is My Ashtray! [Laughs] Maybe My Pronouns Are Me, Myself, and I!

Favorite song to perform?

Tough question… they are all my favorites!  One spectacular dance number I did with Patrick Makuakane’s world-renowned Hawaiian dance troupe was Shirley Bassey’s “History Repeating” with an army of backup dancers. That was my Vegas fantasy come true!

What is your after-drag ritual? 

Taking a nice bath.

What’s your favorite pickup line? 

Oh Lord, I don’t have a script for that. Rather than a pickup, I like it delivered.

Tickets for An Evening with Matthew Martin are available at OscarsPalmSprings.com. The show runs for one evening on Saturday, February 3^rd with doors opening at 5:30 pm. The evening includes special guest Drew Sebastian with Tom Shaw on piano.

Photos by Randall Whitehead