By Gregg Shapiro
Contributing writer

If you missed Margaret Cho when she came through town in June as the MC for the True Colors tour (and what self-respecting homosexual would admit to missing that?) you have another chance to catch her. Her latest show, “The Sensuous Woman,” a real live variety show, with an array of guest performers, is headed your way. Cho, who has expanded her repertoire in recent years to include burlesque and dance, will delight and enthrall her fans as she exposes them to a whole different side of herself.

Gregg Shapiro: We spoke at the beginning of the year prior to your appearance at the Gurlesque Burlesque show in Chicago. How did that go?

Margaret Cho: That was amazing. It was really incredible. I loved doing it and I love burlesque. It’s a huge hobby and really great pastime for me. It’s been really fun exploring that.

GS: How much does your involvement in the burlesque scene have to do with the title and theme of your new show?

MC: It has a lot to do with it. The whole show was inspired by going into this world and learning about it and getting into dancing. It’s a huge shift for me. It’s a change, also, to work with other people. Because I’m known as a solo performer, so it’s a big new change for me.

GS: I’m glad that you mentioned the other performers because “The Sensuous Woman” is being billed as a variety show. What made you decide to go in that direction?

MC: I was inspired by, oddly enough, Debbie Reynolds! After she finished doing movies in the ’70s, she opened a very successful Las Vegas revue where she would do these huge shows, doing lots of different things—music and dance and comedy. I thought I would really love to do that. And I also loved all the (TV) variety shows from the ’70s like “Sonny & Cher” or “Donny & Marie,” all the specials. I love that! The whole idea of a variety show based on somebody, and you have a whole bunch of different people (performing).

GS: How did you go about selecting the performers involved?

MC: I had started doing the show kind of as a charity event over a year ago. They’re people that I knew from the dance community and they’re people that I was a fan of and also people that are friends of mine and from the comedy community. Everybody came together in different ways.

GS: In the ’70s there was a famous book called “The Sensuous Woman” credited to an author who went by “J.” The book left a lot to be desired in terms of its politics, in that it was written in a less than feminist tone and dwelled on how to satisfy a man. Are you calling your show “The Sensuous Woman” in an attempt to reclaim female sensuality and sexuality?

MC: I think so. I think those kinds of books from the ’70s are so funny. It’s a funny image and a funny idea to me.

GS: In June you acted as MC for the True Colors tour, which was organized by Cyndi Lauper and featured Erasure, The Cliks and others. What was that experience like for you?

MC: It was incredible. I got to be very close friends with Erasure and The Cliks. Actually, I was out late last night because The Cliks were on “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and we had a viewing party. I did a show yesterday and we had the viewing party at this house in the Hollywood Hills with some of the members of The Cliks and Erasure, and watched (it). We all became very close because the tour was pretty grueling. We were all so exhausted, but we really bonded. I love Cyndi and I think she’s an amazing person and a real role model for me. (She’s) somebody that I admire so much.

GS: What was the most memorable part of the tour?

MC: I think getting to watch Cyndi every night. I loved to watch every single night. She is so amazing and she gives so much of herself to the audience. I was so inspired by that. It’s such a beautiful thing and she’s just beautiful.

GS: If they did it again next year, do you think you would want to be involved again?

MC: I’d like to do it. I think it would be a lot of fun. So hopefully we’ll see.

GS: In the past you have released CDs and DVDs of your concert tours. Are there plans to do the same for “The Sensuous Woman”?

MC: I hope so. I haven’t actually worked it out yet.

GS: This is has been a particularly busy year for you. In addition to MCing the True Colors tour and embarking on tour with your new show, your movie “Bam Bam and Celeste” was recently released on DVD.

MC: I love that film and I’m happy that it’s finally getting to see the light of day. It’s been a long time and I really loved making it. It’s got a terrific cast and it’s a really funny film and I’m glad that it’s finally out there.

GS: Now, with an election year looming, what are your thoughts on the current state of things political?

MC: There are so many candidates. It’s confusing. It’s like “America’s Next Top President” or something. There’s so much going on. I’m like, “Waaaaiiiitttt” (laughs). There’s too many people. I think I like Hillary, I think I like Obama. Nobody has really come out for gay marriage, except for Kucinich, which is disappointing. There should be more people that are advocating gay rights. But it’s something that nobody wants to talk about because they’re afraid. I want less fear there.