Since it’s Carnival Week in Provincetown, you know where I am.  When I’m not having more sex than you can shake a stick at (or whatever they were shaking at me), I’m seeing tons of great shows.  Even if you aren’t anywhere near Cape Cod, these people regularly tour the country and will likely hit your locale sometime soon.

I made it to the tip of the Cape just in time for Marilyn Maye at the Provincetown Art House.  To say she’s better than ever is an understatement.  Yes, she’s my dear friend, but this woman’s voice cannot be equaled by people half her age.  While I’m always amazed at her power and range, this year it was the quieter moments which struck me as incredibly delicate and yet totally controlled.  She definitely fills the stage – and the entire room.

Sexy Steve Grand is also at the Art House all season.  While his rippling physique is probably better known to most of my fans than his voice, they will be pleasantly surprised if they buy a ticket for his show.  His vocals are secure, and his self-written material is enjoyable if not somewhat repetitive.  What makes his show work is how well he connects with his audience.  It’s intimate.  You kinda feel like you’re in his living room – we should all be so lucky!  You can see a clip from his show on BillyMasters.com.

Every year, I think Varla Jean Merman can’t top herself – try and get that picture out of your head.  But every year, the material is fresh, incisive, sharp, and on target.  Bad Heroine (also at the Ptown Art House) focuses on female role models throughout history, and it’s hysterically funny.  It’s even educational – I came out learning something.  Take that, PBS!  The costumes are outrageous, the vocals are spot-on, and the entire show is a massive delight for all the senses.

If there is a female illusionist who is a greater singer than Randy Roberts, I have not met him (or her).  But more than Randy’s voice, it’s his entire presence.  The makeup, the hair, the dress, the choreography – the illusion is perfection from top to bottom.  His Cher is more convincing than the real Cher.  OK, so his Bette Midler is a bit like Mae West – but so is Bette’s!  Where he shines most is as himself…er, herself.  Whatever – go see him/her.

The cherry on the cake at the Ptown Art House is this season’s Ryan Landry play.  5 To 9 is a spoof on 9 To 5 set in the Trump White House, and it works extremely well.  The cast is also sublime.  Landry channels Lily Tomlin‘s tightly wound Violet to a T, Varla Jean Merman goes places Dolly Parton never dreamt of, and Peaches Christ makes Jane Fonda look like a schoolgirl.  Larry Coen is a lascivious and clueless Trump.  And in many ways, Penny Champayne steals the show as Kellyanne Conway, Melania, Ivanka, and even Roz.  Atta girl!  Tix for all these shows can be found at PtownArtHouse.com.

As always, there are special events at Town Hall.  The venue hosted Broadway diva (and Younger star) Sutton Foster.  Her voice is beyond gorgeous and pure, but also has enough body to connect with a lyric like few of her contemporaries.  She regaled the audience with an assay of her extraordinary career, accompanied by Michael Rafter.  As with the shows at the Art House, this concert was presented by Mark Cortale with his usual aplomb.

The day before, Margaret Cho zipped in for a special show and had the capacity crowd in the palm of her hand.   She previewed material from her new show, Fresh Off The Bloat, which will be touring the country in the fall.  Very sharp, incisive, and funny material – Margaret always kills.  Her piece about explaining poppers to lesbians is hysterical!  Kudos to producers Adam Weinstock and Rick Murray for turning in another fantastic sold-out show.

If you follow this column, you’re probably sick to death of all the mentions of the hunky Rick Murray and the Crown and Anchor.  But one upcoming show deserves some mention.  Billy Porter is returning for two shows August 19 and 20.  Having seen his previous Ptown outing, I can tell you not to miss the chance to see this phenomenal artist in such an intimate setting.  You can get tix at OnlyAtTheCrown.com.  And if you miss him in Ptown, here’s an exciting announcement –  Billy and his original castmate Stark Sands are returning to the Broadway production of Kinky Boots on September 26th.  This will be a strictly limited return through January 7th.  I guess you can go home again!