Flight entertainment
Rizo soars in Newport this Valentine’s weekend
By Naima Baker
For the TODAY
This Valentine's Day weekend, the Newport Performing Arts Center will be transformed into a temple, where the good word is love and worship takes the form of music — where the stage is an altar adorned with roses and the high priestess of ceremonies, Rizo.
The priestess performs this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13 and 14.
"Valentine's day is the only holiday dedicated to love," said Rizo, born Amelia Zirin-Brown: singer, actress and self-proclaimed result of parents who told her she could be whatever she wanted. Her passionate presence and sultry singing voice beautifully fill in the notes and hearts of her listeners while she regales them with a romantic and rhythmic mashup including Janelle Monae's "Pynk," with the message we are all the same color inside; French counterpart Edith Piaf's "La Vie En Rose," depicting the rose colored glasses of amorous infatuation; classic tunes like "A Thing Called Love," vocalizing the strength of love, innovative combinations like Janis Joplin and Lizzo, and even a few originals.
From humble, hippie beginnings, with creativity that broke the mold of the mainstream, the character of Lady Rizo was born in New York from a collaboration of sisterhood, burlesque and female empowerment.
"We wanted to make a dance performance from this burgeoning trend that was reimagining old strip tease and burlesque as a symbol of expression, power and feminism,” Zirin-Brown said. “So, we started going to these shows. Some were inspiring and some were not so good, but when I speak to students, I tell them that seeing art that is not what you want is often just as valuable as seeing great art because it gives you the clarity and confidence to do your own stuff. In loose terms, I could make something better than that! So, we started putting this show together and I was kind of the ‘madame.’"
This sacred session of songs is the solution to mental pollution, living by Rizo's motto, "Less bitter, more glitter!"
At this event, you have full permission and brash encouragement to wear your brightest, shiniest and most-colorful regalia. Not only will it make your inner child smile, but you might catch the eye of the breathtaking Rizo herself as she flutters through the crowd, making effortless comedic connections with the audience. Being drawn into her dazzling supernova orbit for even a moment will make anyone feel like a star and left with a golden memory that will sparkle forever. Proximity to Rizo on stage can make you weak in the knees in the best possible way, to which this reporter can personally attest, from a close encounter of the third kind at last year's beautiful intersection of fever dream, spectacle and cabaret. This year you, too, could have that chance to bask in her light during a modern adaption of Lupercalia, the ancient Roman festival for health and fertility that provided the strange beginnings of Valentine's Day. There was wild whipping, matchmaking and cake made by vestal virgins, as a parade of naked young men ran through the streets, using goat skins to playfully flay eager women and children, who would purposely get in the way of the spritely streakers and hold out their hands.
No goats or humans will be harmed at this show, though blissful blessings by whip might be administered to consenting participants.
It’s all for the feelings, pleasure and the spirit of Eros.
"I'm a big fan of Eros energy and I like to summon that through song, and make the lover archetype accessible to people, not only the romantic aspect, but the facets that revel in art, beauty and sensuality,” Zirin-Brown said. “The Greeks broke it down into three types of love: philia, eros and agape, which is love for family and friends, sensual love and unconditional divine love. I also want to explore love for our country, because this is a time that we need to remember what we love about it and protect its freedom."
Even in times of turmoil, tender and truly talented in the art of upliftment, Rizo is here to help.
"I think our hearts are fractured right now and we need to resist this expression of hate in the political sphere, to strengthen together in a way that can't be done through screens,” Zirin-Brown said. “The energy of the lover lingers and savors. It's about connection and expansion, the merging of the self with the other. I'm always tempted to fill the void with a music theater nightclub approach to taking you to church. I want the audience to feel like they were held in a loving embrace by me."
When the show wraps, you will go glowing, all gift-wrapped up in Rizo.
Friday and Saturday’s shows start at 7:30 pm at the Newport Performing Arts Center, located at 777 W Olive Street. Tickets are $21 to $26. For more information, go to coastarts.com or call 541-265-2787.