She’s A Man, Baby

Friday, March 2, 2001 | 1:36 a.m.

Veteran female impersonator Kenny Kerr is blazing a new frontier.

The 48-year-old comedian, a familiar sight on the Las Vegas entertainment scene for more than 20 years, revamped his show after leaving the Plaza over a contract dispute last year. Three weeks ago he opened "The New Kenny Kerr Show" at the New Frontier.

Kerr arrived in Las Vegas in 1977 and began a 12-year stay at the now-defunct Silver Slipper. When that run ended he performed at several venues on the Strip, before settling in with his "Boy-lesque" show at the Plaza in 1998.

Kerr has been in show business most of his life. He began as a stage actor at age 11 in his native New Jersey and became a female impersonator at 15 in Philadelphia, after a producer noted he bore a striking resemblance to Barbra Streisand, whom he impersonates in his act.

The past couple of years have been tough for the showman. He filed for bankruptcy in 1999. A year ago his father died of a heart attack, and a week later a sister died of cancer. In September another sister (one of show's producers) had an aneurysm but survived and is back at work.

And of course there was the highly publicized lawsuit he filed in September against the Plaza, in which he alleged the hotel reneged on a contract that Kerr said would have allowed him to rent the showroom until March 31.

Kerr recently discussed his life and career with the Sun:

Las Vegas Sun: Has your legal dispute with the Plaza been resolved or is it still in litigation? Did you sue for monetary damages, or just to get an injunction against the hotel from closing the show?

Kenny Kerr: You would have to talk to my managers about that.

Sun: With all of the problems you've encountered recently, have you thought about throwing in the towel and moving to Tahiti or somewhere?

KK: Naturally, at the time it was hard, probably the worst year of my life. But Las Vegas is my home and I would like to stay here.

I love the business I'm in. I have always loved being onstage, ever since I was a child growing up in New Jersey. I did a lot of local theater and some off-Broadway shows. My parents didn't have to encourage me. I always had an interest in performing.

Sun: Did your recent personal and business problems affect your performances?

KK: I worked through it all. Joan Rivers, who is a very good friend of mine, said to me when her husband, Edgar, died, "I wish I could go to work tonight." I've never forgotten that. When you are onstage, you forget your problems. Of course when you leave the stage they're still there, but for those few minutes, they don't exist.

Sun: So you have worked through good times and bad. Has your act changed much since you first came to town?

KK: We keep changing. It is completely different from what it was in 1977. The town keeps changing and you have to change with it.

Sun: Your latest change is from the Plaza to the New Frontier. Which venue do you prefer?

KK: I think the New Frontier. It's better to be up on the Strip. But with the Desert Inn (across the street) closed, foot traffic is a problem. But it's great so far. I like the location. My fans are finding me. I have a great local following and they're coming out to see the new show.

Sun: How is the format of "The New Kenny Kerr Show" different?

KK: The look of the show is totally different. There is never a break in the action. It doesn't ever stop. For an hour and 15 minutes there is constant movement. We cut a couple of pieces out of the band and added two dancers -- now we have a male dancer and two females. There is more production value. I still do my stand-up comedy and my question-and-answer (session). There is the five-piece band and two back-up singers, one male and one female. Everything is live.

Sun: In the show at the Plaza, other female impersonators were in the act. Has that changed?

KK: I'm the only one.

Sun: Do you call yourself an impersonator or an impressionist?

KK: Both. I'm a female impersonator who does impressions.

Sun: You started the new year with a new show in a new venue. How do you feel about all the changes?

KK: I'm really excited about them. It's a whole new type of show. All of my friends will be seeing something different from what they're used to.

Sun: It's been reported you have some sort of feud going with Frank Marino, who has been doing an act as Joan Rivers for 15 years. Is there anything to that?

KK: Of course not. I don't know how that got started. He's down the street (at the Riviera) doing his thing, and I'm doing mine.