By Craig Fiegener
InstantRiverside.com

Johnny Bruner — aka Vanity Halston, the producer of “sHe’s Fierce” — has set the bar very high. “I respect drag, and illusionists, a hundred percent. And I don’t have anybody in my show who doesn’t look like who they’re doing.” The drag show will bring the likenesses of Cher, Dolly Parton, Bette
Midler, Pat Benetar and Madonna to the Inland Empire on Saturday night.

Redlands resident Bruner, 29, has been performing in drag for more than ten years, and his second edition of “sHe’s Fierce” is a two-hour production that combines 10 professional dancers, 15 illusionists and 30 different characters.

“A good time with different eras of music,” is how Halston describes the show; his character, Vanity, will handle a Bette Midler performance.

Bruner, an actor who has performed with Performance Riverside, serves as both host and producer for “sHe’s Fierce,” and he’s hand-picked many of the musical numbers; “You’ll hear Barbra Streisand to Pink.” One highlight of the show, he says, will be Madonna, impersonated by Chad Michaels (pictured right as Cher and himself), who Bruner describes as “really good!”

Vanity Halston will lead quite a team to the California Theatre in San Bernardino, where last year’s show drew 700. “The dance numbers will rival productions done in Las Vegas,” he said. “Everyone assumes they’re seeing a drag show, but it’s more like a live concert.”

“sHe’s Fierce,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, California Theatre for the Performing Arts, 562 W. Fourth Street, San Bernardino. $25-$35. (909) 885-5152; www.shesfierce.com.

Filed under Entertainment, Headline

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

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