Do you play along when your child is pretending to be a super hero or a rock star? I want people to feel that comfortable to let go and have fun. Imagine yourself at a Celine Dion concert where Celine walks into the audience and sings directly to you. Would you feel special? What if Marilyn Monroe sang her breathy version of Happy Birthday to your company president? Would you take a picture? Do you smile and laugh? If the people you work with played guitars like rock stars at your company party, would you cheer them on? My stage shows get those reactions.

Marilyn Monroe Impersonator Tracey Bell sings Happy Birthday Mr. President at the Victoria Hospital Foundation Gala Fundraiser

People like to shine, even shy people.

On New Year’s Eve, when New York New York is playing and everyone in the room is doing a kick line, do you join in, or smile while you watch them? Would you clap along with people if Dolly Parton encouraged you to? If your friends were strutting their stuff onstage with Madonna, would you want to video them? These are the experiences that I create with people. Whether you want to kick up your shoes, cheer from the sidelines, or smile as you watch others, there is a place for everyone at my shows.

Audience Participants learn to Vogue like boy toys with Madonna Impersonator Tracey Bell

After decades of experience, I know how to choose the first participants

It only takes a few outgoing people to get audience participation started, to set the example. If they can do it, others can too. Nobody has to be perfect. It’s especially rewarding when I get shy people involved in the show. I get the same reaction as a hypnotist, where participants are entranced and want to let their inner rock star shine.  After decades of experience as an interactive impressionist, I know how to choose the first participants, then encourage and inspire them. I’m encouraging them. Joy, fun and laughter are contagious.

Celine Dion Impersonator Tracey Bell Holds hands with the Canadian Consul General at the Chamber of Commerce Special Event in Shanghai, China

My stage shows are rewarding to me because I’m engaging people and giving them an experience they’ll talk about for years, whether they’re a spectator or participant. When we’re engaged, we’re fully present in the moment. Playing is good for us. Connecting is good for us. My purpose is to create a show where we do those things.  I put my whole heart into it. There’s a lot of me in the show: Tracey Bell disguised as Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Julie Andrews, Shania Twain, Alanis Morrissette, and the rest.

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They started interviewing me on my couch with my wigs beside me. I tried to do impressions of the divas in my impersonation show, but I couldn’t turn on my celebrity personas. I couldn’t answer questions properly or finish my sentences. I was spent and critical of everything I said.

Then we crammed into my bathroom and Christine brought out the best in me, asking me questions about running my own business in the corporate entertainment industry and inspiring women. Christine reminded me that I was the fabulous, courageous woman who had connected with and wowed the audience a few nights earlier. I had changed in seconds during the fundraiser, energetically impersonating Cher, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Tina Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Celine Dion and Julie Andrews.

Months went by after the filming and I figured it would never air because I’d screwed up the footage, the lighting wasn’t good at the club or I was too old and not relevant enough to appeal to the Millennial audience. Silly me.

Somehow they pieced together these quotes of mine:

“We just need to remember courage.  Courage comes from our hearts.”

“Fear needs to be dissolved.”

“Let’s celebrate how fabulous we are as artists and performers.”

I love the beautifully filmed and miraculously edited one-minute video. It reminds me who I am.

See the original version and article here!

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Tracey Bell is an award-winning comedian and impressionist.

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ME: All of those pictures are of me.

THEM: Nooooooo!

ME: Yes, that’s me as Dolly Parton, Madonna, Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, all of them.

THEM: Not Tina Turner?

ME: Yes, I impersonate everyone in the picture and Shania Twain as well.

THEM: Who’s that?

ME, to the Millennial: That’s Liza Minnelli. She won an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, a Tony and a Golden Globe. She’s one of the most talented entertainers in history.

ME, to the Baby Boomer: That’s Lady Gaga. She’s famous in this century.

THEM: It must take a long time for you to change.

ME: Um, I change in seconds, really, just like it says.

Then they ask me how I do it and what happens onstage when I change. 

“My show is like dominoes”

I explain that there’s no dead air, there’s always something happening onstage. Sometimes I pop behind a low screen while music is playing. I change wigs in front of everyone in 3 seconds, then walk out in a new dress a few seconds later. During some routines, I have volunteers onstage playing instruments while I change. There’s always music or talking.

My show is like dominoes. It takes about 5 hours to set up and rehearse. I arrange change screens onstage, style wigs, iron costumes, carefully set things in very specific positions behind curtains, test my microphone, rehearse cues and volumes with the sound technician, confirm my introduction with the Emcee, co-ordinate the lighting, go over the cues again, trouble shoot, braid my long hair so that it fits under the wigs, take an hour on my make-up, hopefully eat, secure my braids around my headset microphone, layer my costumes very precisely and make my way back-stage.

