November 11, 2025 – I am a director, actor, entertainer, creative coach & teacher in NYC. I have a nightlife persona Lavinia Draper IG/FB/TikTok @mslavinianyc
I wrote a musical Doing Time With Lavinia.
I work for Roadrecovery.org.
At the LGBTQ center in NYC.
I have a residency as an entertainer at The Stonewall in NYC.
I help create Events and show IG/ FB @susancampanaro.

doingtimewithlavinia.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. My recovery date is APRIL 7,1991.
I loved brown liquor
vodka martini
And straight Scotch or Martel.
Beer always made me sick and i drank a lot of it
I dated coke dealers. So I used that a lot, smoked it & crack.
Pot always from age 12 to 24.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. Gratitude on a daily basis.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. I think it is a Dis-ease.
Mental, Physical and Spiritual.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I was born in the Bronx. NY.
Grew up in Palm Beach, Florida.
I live in Manhattan since the summer of 1988.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Creative.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. I only want to live in NYC, but I would be on a beach any day I can.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. By my friends and the service I offer others with my wisdom and listening skills.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. Judgmental people.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Don’t give away your body to anyone who doesn’t love you.

Q. From what school of thought or teacher did you learn the most from?

A. Susan Batson Studio: Method acting.

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. Finding out I could not drink safely and being 12 stepped into AA.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. That I am free to be who I really am.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. The next right action. The still small voice that speaks to my heart and mind.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. GEMINI.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. THE GODFATHER.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Quinton Tarantino.

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Al Pacino.

Q. Who are your heroes in real life?

A. My sponsor, MARY.
My Niece, ADRIANNA.
My Mom, BARBARA.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. New York City.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Italian.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. Cash.
Credit card.
ID.
Eye drops.
Pen.

Q. What is the best and or worse piece of advice someone has given you?

A. Turn it over is the Best.
Date that guy is the worst.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. There is only life once so live your best life.

Q. What is one thing that always makes you smile?

A. Kids.

Q. What do you value most in a friendship?

A. Understanding.

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A. Being Sober.

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

A. You’re the happiest person I know.
I like that because I Trudge the Road to a happy destiny.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. Being sick.

Q. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

A. Piano playing.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. Almost marrying a creep.

Q. What is something you’ve learned about yourself in the last six months?

A. I am wearing a mask to the world of “I’ll help you” and it makes me feel lonely and uncared for.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. Performing in Dublin, Ireland and Australia.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. My joy of helping others.

Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?

A. The faces of the people that keep coming back.

Q. What is your motto?

A. Live your Joy.