Burlesque hijinks continue with full slate of summer shows
The lovely Cherie Sweetbottom will be featured in four of this summer’s shows. (credit Stereo Vision)
Two packed houses of enthusiastic burlesque fans were feted to a generous portion of beefcake last Friday night as Trixie Little presented Baltimore’s first-ever boylesque show – Trouble in Stubble – at the Creative Alliance. The show featured a return of hometown heroes Mr. Gorgeous and The Evil Hate Monkey and presented area audiences with their first look at international stars Tigger!, Captain Kidd and Fez Faanana. It was quite the spectacle.
Talk at intermission alternated between praise for Trixie and the boys and banter about the full slate of upcoming shows in the Baltimore/DC area. Fortunately, producer/performers Tapitha Kix and Kay Sera were on hand to fill in the details about some of this summer’s happenings.
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This Saturday night June 28 at the Yellow Sign Theatre, Baltimore burlesque troupe Twisted Knickers launches an ambitious multi-city tour with cabaret band The Bearcat Boas. This event marks the first time the Knickers have performed with live music.
Kix told the Baltimore Post-Examiner, “When we decided to do the show, we wanted to make this more than just a one time thing, which is why we’re doing the tour. Plus, we’ve wanted to work with a live band for a long time, but didn’t want to work with just any band. I really like the neo-cabaret sound of the Bearcat Boas and I think they’re perfect for burlesque.”
The Bearcat Boas play jazz standards, guilty pleasures and modern hits in their wide repertoire. Performing with the band will be Tapitha Kix, Glam Gamz, Aurora Wells, Beaujolais NouVeau and Indiana’s Jewels.
Hot Todd Lincoln MC’s the event with Stage Kittening by the limber (if somewhat klutzy) Lunchbox Lauren.
Thus far, other stops on the tour will include shows on August 16, at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA and August 22 at the Beir Baron Tavern in Washington, DC. The lineup for those shows will feature Tapitha Kix, Glam Gamz, Dainty Dandridge, Cherie Sweetbottom, Indiana’s Jewels and Maria Bella. Kix said additional dates me be added.
While the Knickers have performed at venues all over Maryland, Pennsylvanis, Virginia and DC, they are also the “House Burlesque Troupe” at the Yellow Sign Theatre and are proud to call that venue home.
“It’s only fitting that the tour starts there,” said a smiling Tapitha Kix.
The Yellow Sign Theatre is located at 1726 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Doors 8pm; show at 9pm. Tickets: $10 in advance – with no service charge – or $15 at the door. This is a 21+ show.
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It’s a wonder. Wonder woman.
No, make that wonder women!
Any show which features Cherie Sweetbottom, Maria Bella, Sunny Sighed and Kay Sera – all taking turns portraying the undisputed Queen of the Galaxy – is not to be missed!
Barbarellesque: An Ecdysiast Theatrical Experience plays the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA this Saturday, June 28. A unique live production of the sexy sci-fi camp classic, Barbarella, the show follows the 1967 film’s script and plot; highlighting the most iconic moments of the movie with song, striptease and variety performances.
Missy Aggravation, Stephon Walker and Pole Courter fill out the leads for this other-worldly experience. All are joined by a half-dozen other burlesque performers in various supporting roles.
This is the second go at Barbarella for Sweetbottom, Bella, Sighed, Sera, et al. When the show played in Baltimore last winter, it packed the Windup Space on a Sunday night. Given last winter’s weather, that was no easy feat.
Kay Sera credits her committed cohorts for Barbarellesque’s unique appeal.
“Barbarellesque doesn’t just follow the film’s plot, we actually use the script almost verbatim. So the production is really more like a play, which means that our cast has to learn not only their routines, but dialogue as well. And our kittens are doing far more than picking up clothes after performances; they are integral to the transitions between scenes, moving and switching set pieces, and creating the “mood” for each scene. The production is truly a team effort!”
Doors open at 8pm – the show goes up at 9. Tickets: $17 advance / $20 day of show are available online. The State Theatre is located at 220 N. Washington Street, Falls Church, VA 22046.
Please remember this is an 18 and up event. A valid ID is required.
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July is just around the corner and what could be more fun than a 5-star salute to our nation’s founding – courtesy of burlesque superstar Angie Pontani.
