Joey Arias with a Twist

Madonna recently told Vanity Fair that New York isn’t what it used to be, that it doesn’t feel alive anymore, and that the synergy between art, music, and fashion is no more. That’s because Joey Arias has been hiding in Las Vegas for the last six years, duh! The drag diva with the speakeasy voice was handling Mistress of Seduction duties at Zumanity, Cirque du Soleil’s carnal carnival. And in a "you can take the drag queen out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the drag queen" twist of irony, the show was at the New York, New York Hotel & Casino.

But Arias has finally come home, with a twist. From June 12 to July 13, he’ll pair with famed puppeteer Basil Twist for a cabaret production at the completely-renovated HERE Arts Center. Arias speaks in a low purr, but onstage his legendary voice channels a young Billie Holliday. With Twist’s signature magic backing Arias, audiences will be transported “to unpredictable worlds, channeling ecstatic desires, lavish nightmares, and bizarre premonitions in a bejeweled cabinet of curiosities.” And for those doubting the magic of puppets and a queen, Arias reassures us, “It’s more than just puppetry. What Basil does in incredible.” You’re not so bad yourself, Joey. Here’s a video preview.