I always love interviewing Tori Scott! This past June, we had a really fun in-person interview at Joe's Pub, talking about her Gay Pride show, Make America Gay Again.

Today, we revisit her annual Joe’s Pub holiday show Vodka is the Reason for the Season as well as her new Christmas single “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” benefiting The Ali Forney Center, helping LGBT homeless youth.

In this NEW interview, Tori once again answered my call, but this time she reveals:

• What she is looking forward to most about this annual show
• Her 2018 Christmas wish
• How she made "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" her own
• Her top 3 favorite things to do in New York City during the holiday season
• So much more

Connect with Tori: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Vodka is the Reason for the Season returns to Joe’s Pub this Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 7pm.

Come take a festive autobiographical journey as Tori celebrates what is truly special about this time of year (spoiler: alcohol induced blackouts).

1. This December you are bringing your annual holiday show, Vodka is the Reason for the Season, back to Joe's Pub. What are you looking forward to most about this year's show? I love that this has become such a fun annual tradition. People tell me how much they look forward to my crazy childhood stories. But, I’m excited to share with everyone a little bit about my experience spending Christmas in London last year. And, my mom is coming to visit and I love making fun of her on stage and watching her smile in the audience! She loves attention more than me.

2. Last Christmas, I didn't give you my heart, but I gave you a fun alcohol induced interview. In that interview, your Christmas wish was that Orange nut in the Whitehouse got impeached. Sadly that wish didn't come true. So, what is your Christmas wish for this year? You gave me a hangover is what you gave me!! But, I loved every second of it! Regarding last year’s Christmas wish…ugh I know!

When I was looking over one of the songs I sing every year for this show, last year I changed a lyric to “Next year I hope they impeach Trump!” What a travesty. But my Christmas wish has nothing to do with that clown. Not that I don’t want impeachment followed by prison to happen, I just don’t want to waste a wish on him.

I know this might be a bit off brand for me as I thrive on being drunk and cynical, but with everything currently happening in this country, I wish for more compassion and empathy in this country in 2019.

Tori Scott

3. In addition to your holiday show, you are releasing your first Christmas single, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." What have you done to make this single your own? Yes, I’m so excited about this. This is my favorite Christmas song because the wonderful Judy Garland sang it. I hope I bring my own quality to it. I sang it in a very traditional way because that’s how I interpret it.

It also meant a lot to sing “Next year all our troubles will be miles away.” What a lovely thought.

This single is also important because when you download this on iTunes, Amazon, etc., 100% of the proceeds will go to the Ali Forney Center’s holiday campaign, Homeless for the Holidays. The Ali Forney Center, which is the largest advocacy group for LGBTQ homeless youth. I want to use this single to not only help support this organization, but help spread the word.

4. After your Joe's Pub show, you are heading across the pond to England with this show. What excites you about spending part of the holiday season in England with Vodka is the Reason for the Season? Ok…Brits love Christmas so much!! I spent Christmas in London last year, and not only do they have incredible Christmas specials on TV and amazing traditions like going to a pub after you open presents and getting afternoon drunk, but they also have Panto’s!

British Pantomimes are similar to drag shows, but also for children. It’s hard to explain, but they have long been a tradition during the holiday season in every town (or village as they say). Last year, I saw Dick Whittington at the London Palladium where Elaine Page played the “Rat Queen.” And if that wasn’t enough, every song she sang was a song made famous by her with lyrics changed. For example, she sang “I Know Him So Well” but the lyrics were changed to “I know Dick so well.” I mean, can you imagine?? Went totally over the kids heads and the parents were howling! I was in heaven.

5. What are top three favorite things to do in NYC during the holiday season?

1. Avoid Times Sq, Herald Sq, Fifth Ave, Rockefeller Center…places with lots of people.
2. Listen to Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped in Red on repeat (full disclosure some songs I listen to year round).
3. Watch three different versions of A Christmas Carol. I absolutely love that story. I watch the Michael Caine version first. Then I usually move on to Scrooged. Then I end the season closer to Christmas snuggled up with my cat watching The Muppets Christmas Carol. That is my favorite holiday tradition.

Tori Scott

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