Donna on LG6: "If Lady Gaga releases a new
album before the tour, I'd be mad not to
[perform any new songs]! There are rumours
about a release next week but who knows. It
would drive me mad not to be able to sing
something off of her new album or her single
release." Donna not only sounds and performs
like Lady Gaga - she has over 60 costumes and
tries to keep up with all of her appearances and
there's so many with special significance to her
that she can't possibly choose a favourite. In
terms of props, her favourite is the iconic 'spark
bra'. If you are unsure, think flamethrower bikini!
She had to be advised of how to use it, so she
doesn't burn her hair off, get sparks in her eyes
or set fire to her audience, her husband has
done a pyrotechnic course so they can use fire
and effects in the shows. I asked if she's ever
worn her costumes out and about and she
laughed, "not as myself, I'd have really lost the
plot then, but I have for events and meet and
greet sessions- obviously, I'm working then".
On her career highlights, in the nine years of
performing as Gaga, she has a few but one is
her first theatre show which she produced and
directed herself, and it was rewarding to know
all of the work she had put in entertained
thousands of people. The biggest highlight has
to be meeting Lady Gaga, for any tribute to
meet the person they're impersonating and be
told you're "amazing" is really something
special. She got to spend half an hour chatting
to Mother Monster and spoke about music, the
press and her personal life.
Donna knows what it's like to be on the judging
panel of 'All Together Now', but could she face
the judges herself?
"To stand on the stage in front of us judges
must be pretty scary but I'd love to know what
it's like. I don't know how I'd do- they'd
probably tell me that I sound too much like
Lady Gaga. What would be interesting is to go
to 'All Together Now' in a different country and
apply there!"
She says she never changes her mind on
supporting or not supporting an act while
filming, but when Donna watches it edited on
TV, she sometimes questions her decision. "You
know you're giving away £50,000 so you have
to be very careful, it's hard because the 100 are
all fellow performers, so we all know what it's
like to be judged and how it feels. We're so
passionate about getting it right."
@donnamariegaga
@donnamariegaga
If Donna could make a song with Lady Gaga, it
would be about two people battling through
their life struggles who are alike but not the
same. Drawing on the aspect of her own career
as being like Lady Gaga. I think they should
make it, actually- I have it on the record that
it's going to be a duet on LG6. Only kidding! If
Donna could do a show as herself she'd do
something similar to the format of 'A Star Is
Born This Way' with a stripped back first half
and invite many of her friends that are getting
started to come on and do duets to help them
along. The second half would be full of not just
original songs but covers that would get
everybody partying and up on their feet. "I love
a party. If everyone is with me dancing and
singing, that's my type of show"- she says if the
audience doesn't get on their feet in her
upcoming tour, she'll "go down and get them
dancing!"
In Lady Gaga's Las Vegas residency, for her
Enigma show, she uncovers the truths in her
career and tells a musical story of self-
discovery. I asked Donna what her enigma
would be: "my enigma would be organised
chaos! That's my life. Anyone who's seen my
office or anything will know that they won't
find anything, but I know exactly where
everything is". She knows what she's doing
even if no one else does.
03/08/19 - The Edge Festival, Solva
17/08/19 - B.E.C. Arena, Manchester
30/08/19 - Bath Forum
12/09/19 - Stockport Plaza
13/09/19 - Hull City Hall
11/10/19 - Princes Theatre, Clacton-On-Sea
25/10/19 - FLY DSA Arena, Sheffield
01/11/19 - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
17/11/19 - M & S Bank Arena, Liverpool
More dates coming soon!
www.astarisbornthisway.com
You can watch the interview and read more at www.josephholmeswriter.com