Coming 2024 Holiday Season:

Read a behind-the-curtain story as to how my 2017 interview with Tori Scott became audio-only in my soon-to-be-released book, Behind The Curtain: The Mistakes, Lessons Learned & Triumphs of Interviewing Celebrities.

2013 Interview:

Belter and bad decision expert Tori Scott, a Garland for the Grindr era, is returning to Joe's Pub in I'll Regret This Tomorrow on Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 9:30pm for another evening of brassy songs and slurred autobiographical stories.

If you missed her previous packed shows at Joe' Pub, all is forgiven; just get a ticket, get a drink, and let Tori belt your troubles away.

In this interview, Tori answered my call to reveal:

• Her inspirations
• Best part about collaboration
• What fans can look forward to about this new show
• Which super power she would like to have
• So much more

Connect with Tori: Website

Tori Scott singing at Joe's Pub
Photo Credit: Kevin Yatarola

1. Who or what inspired you to become a singer/actress? I was a very dramatic child. I was about 4 years old when I saw an episode of Dynasty and thought Joan Collins and Linda Evans fighting was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. I didn't really understand what was going on, but I loved the idea that as an adult you could still play dress up and pretend.

When I realized I could sing, that just changed everything. I had a dance teacher growing up who was and continues to be a huge mentor in my life. Her name is Persis Forster. She introduced me to musical theater and that was it! The seed was planted and it's been a part of my life ever since.

2. Who haven't you worked with that you would like to? I just saw The Glass Menagerie on Broadway so I'd love to work with ANY of those actors, but they might be a bit too high brow for me. I'd love to share the stage with Billy Porter. I'm a huge fan of Kristine Nielsen, too. I'd get a master class in comedic timing working with her.

In the world of composers I'd love to work with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and Michael John LaChiusa. As far as childhood dreams go, I'd love to tap dance with Savion Glover and have a "belt off" with Patti LuPone. It's a shame Ethel Merman isn't alive. I would have loved to have a "belt off" with her....and we share the same birthday!

3. On February 6, 2014 at 9:30pm, you will be returning to Joe's Pub with I'll Regret This Tomorrow. How did you come up with the title for this show? I find titles to be so difficult. I tend to over think and stress about them. It's the first impression so you want it to be inviting, entertaining, clever...I went through many variations on the same theme, my expertise in bad decision making, before deciding on this one.

The title touches on my issue with not listening to my gut. Whether I decide to stay out instead of going home early because I have to work in the morning or, a much bigger decision, making the mistake to move to Brooklyn, there is that moment where you have the voice saying "Wait a minute, there is a chance this won't end well." I don't tend to pay attention to that, so, regrets follow.

Tori Scott at 54 Below, Photo Credit: JD Urban

4. You wrote I'll Regret This Tomorrow with Adam Hetrick, musical direction is by Jesse Kissel, and the show is directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn. How did you come to work with everyone and what is the best part about collaborating with them? Adam Hetrick and I went to school together at The Boston Conservatory. We were also roommates our junior and senior year. Because of our long history together, collaborating with him comes naturally. I've known him for 15 years. And for 15 years he has seen me make a lot of bad decisions. Thankfully, he has a fantastic memory, so we never run out of material. We started putting together these shows in 2007 and performed them on Tuesday nights at Vlada in midtown.

That's when we met Jesse Kissel. Jesse is also a graduate of The Boston Conservatory, but from a different class. We were introduced through mutual friends when I was searching for a piano player. Vlada was a great place for the three of us to try out new material and over the course of two years, we were able to write a lot of good stuff that not a lot of people saw. It gave us time to learn how to write together and collaborate, which usually happens over drinks at Therapy. In July of 2012, we decided to make the jump to do these shows on a larger scale and made our debut at Joe's Pub. In order to take it to the next level, we knew we needed a director's eye.

That's when Seth Sklar-Heyn came on board. Because Adam, Jesse and I work so closely on the material, Seth is able to not only serve as director, but as a dramaturg. It's such a nice balance with the four of us.

5. What do you hope audiences come away with after attending I"ll Regret This Tomorrow? A hangover and my twitter handle.

6. What can fans look forward to about this new show? I think the best thing for them to know is that I haven't learned my lesson, so they are in for new embarrassing situations. The moment I learn from my past mistakes is the moment I get writers block.

7. What do you enjoy most about performing at Joe's Pub? I feel incredibly comfortable on that stage and safe enough to take risks. Joe's Pub is one of the few music venues that can have Russell Crowe performing with his band one night, and me the next night.

Tori Scott

8. What does Joe's Pub offer that another venue might not? They really take the time to nurture and support new artists. Most importantly, they are helping me build an audience. There are a lot of people doing cabarets in New York, so to have a team of people that help get your name out there is incredibly important.

9. I love your bio description...belter and bad decision maker, a Garland for the Grindr era...It's very original. I get the belter part after immediately watching your videos, but how was rest of this bio formulated and what do you think about when you read it or hear it? I had a friend who actually referred to me as the Garland of the Grindr era once and I loved it so much I had to steal it! Much like the title of the show, I think it's important for the bio to set the stage of what the audience can expect when they come see me. I think it's pretty clear when you read it that this is a show that will make you laugh and you most likely won't hear a version of "Fifty Percent."

10. What have you learned about yourself from being a singer/actress? I've learned I'm a terrible waitress and a very fast typist.

11. What's the best advice you've ever received? Other than "Always wear clean underwear in case you get into an accident" I would say the other best piece of advice I've ever received is "The only people who fail are the ones who never try."

12. If you could have any super power, which one would you choose? Is being able to make money out of thin air a super power? If not, then teleportation.

More Tori Scott Interviews:

2014 (Read Here): Vodka Is The Reason For The Season - 2014 Edition
2016 (Read Here): Seeing Double
2017 (Listen Here): Vodka Is The Reason For The Season - 2017 Edition
2018 (Read Here): Shame Spirals
2018 (Watch Here): Make America Gay Again
2018 (Read Here): Vodka Is The Reason For The Season - 2018 Edition
2019 (Read Here): Thirsty For More

 Tori Scott

📷 Johan Salvador Tavares

More on Tori Scott:

As a singer, she’s graced the stages of 54 Below, the Laurie Beechman, the Metropolitan Room, and every gay bar on the Eastern Seaboard; as an actress, she's counted to 20 as a singing garbage woman on Sesame Street and dubbed the vocals of a singing hooker on HBO's Cathouse: The Musical; as a woman, she strives every day in every way to be a consummate lady and sometimes wonders if she actually still has a liver or not.