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Athena Reich

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Athena Reich is a Canadian-American actor, writer, singer/songwriter, and Lady Gaga impersonator. Athena's journey to conceive using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is documented in the Emmy nominated film Vegas Baby.

Career

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Athena Reich is known for her Lady Gaga tribute. Chatelaine magazine called her, "The world's top Lady Gaga impersonator".[1][2]

Reich created the Off-Broadway show Lady Gaga: #ARTBIRTH, which received Time Out Critics' Pick[3] and ran for two years in New York City at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Lady Gaga #ARTBIRTH then premiered in Toronto at the Berkeley Street Theatre. Reich told the Toronto Star, "#ARTBIRTH first ran in New York, but the Toronto version is completely different. Unlike the old show, which was a cabaret, this is a full-blown musical".[4] Lady Gaga: #Artbirth, stars Reich as a pregnant Lady Gaga who has decided to give birth in front of her fans as the ultimate performance art piece.

Often mistaken for the real Lady Gaga, in 2015, Billboard Magazine printed an image of Athena thinking it was Lady Gaga herself.[5] Reich's tribute performances have been endorsed by Lady Gaga, who, tweeted in support of Lady Gaga: #ARTBIRTH. Reich's Lady Gaga tribute has garnered media attention worldwide. She has appeared on CBC, Cp24[6] and was featured in The New York Times,[7] and was called a "Best Bet" by New York Magazine.[8][4]

Actor

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Her recent acting credits include The Woman Who Can't Lie directed by Don McKellar and starring Sandra Oh. She played Irene Seale in The Perfect Murder (2015) and appeared in White Collar (2012).[9]

Singer

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As a singer/songwriter, Reich is best known for her hit, "Love is Love" which charted number one on Logo TV and won Best Pop Song[10] at the Outmusic Awards. Reich has released five albums and four singles.

References

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  1. ^ "Meet the world's top Lady Gaga impersonator". Chatelaine.
  2. ^ "The Multiple Lives of New York's Celebrity Impersonators". Observer. August 26, 2014.
  3. ^ "Athena Reich#Artbirth LGTB in New York". Time Out. 30 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Lady Gaga impersonator wasn't born this way". Toronto Star. 23 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Hear Say: A look at who's saying what in music". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Toronto Gaga taking over music scene". Toronto City News.
  7. ^ "To Win a Free I.V.F. Cycle, Contestants Share Losses, Grief and Hope. Is it Worth It?". The New York Times. 11 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Best Bets: Oscar-Nominee Impersonators". New York.
  9. ^ "Athena Reich Is Lady Gaga in #ARTBIRTH, Beg. 8/17 in NYC". BroadwayWorld.com.
  10. ^ "The Best of the 8th OMAs". Outmusic Awards.
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