Doris Dear
Born
Ray DeForest

New York
Other namesPerfect American Housewife
Occupation(s)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.[1][4] 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.

The Doris Dear famous now illustration was done by a world famous artist Tess Fowler. She has worked in the comic book industry for some time as well as has created some wonderful album covers for major recording artists. Doris Dear and her got to know each other and she totally got the aesthetic. She wanted to do this for her and she created 2 wonderful depictions of Doris in her habitat…The Rumpus Room![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.[1]

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.[1]

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. She was a hit and got the following major review: If you ever thought that a man dressed in drag as “America’s Perfect Housewife” singing Sondheim’s “Being Alive” in his own deep basso voice couldn’t be anything but ridiculous, think again. Doris Dear just about performed a three-act play during that song with power, conviction, and self-affirmation; it was as moving as any version I’ve ever seen. In fact, Dear’s whole show was filled with moving and often hilarious stories of family that spoke of love, loyalty, and laughter. It was a lesson about the power of love to build character and moral fiber. It was a show that all of Florida’s elected officials (and parents of school children nationwide) could benefit from, and it might in fact change their points of view. Some additional highlights included “Another Hundred People” spiced up with some fun tempo changes), “The Boys Downstairs,” and a poignant tribute to her mother, who always assured young Ray DeForest (aka Doris Dear) that “you’re always safe with me.” This led into a poignant “Not While I’m Around” that drew more than a few tears from the audience.[13]


  • “Like Mother, Like Daughter: A Mother’s Day Special” at Feinstein's/54 Below.[14][15]
  • A Doris Dear Christmas Special was played at the Triad Theatre.[14][6][16]
  • Doris Dear's Gurl Talk at Feinstein's/54 Below.[3]
  • A Doris Dear Christmas Special at Feinstein's/54 Below.[1][17]
  • Doris Dear's Gurl Talk on Broadway on Demand[18]
  • The Doris Dear Christmas Special pay-per-view on Broadway on Demand [19]
  • Doris Dear's Gurl Talk Season 2 on Broadway on Demand[20]
  • Doris Dear's Christmas Special 'Christmas Through the Ages'[21]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Show Result
2016 MAC Awards Best Drag Artist or Impersonator[14][22][16][23][24] Won
2017 GLAM Awards Best Cabaret Show[25] Doris Dear Mother's Day Special Nominated
2018 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards Best Drag Artist or Impersonator[26] Nominated
2019 MAC Awards Best Drag Artist or Impersonator[27] Won
2020 MAC Awards Best Drag Artist or Impersonator[28][29][30] Won
2021 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards Best Musical Comedy Cabaret The Doris Dear Christmas Special Nominated
BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards Best Vocalist An Evening With Frank Sinatra Nominated
BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards Best Show Art[31] The Doris Dear Christmas Special Won

References

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