Cher impersonator will make you dance

After 12 years of dressing and performing as Cher, Lisa Irion of Lafayette is still amazed by strong reactions. Irion has filled casinos and corporate parties around the country with cheering, dancing crowds begging for more.

Irion has had to run through hotel lobbies, chased by Cher fans dying to get a closer look.

The fans who shed tears can still get to her.

"A lot of people will never, ever meet the real Cher, or even get to see her perform," said Irion. "They love her. The tribute helps keep her popular.

"I've had people get up on stage and cry, when I bring fans up on stage. They know I'm an impersonator but they're that obsessed with Cher. Some of them had cancer and said 'I'll never meet her. You're the closest thing I'll ever get to her.'

"There's a whole world that I never knew. Although I'm obviously not her, I feel very blessed to touch some people that want to believe it's her – for a while."

For the first time since 2007, Irion performs for believers in the city where she lives. She'll do a Cher tribute show at 7 p.m. June 13 at Cite' des Arts in downtown Lafayette. That's after her Patsy Cline tribute at 7 p.m. June 12 at Cite'.

Irion continues to receive worldwide praise for her Cher shows, which have won her appearances on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," along with features in the New York Times and Singapore's Electric New Paper.

Irion has toyed with the idea of a Patsy Cline tribute since 2005, after her husband said her natural singing voice reminded him of the country legend. After occasionally singing Cline classics with successful results, Irion decidedly last summer to produce a full tribute.

"This will actually be my first full show with Patsy," said Irion. "I had developed and rehearsed the show to do it in Texas. Her songs only last two, two and a half minutes. So there's a lot of songs to cover in a 90-minute show. I had to learn all this material. So it was worth it.

"I really love her music a lot. It was a joy to sing them. I went to Paul Muffoleto's studio and I started recording as Patsy, just to tweak the vocals and get some feedback. When I started posting some of my Patsy recordings on social media, the response was really, really good. So I just ran with it."

The impersonation bug first bit Irion in 2003. She acted in "This Magic Moment," an Abbey Players production that had her mimicking Peggy Lee, Linda Ronstadt and other stars.

Paris Plaisance, a local Elvis impersonator who was also in the play, suggested Irion look into performing as Cher in the lucrative world of artist tribute shows. Some actors command six-figure salaries performing as look-alikes of celebrity singers, movie stars, athletes, comedians, politicians and more.

Irion took time off from her legal secretary job to care for her newborn son. But instead of returning to the office when her son started school, Irion decided to go on stage as Cher.

She can hardly wait to entertain the home crowd.

"I want them to feel like they're at home. If they want to sing along, they can sing along. If they want to get up and dance, they can get up and dance. It's a very informal show."

Herman Fuselier is music and entertainment writer for the Times of Acadiana and Daily Advertiser. Contact him at hfuselier@theadvertiser.com.

Want to go?

Tribute Shows starring Lisa Irion

Patsy Cline, 7 p.m., June 12

Cher, 7 p.m., June 13

Cite' des Arts, 109 Vine St.

Tickets: $20, $30 for both shows

Information:citedesarts.org, lisaascher.net