SUSAN CAMPANARO
Acting Improvisation

SUSAN CAMPANARO has been an actor, entertainer, director, and teacher in NYC for over 30 years. Because of her years of improvisation and live cabaret performance, Susan created an alter ego: Lavinia Draper. Susan has headlined as Lavinia all over NYC nightlife, has a residency at The Stonewall Inn every Monday night, and has also been seen at Cherry Grove in Fire Island, Wilton Manner, Florida, Canada, and most recently toured throughout England. Susan’s worldwide acclaimed one-person musical, Doing Time with Lavinia (book by Susan Campanaro; music & lyrics by Lynn Portas) won Best Musical at the 2022 United Solo Festival in NYC.

Susan was produced in London by Wholelottacomedy.org and toured through the south of London and Brighton in September 2023. Back by popular demand, Susan has now been invited to perform her musical in Scotland for the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August. The film adaptation, LAVINIA! was recently produced by Virtual Arts Productions. Check out her comedy music video Coming Home (music and lyrics by Lynn Portas) on her YouTube Channel Lavinia Draper.   

Off Broadway credits: Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, Wild Mushrooms, Aunt Chooch’s Birthday Party, Thank You for Being a Friend: the Musical. Film: Summer of Sam, Chinese Coffee, Miami or Bust: A Hoboken Bet, Barrio Boy, Window Dressing. HBO: Sopranos, Autopsy.

At the Stonewall, Susan has also developed on-going monthly shows: Muse Monday (a LBGTQ Burlesque night that she hosts as Lavinia), Stonewall All Stars (headliner & host), and Melodies and Memoirs (director).

Susan is proud to be on the creative staff at Road Recovery, a nonprofit organization that mentors at risk youths through music and the arts. (roadrecovery.org)

Susan taught improvisation at the Susan Batson Studio for over 6 years and has assisted Mary Setrakian with her singing workshops for close to 20 years. Her passion is to create and develop one-person shows for young artists.

A Note from Susan:

Mary Setrakian is my teacher, mentor, and friend for over twenty years. I met Mary at the Susan Batson Studio in 2001 when I took her singing workshop, and I have never stopped studying with her since. She has taught me her process of connecting voice technique with my emotional life – The Revolutionary Send – and all the tools I need to sing with breath, strength, and passion. I am honored that my character, Lavinia Draper, is her host for numerous showcases of singers who grace the stage at The Triad Theater over the past two decades. I have acted as the director for Mary’s one-woman cabaret shows in NYC. It is my pleasure to witness her talent and be a 3rd eye in her process. I am honored to be on Team Mary.