Pontani will be bringing her sizzling Burlesque-A Pades Star Spangled Revue! to the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Saturday, July 5. Hosted by side-show magician Albert Cadabra, this show features Angie Pontani, Helen Pontani, The Maine Attraction, Kay Sera, Maria Bella, Sunny Sighed and, making their debut in the DC area, Kitten N’ Lou.
Pontani told the Baltimore Post-Examiner she is especially excited about staging this show and adding three popular Baltimore/DC area performers to the stellar cast.
“Our show is a star spangled celebration with an amazing line up. I’ve worked with Kay Sera, Maria Bella and Sunny Sighed before and love them all. I wanted to bring them together for this over the top revue. It’s also the first time that Kitten N’ Lou are playing the Birchmere, and I can not wait to introduce that amazing audience to them! They are a hilarious and extremely talented duo!”
The Birchmere is located at 3701 Mt Vernon Ave. in Alexandria, VA. Showtime is 7:30. Tickets and other information may be found by visiting The Birchmere online.
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What are you going to do at Artscape when the sun starts to set on July19?
If you wander over to the Yellow Sign Theatre on Charles Street you can take a trip around the world with the Twisted Knickers as they present “Passport to Pasties.”
With 15 acts and 11 performers, this is the biggest show in Baltimore/DC this year. Reverend Valentine joins Tapitha Kix, Sunny Sighed, Chérie Nuit, Ruby Spruce, Dolly Longlegs, Hot and Bothered and half a dozen more artful performers. Two shows are on tap: 7 p.m. (doors 6:30) and 9:30 p.m. (doors at 9).
Kix said that, along with other festive destinations, the audience can expect to journey to a land down under, get lucky in Kentucky, go way down in Mexico and discover the warmth and love of Germany.
Yes, she said, “the warmth and love of Germany”.
Hot Todd Lincoln MC’s this blow-out production with Giddy GoGo acting as the busiest stage kitten in Baltimore.
Tickets are $20 at the door but only $15 in advance (that works out to just $1 an act! We dare you to find a better deal anywhere else!) And are available via Brown Paper Tickets, and they’ll pay the service charge too!
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Also on July 19, at the State Theatre in Falls Church, færies and men alike can thrill to a ribald take on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien with The one true show, Lord of the Pasties: The Return of the Bling.
Turning the Hobbit on his pointy ears, this show will feature new acts of burlesque, song, and sideshow, as well as old favorites from Lord of the Pasties: The Two Tassels. Coming together from all the lands of Middle-earth are: Maria Bella, Diva Darling, Mourna Handful, Kay Sera, Cherie Sweetbottom, and goblin hostess, Wed Ji Tucheeks.
“One Pastie to rule them all, One Pastie to find them,
One Pastie to bring them all and in the spotlight bind them.”
The State Theatre is located at 220 N. Washington Street, Falls Church, VA 22046. Doors, 8:00 p.m. Show, 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $17 advance/$20 day of show and are available now online. Remember, admission is reserved for those 18+ with valid ID.
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And finally, on August 30, area burlesque fans can look forward to the premiere of a brand new troupe called Bawdy Shop Burlesque. With an announced lineup of Kay Sera, Sunny Sighed, Ruby Rockafella, Chérie Nuit and Giddy GoGo, it should be easy for regular readers of this column to see how the producers came up with the moniker Bawdy Shop Burlesque.
At this writing, details about the first show are nearly as sketchy as Ruby Rockafella’s past; however, Kay Sera said fans may follow the troupe’s progress by liking the Bawdy Shop facebook page.
Like it, Kay? We love it!
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Trixie Little and her star-studded boys may be gone, but don’t let the beautiful girls of summer slip away. Mark your calendars now for all of these exciting shows. Then hide those calendars from your mom.
Anthony C. Hayes is an actor, author, raconteur, rapscallion and bon vivant. A one-time newsboy for the Evening Sun and professional presence at the Washington Herald, Tony’s poetry, photography, humor, and prose have also been featured in Smile, Hon, You’re in Baltimore!, Destination Maryland, Magic Octopus Magazine, Los Angeles Post-Examiner, Voice of Baltimore, SmartCEO, Alvarez Fiction, and Tales of Blood and Roses. If you notice that his work has been purloined, please let him know. As the Good Book says, “Thou shalt not steal.”