Then, I change in seconds to become a dozen divas.

The post How I Change in Seconds To Become A Dozen Divas appeared first on Corporate Entertainer - Tracey Bell Entertainment - Official Site.

Tracey Bell returned to her hometown of Edmonton, Alberta as a host and performer at the 2016 Edmonton Pride Festival.

It was a thrill for her to host such an important event in her hometown and share her collection of divas with a wonderful audience. Here are Tracey Bell’s thoughts on the 2016 Edmonton Pride Festival and her experiences there.

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“I have been honoured, adored, supported, and celebrated by LGBT communities.”

It was an honour to host the main stage at Edmonton’s Pride Festival on June 4^th, 2016.

Like Madonna, Cher and the other great gay icons I impersonate, I’ve been honoured, adored, supported and celebrated by the LGBT2 communities I have performed for from Miami to New York and across Canada.

In Canada, I’ve hosted Vancouver’s Gay Pride Festival stage twice. Each time, I memorably introduced politicians like NDP MP Svend Robinson, Liberal MP Hedy Fry, and former BC Premier Ujjal Dosanjh. Edmonton’s festival didn’t have political speeches, which was disappointing in some ways, but also a relief in others.

I opened with a medley of quick change impersonations of Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe and Tina Turner.

Dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, I impersonated Gay Icon Judy Garland.

To introduce performers from The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, I impersonated Julie Andrews and sang a re-written version of “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music.

“I especially enjoyed bringing interactive entertainment to the festival.”

In my corporate shows, one of the highlights of every show is audience participation. With that in mind, I especially enjoyed bringing interactive entertainment to the festival. Throughout the day, I included many people in the show and chatted in character with audience members, especially entertainers, technicians and officials. While Edmonton cover band Uptown played classic rock and dance hits, I also posed with audience members.

Midway through the afternoon, it was time for Liza Minnelli. Members of the audience and the Pride Centre of Edmonton Dance Team kicked up their heels with me to “New York, New York”.

From there, I changed in seconds to become Madonna. Some expert “Vogue”-ers from the professional dance team Snap Boys joined me on stage. These dancers had previously performed with Britney Spears impersonator Derrick Barry and RuPaul’s Drag Race runners up Pearl and Adore Delano.

While local band We Were Friends was setting up their gear, I was Dolly Parton. The show had to go on, so I interviewed the charming band members in character. In conclusion, I jumped into “9 to 5” as a sign off for the Dolly Parton portion.

Finally, I ended the show with impersonations of Celine Dion and Cher.

Above all, it was a pleasure to perform for such an adoring audience at Edmonton Pride. I’m grateful for the opportunity.

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Celebrity Impersonator Tracey Bell Entertains Edmonton on CTV Morning Live

Corporate entertainer Tracey Bell capped off her participation in the 2016 Edmonton Pride Festival with a hometown TV appearance.

The award-winning celebrity impersonator last appeared on CTV Morning Live Edmonton in 2013, but she returned with an ambitious goal.

Known for lightning-fast costume changes, Tracey Bell decided to impersonate 10 different divas this time. She chose Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Cher, Madonna, Janis Joplin, and Liza Minnelli. As usual, each diva had her own costume and some trademark zingers.

For her Dolly Parton impersonation, she joked about busty wardrobes. As Celine Dion, she was filled with love. She noted during her Marilyn Monroe performance that CTV anchor Rob Williams had stopped breathing. During her impression of Judy Garland, she mused about lions, tigers, and bears. These were just a few highlights.

More often than not, Tracey Bell’s live television appearances feature media personalities as part of her performance. In that respect, this segment was no different as two CTV Edmonton anchors got involved. After introducing the segment, Stacey Brotzel interacted with Tracey Bell as she brought the various divas to life. Later on, CTV’s Rob Williams donned a full Sonny Bono costume and joined Tracey Bell for her Cher impersonation. Judging by his performance, Rob Williams makes a worthy addition to Tracey Bell’s Sonny Bono collection. Tracey Bell also brought CTV Edmonton meteorologist Cory Edel on as a “boy toy” for Madonna.

Just like the first time, Tracey Bell enjoyed this visit to CTV Edmonton. She and the anchors had fun, but the experience gave viewers an idea of just how inclusive and entertaining Tracey Bell’s live shows are.

Tracey Bell thanks everyone at CTV Edmonton for inviting her back to the show. Watch the full segment below!

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