“I like to make theatre sexy .... and I like my sex to be theatrical - both with elaborate costumes and good lighting!” joked Tom Orr, San Francisco’s original musical comedy cabaret porn star, who returns to the New Conservatory Theatre Center this week with his latest solo show of satirical parodies, I Feel A Thong Coming On! For that reason, Orr gave Bay Times an exclusive interview.

He spoke of his busy year and a half since he had his emergency housing fundraiser, No Place Like Home, at Theatre Rhinoceros back in March 2007. “I feel really lucky. Not only was I able to find a resourceful way to get out of a bad situation, but the huge emotional and financial assistance I received from so many friends and fans got me back on track,” he said. He did Take Me Out, last summer at NCTC, playing Rodriguez, and “making a splash” in the infamous nude shower scenes. “All my lines were in Spanish; I had a small role, but a big part!” he punned. Then he did a reading of It’s Murder, Mary! as Buff Bodd last fall.

Meanwhile, he got a full time job on the staff at 42nd Street Moon as the production assistant for their season, as well as appearing in both One Touch of Venus and then Coco, with Andrea Marcovicci. “Working with Andrea was phenomenal - getting to play opposite a star - and she was anything but a diva,” said Orr. “She was gracious and funny and so generous onstage, though she did call me a ‘shameless cow’ and a ‘scene-stealing whore.’ She said it with love though.” He put together iTom_shuffle and later brought in F. Allen Sawyer, his original director from Dirty Little Showtunes!, to help tighten it up and make it more polished. “He really helped with the structure of the show,” said Orr. “No one builds a revue like Allen.” ‘80s porn star Nina Hartley came and they did a dirty duet together, “Why Can’t A Straight Boy Be More Like Fag?” to the tune from My Fair Lady. “It was her public singing debut!” he gushed. 

When it was time to start working on this new show for NCTC, he brought back Sawyer to direct it, and got the Cockettes’ Scrumbly Koldewyn for musical director. Orr said there is a gay marriage medley, some songs about celebrity culture and the current political climate, as well as some numbers from DLST! He said his favorite part of Thong! is “The Filth Medley,” a combination of songs that are “the smuttiest, raunchiest, most scandalous lyrics I’ve ever done.” There’s a fisting song, a felching song, and “Thoroughly Bottom Billy.” He called this “good old-fashioned filthy fun!”

The big question on my mind about I Feel A Thong Coming On! was: Does the thong come OFF? He answered me, “Well, between my love for old school burlesque, my stint as The Perky Little Porn Star in Naked Boys Singing! and the fact people call it the Nude Conservatory ... let’s just say that the finale won’t be disappointing!”

I Feel a Thong Coming On! runs Aug. 15-Sept. 7 at NCTC, 25 Van Ness and Market. Tix are online at nctcsf.org or phone (415) 861-8972. Slip into something sexy and see this scandalous show!