Cuckoo for Coco

While other little boys were channeling the Lone Ranger, Clinton Leupp had a very different idol in mind: Bewitched’s flame-haired Eudora and her colorful caftans. As he relates in his stand-up, he used to sneak into his mother’s closet and into her caftans: “100 percent polyester and I loved every percent of it.” Leupp dropped the synthetic fiber muumuus but kept the fiery-red hair as drag performer Miss Coco Peru. Looking like a more refined Kathy Griffin, Peru has attracted a cult following. He starred as the malicious drag queen in Trick, performed in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, and won the best actress award at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival and the best actor award at Outfest for his role in Girls Will Be Girls. For those outside the LBGT film circuit, you might have seen his cameos in Will & Grace and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Recognizing the importance of live entertainment, the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will present An Evening With Coco Peru at the PlayGround Theatre this Friday at 8 p.m. (For last year’s festival, organizers brought in John Waters.) General admission is $25, or $40 for primo seats and the chance to trade guffaws with Miss Peru at a cocktail reception.
Fri., April 30, 8 p.m., 2010