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Tuesday Tease: Improvisational Burlesque!

stage-questionWhen you go to a burlesque show, you never quite know what you are going to get. There are a few guarantees (rhinestones, pasties, music and horrific puns) but beyond that the night is a glitteringly bedazzled mystery for the audience to experience.

For the three shows that we’re featuring this week, it will be a mystery for the performers as well! Burlesque is usually a meticulously choreographed and rehearsed activity, but these brave performers have thrown caution to the wind and will come to the stage armed with nothing but guts and talent to bring you improvised acts to excite and amaze. Think of it as a slightly sexier, live version of the TV show Who’s Line is it Anyway?

Norfolk, Virginia313734-250

Friday, January 30 and Saturday, February 1 | Focus Fox Burlesque presents Whose Pastie Is It Anyway?

Ever hear a song and think to yourself I would really love to see a burlesque routine done to this? Here’s your chance! Focus Fox Burlesque is putting the teasing in your hands. The foxes are coming to the stage with absolutely no preparation. You, the audience, have the opportunity to pick the music and the dancers will have no clue until they walk onstage!

The two night program will be hosted by Rob Floyd and feature Eevee Bravura, Ellie Quinn, Lacey LaBare, Lily Liqueur and Siren Sivette.
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Tuesday Tease: RIP Dixie Evans, The Godmother of Burlesque

dixie-week-poster-croppedOn August 3rd, the burlesque world lost the woman who is probably most responsible for the burlesque revival and the preservation of its history. A legendary performer in her own right and an inspiration for multiple generations of burlesque performers, the “Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque,” Miss Dixie Evans.

Born as Mary Lee Evans in Long Beach, California on August 28, 1926, Dixie started her career in the 40s as a model and chorus girl, eventually becoming a star dancer. She was a headlining burlesque performer by the early 50s, performing up and down the West Coast as part of Harold Minsky’s “burlesque wheel” touring circuit. Minsky encouraged her to adapt her stage persona to that of Marilyn Monroe, given her strong resemblance to the, then rising, film star. While resistant at first, she eventually adopted the Monroe persona and it was that act that would define her career as a burlesque dancer.

Evans developed a well-received tribute show to Monroe following her death in 1962 but eventually dropped the act after being mistaken for the dead film star. This was deeply disturbing to Evans and so she eventually adapted her stage show into a parody of Irma La Douce, Shirley MacLaine’s character in the 1963 romantic comedy of the same name.
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Tuesday Tease: This Week in Burlesque!

211011-250We usually try to find a fun theme for the Tuesday Tease, whether it be a burlesque legend’s birthday, an interview with an up-and-coming troupe, a burlesque sub-genre, whatever. This week however, while looking over our list of upcoming events, I was impressed by the sheer quality of events happening this week.

So, I decided to throw the theme out the window and just highlight some amazing upcoming shows. There are so many good ones, all with their unique, regional flair. If one of these are in your neighborhood, put on your best threads and enjoy the best burlesque has to offer courtesy of your friends at Brown Paper Tickets.

Anchorage, Alaska

Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 I VivaVoom Brr-Lesque Presents: Crazy 8s!  Join VivaVoom Brr-Lesque for the celebration of their EIGHTH YEAR in entertainment! 8 years of burlesque in Alaska! 8 years of comedy, circus acts, live music, prizes and striptease! You’ll see all of your favorites: Lola, Maus, Stems, Coral, Crush, Stella, Lily, Eileen, Rodney and Stoney, PantyRob, and Bunni! Plus hobnob with the lovely hostesses and amazing crew! You’ll recognize acts from earlier this season, and there will be lots of prizes from their sponsors! This is VivaVoom’s last show of the season, so do NOT miss it!

Seattle, Washington

TONIGHT! Tuesday, April 16 I Tuesday Tease Spring  Sailor St. Claire’s Tuesday Tease is Seattle’s only monthly burlesque revue with live musical accompaniment! The show brings together the musical stylings of the Lurid Spectacles and a rotating cast of Seattle burlesque artists to create an evening of eye-popping and toe-tapping entertainment. Tuesday Tease takes place at LUCID in the U District on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. They feature a new cast of performers every three months, and this Spring brings the delicate blossoms known as Jacqueline Hyde, Whisper De Corvo, and Kylie Koyote who will shimmy and shake the winter blues away in April, May and June.

Thursday, April 18 I House of Gorejess presents: The Seattle Show a burlesque tribute to the Emerald City!  House of Gorejess presents: The Seattle Show a burlesque tribute to the Emerald City! Hosted by Gorejess at Julia’s on Broadway. Starring The Shanghai Pearl and featuring: Polly Wood, Jesse Belle Jones, Cherry “Killer” Tomatoes, Mafia Minx, Kylie Koyote, Alexa Perplexa, Sailor St. Claire & Candy Apples. Special guests: Karmen Sutra, Czech Mate, Sabina Sobrette & Jimmy Buttons.
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Tuesday Tease: When the boys come out to play…

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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