One week from today marks the first San Francisco performance in 5 years of Lypsinka, the brilliant neo-drag creation of actor John Epperson, who—for 30 years—has been channeling the recorded voices of Hollywood royalty through his masterfully gestural body. Once a pianist for the American Ballet Theater, Epperson crossbreeds the camp of a diva-duping drag with the poetic control and technical precision of a dancer.

Epperson lip synchs speech more than song, performing to dialogue from movies or recorded interviews— as is the the case in The Passion of The Crawford, which he’ll be performing at the Rrazz Room from September 4th through the 16th. It’s easy to forget that Epperson is performing silently; his physical fusion with his soundtracks is uncanny. And spooky. And hilarious.

Without speaking, he speaks to us about the substance of style, and the ways in which celebrity is at once disembodied and all-encompassing.

If you’ve never seen Lypsinka before, this run is a don’t-miss start to your fall arts season.  Don’t believe us? See the video after the jump…