Isaac Mizrahi could easily be considered an honorary Southerner, given his instincts as a natural-born storyteller and flair for the dramatic. That’s in addition to his renown as an iconic fashion designer, television show host, cabaret singer, writer, and actor. He combines all those talents for his one-man show Isaac Mizrahi: I Know Everybody, which he’s bringing to Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, this week, on the evenings of June 5 and 7, at the Charleston Music Hall.
The visit marks his first to the Holy City. “I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never been to Charleston before,” he says. “I’m really excited. A friend of mine who is a Charleston native living in New York has been telling me for years how glorious it is. I love the idea of the architecture, the gardens, the food, and the festival.”
Guests can expect stories, impersonations, glitzy cabaret numbers, and a lot of singing in general (a little Noel Coward, a little Reggie Lucas), all set against a musical backdrop provided by his traveling jazz band. “I think Southerners will appreciate the music because it’s based in jazz, which was born in the South. Also, the stories are, hopefully, funny, and I know Southerners appreciate humor.”
Mizrahi often quips that he’s been an entertainer since the age of seven. Fifty-six years later, he’s still at it—and in constant creative motion. “I was raised to be overactive,” he says. “From first grade on, I had piano lessons, outside acting classes, and an atelier in the basement where I made puppets and clothes. And creative work still brings me more joy than anything else. It’s the most important thing in my life.”
Ahead of Mizrahi’s visit to Charleston to show off all that creativity, we quizzed him on a few of his Southern favorites.
What’s on your must-do list while here?
I would love a walking tour of the Charleston historic district.
Magnolia or gardenia?
Gardenia. It’s my favorite flower. My husband sends them to me for special occasions.
Which living Southern musician would you want to perform with on stage?
Dolly Parton.
Favorite and least favorite Southern foods?
I adore Southern food. I love fritters of all kinds. I love the baking of the South: biscuits, hummingbird cake. I’m not big into grits. I think I’ve never had good ones, but I feel there’s time to discover the right grits.
