Tuesday Tease: Merry Christmas! Get Ready for Your New Years Tease!

December 25, 2012
By James Ulness

You’ve survived the apocalypse and it’s finally Christmas! Hope all of you are with loved ones today, enjoying a relaxing day off.

That said, don’t rest on your laurels too long! It’s time to get ready for New Years Eve; the end of the holiday season and the beginning of a new year, full of new possibilities and new adventures! I know it’s been a long year and I know you’re tired but why, with all that’s going down on New Years Eve, would you stay at home watching a glittery ball drop on TV? Why do that when you can go out and watch glittery bras drop, live and in person?

New Years Eve was made for burlesque: glitter, dancing, champagne and celebration all wrapped up (or more accurately unwrapped) into one night of amazement and fun! You need to be out there, champagne glass in hand, saying “goodbye” to 2012 and welcoming 2013!

Whether you want to sit back, sip your drink and watch the festivities or get out on the dance floor and party, we have got an event for you!
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Tuesday Tease: It’s the End of the World As We Know It!

December 4, 2012
By James Ulness

Statistically speaking, those who predict the end of the world have a very poor track record. And December 21, 2012 is probably not the going to be the final day of existence for this universe. But who wants to take that chance? If the world is going to end, don’t you want to be out there enjoying it one last time?

With that in mind, here are is a list of apocalyptic burlesque shows to brighten up the Earth’s catastrophic destruction!

Seattle, Washington

Friday, December 7 | An Alumni Spectacular: The End of the World As We Know It! “The planet will shake, the heavens will open up & your knees will tremble as The Academy Of Burlesque brings you ‘THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!'”

Los Angeles, California

Thursday, December 20 | Apocalypto The Awakening This is La Muerte Vive’s newest “rock opera-meets-cabaret” starring Santos de Los Angeles, the Player St. Orchestra and Miss Ruby Champagne. This once in a lifetime special event is presented by La Muerte Vive and will be hosted by Apocalypto Tequila and the Los Angeles Brewing Company.”

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Tuesday Tease: When the boys come out to play…

November 20, 2012
By James Ulness

In its tireless march toward world domination burlesque has evolved far beyond it’s original incarnations. It’s Lamarckian transformations have allowed it to branch out into many and varying forms, creating a lush and vibrant (and sparkly) family tree.

The branch of the burlesque family tree we are focusing on today is boylesque! No longer is the world of glitter and feathers the strict domain of women. More and more men are stepping out on stage to show audiences what they’ve got. The art has even gotten a recent write up in the New York Times!

Often the boys are preforming along side of the girls so it can be a challenge to find a show where you can just watch the boys dance. But, luckily for you, I have gone and done that heavy lifting and here are the fruits of those labours. The best boylesque shows (and burlesque shows featuring male performers) from every corner of the county!

Los Angeles, California

Monday, November 26 | Monday Night Tease! presents MEATFEST 3 Come join Monday Night tease in celebrating the men of burlesque with their third annual production of Meatfest! This all male show will feature performances by Bobbie Burlesque Harry Merkin, Mr Snapper, Tito Bonito, Lee T Killer, Doctor Lust and “the reason it’s always wet in Portland” 2012 Reigning King of Burlesque, Russell Bruner!

Seattle, Washington

Friday, December 14 through Monday, December 24 | Homo For The Holidays! This December Homo for the Holidays will be bringing you two shows a night on the 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd at 7:00pm and 10:00pm. Along with a Christmas Eve show on the 24th at 10:00pm! “Homo For The Holidays! is a seasonal spectacle guaranteed to make even the most stubborn Yuletide gay! An unforgettable all-star cast of burlesque, cabaret, dance, drag, and musical local luminaries come together in a display of glittering grandeur.”
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Tuesday Tease: Burlesque Tribute To QUEEN

November 13, 2012
By James Ulness

This Saturday, November 17 the Burlesque Tribute To QUEEN: Starring Kyle Greer As Freddie Mercury will be presented by Hot & Heavy Burlesque at The Viaduct Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

For nearly four years Hot & Heavy Burlesque has been bringing neo-burlesque to Chicago audiences that “embraces the extreme & places particular importance on the music” with amazing, unique and theatrical productions. Burlesque Tribute To QUEEN promises to keep their tradition of amazing shows going. The entire show will be sung live by Kyle Greer as Freddie Mercury and feature performers from around Chicago and beyond!

Come and be treated to performances by Viva La Muerte, Red Rum, Dahlia Fatale, Rosemary Maybe, Tricksie Treat, Mae the Bellydancer, Mister Junior and Sauda Namir. There will also be special performances by Miss Pussykat, Barbacoa Jones and Oklahoma City-based Brown Paper Tickets producer/performer Adele Wolf!

