Rockin’ Chair Theater

Rock theater is back on the Sunset Strip.

Dorik Perman--a 33-year-old performer who moved to Hollywood from Northern California two years ago--has been picking up good reviews for his Tubes- and Bowie-influenced rock stage shows at Gazzarri’s, the Roxy and Club Lingerie.

The twist: Perman is confined to a wheelchair because of muscular dystrophy.

“That’s why we do the theater--to take the attention away from the wheelchair,” Perman said of the shows, which also feature the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Nurse”--his real full-time nurse, Debra Dae, in a modified nurse’s uniform, mini-skirt, spike heels and all. “I put Debra in the show and do all these other things, otherwise, people are looking back at my wheelchair all the time.”

Perman, who will be at the Coconut Teaszer on March 14, FM Station in North Hollywood on March 19 and at the Roxy on March 22, seems intent on establishing himself on the scene without using his disability as an attention-getter--his publicity photos give no hint. Still, he is aware of the potential publicity value of his situation.

“Someone told me I should write a ‘Wheelchair Rap,’ ” he said, a bit perturbed. “Another TV producer I met said if I want to be discovered I should dress up the wheelchair.”

For the time being, though, his main concern is being able to live on his monthly $602 Supplemental Security Income allowance and still be able to afford to record the backing tapes he uses in performance (he has enough dexterity in his hands to allow for limited use of a drum machine and keyboards).

And if it’s his disability that gets him his break, he’ll understand.

“With how they make a big deal about others, like the guy with no arms who played guitar for the Pope or all those blind singers out there, I think Hollywood should give me a chance,” he said. “But after that, when I have records out, people should just buy them for the music.”

PHRANCLY SPEAKING: The self-described “Jewish lesbian folk singer” is back. Phranc, arguably the first of L.A.’s new folk performers, has completed her first album since her 1985 debut. With tongue typically in cheek, she’s titled the record “I Enjoy Being a Girl” (after the Rodgers & Hammerstein number). The cover photo shows an idyllic blue-skies backdrop, with flat-topped Phranc clutching a glass of milk, a la Pat Boone.

Produced by Victor DeLorenzo of Violent Femmes, the record features funny and/or wistful odes to her favorite shopping site (“Toys R Us”), her favorite tennis star (“M-A-R-T-I-N-A”) and her favorite pet bird’s adventure riding bareback on a bowser (“Rodeo Parakeet”). Also on the album is “Take Off Your Swastikas,” which has been part of her repertoire ever since an element of the L.A. punk scene turned ugly in the early ‘80s.

Though she is sorry to find that last song still relevant, she is gratified that folk commentary--especially delivered by women--has found acceptance with pop audiences. Rather than feeling passed up in favor of the likes of Tracy Chapman and Michelle Shocked, Phranc finds the current climate encouraging.

“It’s really great that women don’t have to wear panty hose to be a success in music anymore,” she said. “Hopefully when my record comes out it will be better for me. I really hand it to ‘em. The more women out there being who they are, the better.”

BUZZWORDS: It looks like the Scream, it sounds like the Scream, probably smells like the Scream--but instead it’s the Club With No Name. That’s what Scream co-founders Dayle Gloria and Mark Hundahl are calling their “new” club, which will be at the same locations (Mondays and Fridays at the Probe, 836 N. Highland Ave., Saturdays at the Park Plaza Hotel, 607 S. Park View St.), but with an expanded musical format over its notoriously dank and gloomy predecessor. As a grand opening special event, Nick Cave will perform at the Park Plaza location Friday and Saturday, while L.A.’s Shiva Burlesque will be at the Hollywood site on Friday. Then on March 6 there will be a “Texas chili blowout” in Hollywood. And no, the name’s not permanent: A contest for a new name starts Friday. Information: (213) 461-3221. . . From the how-can-we-miss-you-when-you-won’t-go-away file, Parthenon Huxley--whose debut LP came out on Columbia last year--is about to embark on a unique “Tour of Los Angeles,” in which he and his band plan to play as many local clubs as possible during March. . . .

Country-rockers Tin Star will celebrate the release of its Rhino LP “Tin Star” with a party on Tuesday at the Palomino. . . .

Chuck E. Weiss will celebrate his incredible fifth anniversary of Monday night shows at the Central in Hollywood on March 6. The club promises a blow-out party, and given Weiss’ long-time association with the likes of Tom Waits, George Thorogood, Rickie Lee Jones, Carole King and Bette Midler, the odds of something really special happening seem pretty good. . . .