By J.D. Oxblood

Cinco de Mayo, 2012

WOW Cafe Theatre

As part of our runup to Vegas (the BHOF is right around the corner), I’ve been conducting some interviews, and I’ve noticed that I always end up asking people about the local burlesque scene in their hometowns. I think this stems from two sources—I’m legitimately curious about the scenes with which I’m unfamiliar, but I think I’ve also become envious of the towns who can claim to have “a burlesque scene.” A long Facebook thread last year examined the difficulty Portland was having with a scene exploding at supernova speed, and the growing pains associated, and the concern truly warmed the cockles of my heart. (By the way, what’s a cockle?) I’ve been to Portland, and while it’s a cute, warm, enjoyable town, it is what us Big City folk call, well, small. And I kind of envy them. In New York, to say that we have a “burlesque scene” is betraying the truth—we have dozens of burlesque scenes, all happening on top of one another, and it’s so complex, amorphous and forever-mutating that it is very possible, even if you run a burlesque website and a calendar with a global reach and are invited to shows at a rate of several per hour—it is still very possible to discover that there is a whole ‘nother scene happening right under your nose that you haven’t even heard about.

Which is why Melody and I, hot-off-the-presses newlyweds, went to check out Hypergender Burlesque at the WOW Café.

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BURLESQUE TO BROADWAY has graciously offered 50% off tickets to all BurlesqueBeat readers.  That’s only $35 for a giant serving of show at the stunning Millennium Theater! Word is that many of our burlesque compatriots saw the show in its Seattle run at the Triple Door, and the producers hope to bring the NYC burly folks out, too.

From the press release:

Experience the art of the tease as critically acclaimed Quinn Lemley stars in her new hit touring production, Burlesque to Broadway. 

Along with sexy sidekicks Natalie Loftin Bell and Stacey Harris — and a smoking 10-piece big band — Lemley takes audiences on a journey from the early days of underground burlesque clubs to mainstream acceptance by the Broadway establishment and beyond.

This unique theatrical concert directed by Tony award winner, Joseph Hardy, honors rule-breaking icons such as Sally Rand, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Mae West, and celebrates their ascent as they danced on the edge of the law, laid bare the double standards of the era, and fueled a movement that would influence divas for the next century.

Despite its cultural relevance, this show is no history class: Song-and-dance fun fill the theater as the as the cast belts out unforgettable hits such as ’Hey Big Spender,’ ’’Let Me Entertain You,’ and “She’s A Lady” while they dance to Merete Muenter’s provocative bump-and-grind choreography. The costumes of Wendall Goings add to the experience, glittering with sequins and flowing with fans, and feathers.

THE MILLENNIUM THEATER is a 1,400-seat venue in the heart of South Brooklyn. This historic space has been outfitted with modern sound, multidimensional computerized stage lighting and giant LED screens making it an ideal venue for large-scale concerts and theatrical productions. The theater and its rich history were recently chronicled in an article in the New York Times. 

BURLESQUE TO BROADWAY

Millennium Theatre, Brighton Beach, Brooklyn

May 18 & 19th at 8pm.

Get your tickets here, and use coupon code (MYUNION) to get the 50% off discount.

By Sean K. Young

Saturday, March 24, 2012

The Joy Theater

As we turned the corner onto Canal Street, the newly renovated Joy Theater was lit up like the proud lady she once was. Originally opened in 1947 as a movie theater, the Joy once stood as a modern marvel among the other downtown theaters. Her glory days were long one by the time I came of age and she permanently shut her doors in 2003. But that bitch Katrina in 2005 really did her in.

A total gut-job renovation last year turned the Joy into a multi-use venue, the quality of which this section of Canal Street has not seen in decades. Reborn is the Joy’s neon sign with its bright letters and the chasing lights above the marquee. The historically accurate outside ticket booth welcomes patrons like a step back in time. There may not be a better venue for big time burlesque in town, certainly not for the Queens of the New Orleans Burlesque Festival.

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by Sandra O’Connell

April 28, 2012

The Wise Hall, Vancouver, BC, Canada

There’s something about watching burlesque in a rickety old theatre that truly tickles my fancy. Built in 1958, the Wise Hall located on a dark, tree-lined residential street in Vancouver has all the charm of an old masonic hall where secret deeds are conducted. In other words, it’s an ideal place to house a salacious burlesque show.

On April 28th, the grand hall hosted the Taboo Revue Burlesque Variety Show, a show presented by the Screaming Chicken Theatrical Association, and featuring more than 20 performers peeling their clothes off in delightfully entertaining vignettes. Note: Heaven all rolled up into two hours.

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A Weekend of Nekkid Ladies with the Storyville Starlettes and Fleur de Tease Part 2

By Sean K. Young

Sunday, March 4, 2012

One Eyed Jacks

By the time Sunday evening rolled around, I was in that “Do I really feel like leaving the comfort of my couch” mood, but Tonya started calling at like two in the afternoon – I swear. I am glad she did because Fleur de Tease was simply awesome.

The amount of production that goes into a Fleur de Tease show is extraordinary. Not to take anything away from other troupes, but this just seemed a cut above. The fact that it is in One Eyed Jacks does not hurt. Jacks is set up for this type of show – more theater with a bar than the other way around – a stark contrast to last night’s show at the Hi Ho. It also says something about the troupe that it was a packed house for the early show and I counted no less than five professional photographers in addition to our very own TA.