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Tuesday Tease: Last minute Halloween shows!

October 30, 2012
By James Ulness

Halloween is tomorrow and you don’t have any plans?!?!?! If only there was some place you could find a list of really amazing Halloween and horror-themed burlesque shows… Oh wait we totally have a list of really amazing Halloween and horror-themed burlesque shows! And even if you have plans for the big night, there are still plenty of shows before and after to keep your Halloween going as long as possible.

Pre-Halloween shows to get you warmed up!

Portland, Oregon

TONIGHT! Tuesday, October 30 | Critical Hit Burlesque and Naked Girls Reading PDX join forces! You get two treats when Critical Hit Burlesque and Naked Girls reading – Portland team up! In the first half of the evening you can enjoy Naked Girls Reading classic and contemporary tales of horror. And after that’s done you can stick around for a “Devilish Night of Dancing Ghouls” from Critical Hit Burlesque.

New York, New York

TONIGHT! Tuesday, October 30 | ‘Night of the Living Dead Girls’, A Halloween Party & Burlesque Show Spook-ta-cular Throw on your Witch hat, Zombie-up yourself and strap on your dancing shoes for this Halloween party/burlesque show! Dance to the Music by DJ Dharma and see a show by the Paper Dolls. “It will be an evening to shake the spirits from their graves.”

We have such sights to show you on Halloween night. Check out these amazing shows!

Seattle, Washington

Wednesday, October 31 | The 9th Annual Cabaret Macabre with The Bad Things and guests For nine years, Seattle punk-cabaret band The Bad Things (featuring Brown Paper Ticket blog contributor Jimmy Berg) have hosted this Halloween celebration featuring the best of Seattle’s underground cabaret and burlesque community. This year will feature dance performance by La Petite Mort and international belly dancer Bella Jovan, as well as the sharp-tongued wit of Sinner Saint Burlesque’s MC Diva le Déviant. Not only that but there will be dark, old-timey tunes by Bakelite 78, Peculiar Pretzelmen, Baby Gramps and, of course, The Bad Things.

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Tuesday Tease: Seattle’s Queen of Gorelesque!

October 23, 2012
By James Ulness

The First time I met La Petite More was backstage at a Chance Fashion show. She strutted down the catwalk in a Samurai-inspired Steampunk outfit, dragging a 3 foot pipe wrench with her and sporting a very large fauxhawk.

Backstage she showed off a pair of high heeled zombie shoes and large amount of gravitas. The reaction from the designers and photographers there was a unanimous “I want to work with her!” That was in 2009, since then I have had the opportunity to work with and for La Petite Mort on many shows and I can confidently say that everything she does is a monument to style, talent, art and a large amount of fake blood.

I recently had a chance to sit down with La Petite to find out what makes her work stand out.
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Tuesday Tease: Boolesque Part 2

October 2, 2012
By James Ulness

There are more Halloween burlesque events coming down the pipe than anyone can possible handle. This list began last week and keeps growing! I fully expect it will will continue to grow after I have finished writing this and after you have read it as well. This has required me, as a service to you, to pre-set a search on Brown Paper Tickets for Halloween burlesque events. This is a more complete list than I could ever hope to compile. So if you are unable find a show near you here you can check this search list for the latest Halloween burlesque that Brown Paper Tickets has to offer!

Seattle, Washington

Wednesday, October 31 | The 9th Annual Cabaret Macabre with The Bad Things and guests For nine years, Seattle punk-cabaret band The Bad Things (featuring Brown Paper Ticket blog contributor Jimmy Berg) have hosted this Halloween celebration featuring the best of Seattle’s underground cabaret and burlesque community. This year will feature dance performance by La Petite Mort and international belly dancer Bella Jovan, as well as the sharp-tongued wit of Sinner Saint Burlesque’s MC Diva le Déviant. Not only that but there will be tunes dark, old-timey tunes by Bakelite 78, Peculiar Pretzelmen, Baby Gramps and, of course, The Bad Things.

Saturday, November 3 | La Petite Mort’s Dark Cabaret for the Dead “Join La Petite Mort, Peculiar Pretzelmen, Twisted Monk, Miss J9 Fierce, The Shock Doc, Professor Gall, Deidra, Jeff Ferrell and more as an offering to celebrate the closing of the season of the dead with a dark, decadent evening of reverie in various forms. Cherry Manhattan will lead you through the art of death. Whether it be pain or pleasure, there will surely be something to suit your senses.”

