Real Housewives of New York City star Countess Luann de Lesseps has been busy. Earlier this year, she launched her Marry F Kill cabaret tour—directed by Richard Jay-Alexander—and dropped a song of the same name and accompanying music video. Then, this fall, she joined the cast of Bravo’s upcoming dating show, Love Hotel, featuring a handful of other single Real Housewives stars looking for love.
As she spoke to SLM this week, de Lesseps was still unpacking her bags from Love Hotel, but only to pack them right back up again. The Countess is headed back out on tour, and that includes a stop at City Winery on November 1.
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The reality star says she’s excited to return to the area. De Lesseps has previously brought other versions of her cabaret show to St. Louis theaters, and she spent significant time across the river in Benton, Illinois, filming Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake, which premiered in July 2023.
“Andy Cohen’s not in town, but his parents are going to be around,” de Lesseps says. “And I’m looking forward to seeing some of my fans from Benton. I hope they’re coming out. We really did enjoy doing that show, and we and we love it, because Sonja and I, we grew up in small towns. Our lives have changed, but we are small-town girls at heart.”
She may be a small-town girl at heart, but de Lesseps’ brand is luxury, and that’s the vibe she’ll be bringing to City Winery. Fans can expect performances of hits such as “Money Can’t Buy You Class,” “Feelin Jovani,” and, of course, “Marry F Kill,” as well as plenty of stories and behind-the-scenes tidbits not aired on Bravo.
“People ask me all the time, ‘What is cabaret?’ And it’s really a personal story,” de Lesseps days. “It’s about my journey. I show clips from the show, I get into a song, you hear stories that you’ve never heard from me before. It’s cabaret meets comedy meets a fashion show—you know I’ll be wearing a lot of Jovani—and it’s just so much fun. It’s really a party.”
Fans will have two chances to be part of that party at City Winery on Friday—tickets are still available for both the 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows. The venue is more intimate than de Lesseps’ usual stops, but she says that’s perfect for her.
“I’m gonna love it, because [having fans be a part of the show] is how I roll,” she says. “I think they love it so much because they feel like they’re a part of it.” Interactive elements of the show include de Lesseps sharing tips with her audience and playing “Marry F Kill” with The Countess. She says even those who aren’t Real Housewives fans can expect an entertaining evening, and maybe even some new connections.
“This show is for everyone,” says de Lesseps. “I have fans that come with a friend who has never seen Housewives, and they have a great time. It’s like a crash course in Housewives material, and of course my personal stories of not only Housewives, but of my love life, of all those parts of Marry F Kill. Even if you come alone, you might leave with other people because [audience members are] all connected in that way, you know? They already have the Housewives in common. So it’s a way for them to connect as well, which is huge to me.”
So is there anything that audience members do need to know to enjoy Marry F Kill? Just one thing, says de Lesseps.
“It’s a full-on party, so everybody better get ready,” she says. “Get their sequins out and their statement necklaces….I put on a great show.”