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A Weekend of Nekkid Ladies with the Storyville Starlettes and Fleur de Tease Part 1

By Sean K. Young

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The Hi Ho Lounge

Mardi Gras was over and the hangover was gone. After weeks of parades, booze, and general depravity, it took some serious recoup time – at least 3 days. After a weekend of early bedtimes and cleaning out my liver, by the following Tuesday I was itching for some entertainment, and what better way to scratch that itch but the fine ladies of New Orleans burlesque.

It was to be a busy weekend. Saturday night the Storyville Starlettes presented a Pisces Party celebration of all things under the sea! Sunday evening I was to go to my first Fleur de Tease show. I was seriously stoked for both.

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While BqB never claimed to be a news site, it would seem unfitting to fail to print news when it happens. Today, somewhere around noonish, the lovely and wonderful Ms. Melody Mudd took J.D. Oxblood’s hand in marriage. The editors would like to quote Doc Wasabassco, who said at a show on Friday attended by J.D., Melody, and their family and friends, “I don’t recommend it myself, but they seem to like each other.” That they do. The editors would also like to apologize for not remembering the credit for the above photo (taken in Vegas at the BHOF 2010). Photos of the actual wedding ceremony were not available at press time. The happy couple are looking forward to celebrating wildly with their friends this evening, and eagerly anticipate celebrating with the rest of their friends in Las Vegas later in the month. While no one can speculate if it was truly burlesque that brought them together, it is undeniable that this community has greatly enriched their lives, and their life together.

Kisses,

J.D. Oxblood & Melody Mudd,

a.k.a. Mr. and Mrs. Muddblood

by Tonya Armbruster

Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Noc Noc, Seattle

A few weeks ago, I was afforded the opportunity to shoot my first burlesque show outside of New Orleans, and was very excited to see what the Seattle burlesque scene had to offer.  The girls of Sinner Saint Burlesque – the longest running burlesque troupe in Seattle – did not disappoint.  Home for the girls’ weekly show is the candlelit, gothic cathedral-esque Club Noc Noc that is apparently famous for its tater tots.  My neighbor in the audience insisted that I try some, and I have to admit that they were pretty fantastic!

The title for the evening’s performance was “Behind the Pasties”, a mockumentary our host for the evening dubbed a “burlesqueography.” Diva la Deviant led us on this journey through the girls’ past, answering questions from the “interviewer” (sound/light technician Iman).  It was a very entertaining production, and a clever way to present a cohesive theme while allowing the girls the flexibility to express themselves as individuals.

Unfortunately, my talents do not extend to writing, so I’ll simply allow the photos (and girls!) speak for themselves.  Allow me to just say that I thoroughly enjoyed the sultry and often comedic expertise exhibited by the girls of Sinner Saint Burlesque, and especially appreciate the time that Evilyn Sin Claire and Polly Wood took to speak with me after the show.  Here’s hoping that they make it down south in the near future so that I get the pleasure of seeing them perform again!

The Sinner Saint Burlesque Revue is every Thursday at Club Noc Noc.

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by Photolena

April 1, 2012

Revival Bar, Toronto

April Fool’s Day brought out the burlesque community for a unique fundraiser that only the Toronto Burlesque Festival could throw – Strip Search 2012!

Twelve contestants gathered at the Revival Bar in Toronto’s Little Italy to compete for a chance at performing in the upcoming festival in July – now in its 5th glorious year. Judging was fierce and included industry icon and first inductee into the Canadian Burlesque Hall of Fame Tanya Cheex, past co-winner Dew Lily of Boylesque T.O., Legend of Canadian Burlesque Irish Mist, and celebrity judge Naked Toni from the Naked News.

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BB Heart

by J.D. Oxblood

Friday, March 9, 2012

Parkside Lounge, Lower East Side, NYC

“Ya want some fries with our shakes?”—reads the excellent tagline, touting “now the ONLY show of its kind in New York’s nightlife,” an only slightly-cloaked reference.  I’ve talked before about the similarities between the scene percolating over at the Parkside Lounge and the former BQ HQ The Slipper Room. The producers vying at the Parkside are trying, though the vibe is differentiated by the division of space—at the Slip, the action at the bar always threatened to overtake the stage, and even the semi-privacy of the back tables was intruded upon by the rancor pouring from the stage. The Parkside shows are in the back room, so it only gets sloppy when the patrons do, and the dive-bar ethos of the front room evolves unfettered, the patrons swilling PBRs and playing trivia with impunity, possibly unaware there is a show going on mere feet away.

New York is change. (And stasis, if you take the long view.) No one really knows what will become of the Slip, but the rumors are flying, and if it’s true that Habacker sold the building, it’s a 50/50 coin toss whether the venue—when it does reopen, and in true Gotham fashion, it’s overdue—will become a high-class successful performance venue like Galapagos, which will almost certainly need high cover charges to accompany the high drink prices, or if the New Slipper Room will quickly become Something Else—the kind of place the Ruling Class like to hang out in when slumming the “El-Ee-Es.” Time will tell, and in case you haven’t been paying attention, time is a bitch.

Meanwhile, we have the Parkside, and shows that keep the old downtown rough-and-tumble flame alight, like Drive Thru Burlesque. I don’t know what the name is about, but to me, it’s instructional: the best way to taste is actually to drive through—pop in for an hour, pop out to blow a joint, pop back in as the next producing team takes over, pop across the street for a slice, and overall, get fucked up, get riled up, and get off.  Read more…