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Faye Lasheo is well known in the Bay Area for a flawless female impersonation. Her performances offer more than just perfect styling; her energy is infectious, her timing impeccable and the obvious amount of preparation she puts into a show far outweighs that of most queens these days. When not performing, Faye is Evan Kaminsky, the animated entrepreneur and professional hair and make-up artist who founded Oui, Three Queens Productions, the notorious San Francisco salon. Trying to do hair, make-up and clothes all at once requires a trained expert, and we have just the man. In this special interview, Evan reveals how he got into the business of beautifying and introduces us to his feminine alter-ego.  Eros Zine: According to your bio, you discovered your mom's closet during childhood and you were hooked on performing. What sorts of performances did you start out with?Evan Kaminsky: As a child, I performed in holiday plays at my temple. In high school, I got much more serious about performing and was involved in school plays and choir. When I landed in San Francisco, I continued to pursue my craft and was cast in Artful Circle Theatre's Way OUT West where I was asked to perform a female character Daphne, one of the women's vigilante committee. The following year I again performed in drag (this time as Sheldon, the bathhouse "song stylist") in Terrance McNalley's The Ritz. It seemed that not only theatre was in my blood, but so was drag. I continued to perform in shows like The Secret Garden (as Major Holmes) and Much Ado About Nothing (as Friar Francis), while at night I, as Faye Lasheo, hosted and performed in various drag shows throughout the city.  EZ: Tell me one of your early performance stories.EK: I remember when I was in the sixth grade, I recorded myself interviewing Ann Frank if she were still alive. My brother's friend John was a comic actor and he played Ann for me. From that day on I always loved making up characters and performing them in front of others, or on tape. EZ: How did you end up at San Francisco State University and what were your majors? EK: Throughout high school I dreamt of going to school for theatre. My parents suggested, as all parents do, that I go to school for something that would be a bit more stable. At the time I was working in hotels and restaurants and enjoyed it. So I went to school in San Francisco at Golden Gate University, majoring in Hotel/Restaurant Management. Needless to say I hated it. I transferred to San Francisco State the next year and majored in theatre with a double emphasis in performance and makeup. EZ: You have quite a lot of experience with make-up, from beautifying to theatrical and prosthetic. Tell us about your experience and what you love most about make-up. EK: What I enjoy most about acting is being able to become another person for a while and experience what they would. Makeup enables me to go further with that character, visually establishing many details about them. Plus...I love to make people look their best!  EZ: How was Faye Lasheo born?EK: After performing in the Theatre dressed in drag I ventured out to the bar scene and found a very cozy nitch. Faye's first performance established her credibility and through the months, she became popular with patrons. Her 6 month adolescence was shaky, but she developed into a great performer and show host. EZ: What happened to Faye after she got over that awkward adolescence? EK: After performing for a while at Harvey's in the Castro, Faye was asked to host the show. During that time she co-hosted shows at Metro Bar and Kimo's. One time she and some other girls were to perform in Walnut Creek at J.R.'s. Somehow they got lost and drove all the way to Dublin. They had to call from a gas station, wigs blowing in the wind and tip-toeing on the gravel in their seven inch heals. They made it to the show in the nick of time. EZ: Faye loves to lip synch...what are her favorite songs? EK: Anything with double entendre and a sexual flair. Some favorites are "Bring on the Men," "Everybody's Girl" and "Everybody's Fucking but Me". EZ: How was Oui, Three Queens Productions started and what was the focus of the business?  EK: When performing in Way OUT West, the other cast members and I went to a play together. It was a Lip sync-Musical based on Jesus Christ Superstar and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Dr. Frankenfurter was the sexual savior and the three wise men were drag queens. They sang, "We three queens from orient are..." It tickled me. I decided that while establishing myself as a makeup artist I would use the name Oui, Three Queens Productions.Three years ago I opened my boutique. I specialize in custom blended makeup. We also focus on all aspects of beauty, hair, skin care, image, weddings. For the New Year, I have closed the doors at my boutique and have moved into Glama-Rama hair salon (417 South Van Ness Ave, 415 621-6877). I look forward to a great year in our new environment. I will be selling makeup and skin care, just like before, but now in a fun and funky(er) environment. For more information check out our website at www.ouithreequeens.com. EZ: You can make anyone beautiful from make-up and hair to full wardrobe make-over. What is the process for the complete make-over, where do you start and how do find that new look? EK: I think that the most important thing is that the client is comfortable. Once I establish the likes and dislikes, I try to push the envelope to see if I can broaden their horizons. I think a lot of it is instinctual, but my number one rule for your image is balance. There needs to be a balance in color and intensity. There also needs to be balance between the total look and the client's personality. Once the concept is imagined, we go through the typical makeover stuff. Hair, cut and color, clothing, skin care and makeup. EZ: For anyone who's interested in doing drag, how can you help them make the change to "en femme"?
EZ: What products do you sell to help with the transformation? EK: With custom blended makeup, we can create and shade, texture or intensity. We also provide wigs, false lashes and skin care products. EZ: Do you have any tips for the beginner in drag? EK: Although there are many different opinions on what "drag" is I would hope that anyone hoping to do drag should keep one thing in mind. The women in our lives are very special. Drag is the highest form of flattery to women. Don't do it half-assed......wear your hips proud and wear your heels high. Words of wisdom from a true queen! Thanks for speaking with us Evan. We wish you great success in your new location!
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