Thursday, November 8 | “Honoring, a day of the dead burlesque show, is a celebration of the sacred and profane. Where performers bare more than just their souls in tribute to those who have past.” Starting at 9:00pm you will be treated to the talents of Paris Original, Donatella Melies, BoomBoom L’roux, Seraphina Fiero, La Petite Mort, Beatrice Belladonna, Miz Melancholy and Ace Carter. Along with your host Corvan Black.
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Tuesday Tease: Boolesque! Part 1

September 25, 2012
By James Ulness

I’ve often thought that Halloween and burlesque are a great fit. Costumes, drinks, night-life, candy* and naughty fun are big parts of both. And it looks like I’m not the only one who sees the connection. When I sat down to research Halloween burlesque I knew that I would find some good shows but what I didn’t know is how many shows I would find! There are so many shows out there and they are appearing so quickly that I am having trouble keeping this list up to date. This is why I decided to break the list up into two posts.

I also noticed that Brown Paper Tickets’ home-base of Seattle, Washington seems to be the place to be if you want to see Halloween-themed burlesque shows. And while I’m delighted that my home town is at the top of the list, I would love to see the rest of the country step up with more “boolesque” and “gorelesque.” There is a lot out there but there could be more!

Here’s my first list of upcoming “boolesque” events. Stay tuned for a whole bunch more.

* I really want to encourage more performers to throw candy at the audience.

Seattle, Washington

Friday, October 5 I Decay “A night of sultry, dark and dangerous burlesque and belly dance” at The Rendezvous Restaurant and Lounge, presented by AtmosFear Productions

Friday, October 26 I Tempting Tarts Burlesque Presents: Tricks Treats & Tarts! Two shows (7:00pm & 8:30pm) busting out with tricks and treats for your enjoyment!

Portland, Oregon

Thursday, October 18 I Miss Kennedy Presents: A Rocky Horror Pastie Show “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a classic, one-of-a-kind cinema and theatrical production. What could possible make this show better? More boobs! “A Rocky Horror Pastie Show” is the classic story you know and love but with less talking and more stripping.

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Tuesday Tease: Nerdly Delights

September 11, 2012
By James Ulness

It seems that the world has finally come to its senses and realized that being a Geek is a good thing. How good, you ask? Good enough to inspire burlesque shows! It’s not really all that surprising when you think about it. If you drew a Venn Diagram of “sexy” and “nerdy” the space where they overlap would be burlesque (you could add glitter and hot-glue also but that would be getting away from today’s subject).

Today we are talking about geeky burlesque! Errr….geeklesque?

We’ve got books, video games, pirates, Star Wars, Star Trek, Muppets, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who and much more epic awesomeness to blow your mind and reduce you to a quivering mass of nerdy joy. So, without further ado, here’s our picks for upcoming Geeklesque performances around the country.

New York, New York
What do you get when you cross Burlesque with Battlestar Galactica, the Twilight Zone, Doctor Who, Star Trek, the X-Files and Sea Quest? Give up? You get EPIC WIN BURLESQUE Presents: SCI-FI TV! This Friday and Saturday, September 14th and 15th see your favourite science fiction television shows explode onto the stage with sexy, geeky glory!

Also coming up next Tuesday, September 18, Hotsy Totsy Burlesque presents their tribute to the BBC nerd-classic Doctor Who. Apparently, the doctor is sick and tired of everyone making a profit off of his name and face all over the internet, so he’s decided to host a galactic burlesque show. This nerd-tastic night of inter-galactic booty shaking will feature performances by Cherry Pitz, Lana Firebird, Lewd Alfred Douglas, Little Motown, Matt Knife, Nasty Canasta, Nelson Lugo, Ruby Solitaire, Teddy Turnaround and Handsome Brad as Dr. Who!

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Tuesday Tease: Don’t just sit there, GET UP AND DANCE!

August 28, 2012
By James Ulness

The more you know the more there is to learn. Knowledge and experience create a better understanding of the world and its complexities. As you learn, the world unfolds around you displaying infinite detail that you would have never thought possible. So, what better reason than to get up and dance? Sometimes sitting and watching isn’t enough. To really experience something you need to immerse yourself in it, you have to become it.

I think Bruce Lee said it best: “Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

If you want to appreciate something more you need to learn as much about it as you can. This goes for anything in life but, because this being Tuesday Tease, today we are talking about burlesque and how you can can not only watch but also experience it in a more fulfilling way than you can just sitting in a chair. The first and most important step in learning how to do something is finding someone to teach you. This can be a difficult task, especially with something as specialized as burlesque.

Luckily for you I’ve gone ahead and done all the hard work so you don’t have to. All you need to do now is find a class near you and dive into a world of sequins and glitter!
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