Burlesque Seattle Press

Fierce lady, fierce photo. Iva Handfull @ Prowling for PAWS (Rebar)

Last night’s Prowling for PAWS benefit continues with a final show this evening, 7:30pm @ Rebar. Iva Handfull of Discontinued Trim performs both nights; she’s enormously talented and a little bit dirty, too. When skill and raw sexuality collide, one must pay strict attention.

In other salacious news, Red Hot Summer was a fitting finale to Seattle’s full-scale summer burlesque shows last Thursday night. Five-piece lounge kings Orchestre L’Pow! brought some Portland talent with them. Madison Moone and Charlotte Treuse have performed with the band three times now, getting their start with a Lotería called Dames and Games- an interactive show in which Madison and Charlotte portrayed lotería cards (La Sirena, La Corona, etc.) while the audience played Mexican bingo.

Madison Moone @ Red Hot Summer (Triple Door)

Charlotte Treuse @ Red Hot Summer (Triple Door)

The second half of Red Hot Summer featured excerpts from The Heavenly Spies’ hugely successful XOXOX show. I can’t say enough about these ladies; they’re my latest obsession. Blending dance and burlesque in an incredibly fetching mix, the Spies have just started rehearsing their fall run, Mata Hari, debuting in November. They’ll also shake a tail feather at Seattle International Cabaret Festival this October.

The infamous blue balls. Heavenly Spies @ Red Hot Summer (Triple Door)

Caela Bailey is the honorary blues belter of The Heavenly Spies- yet another reason to love them. Her cover of “I Put A Spell On You” was mind-blowing. Not an easy feat for a little lady and such a big, big song. But she did it- effortlessly.

Caela Bailey (photo Chris Blakely)

*Special thanks to Matt The Photographer and BSP’s ringside pal Chris Blakely for the photo recap. Check out more of Chris’s photography on the sidebar, at right.

Hottie McNaughty and a friend

Among the many accomplishments of Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque- an equal opportunity launchpad for the twirl-curious- is turning out at least a few performers worth their salt per class that go on to perform again. Some of those are actually inspired performers, and some are inspired performers that have a worthy agenda. This Friday and Saturday at Rebar, the agenda is pussycats.

Prowling for PAWS, put together by the ladies of Discontinued Trim Productions, is an homage to cougars and bad kitties everywhere. All proceeds benefit PAWS of Lynnwood- a nonprofit that finds families for homeless pets and rehabilitates wildlife- and Greenwood’s PAWS Cat City. This will be the second benefit for Discontinued Trim, a burlesque-for-charity production trio made up of Academy grads Iva Handfull, Ruby Whiines (say it like you spell it), and Pinky Shines. Last June’s benefit for Lambert House- Glittorus!- completely sold out and raised a substantial chunk of change for LGBT youth. Brainy as well as bawdy, the ladies of Discontinued Trim are also well-connected: the two nights feature feline-themed burlesque, belly dance, aerial, and variety from Hottie McNaughty, Minetta Lane & Violet Tendencies (Stripped Screw), Gams Galore, Kitty Baby, Moorea Malatt (The Naked Folksinger), and more.

Prowling for PAWS: August 27 & 28 @ Rebar. Full lineup and details HERE

BSP pin-up girl Honey was once a streetwalker; now she's a domesticated lady.

Discontinued Trim founders Pinky Shines, Ruby Whiines, Iva Handfull (L-R)

Show Pony: Saturdays @ Can Can

Show Pony- the latest production featuring the fearless and tireless Can Can Castaways- feels a bit like a nonstop dance cabaret dipping into Gareth Pugh’s costume closet and bouncing back into a circus of skin. The tiny stage features a mélange of rocket rides, muscled white tigers, high kicks and extremely creepy but oddly alluring technicolor fringe. Jonfried & Benroy, looking suspiciously like Jonny Boy (Castaways Assistant Dance Director) and Benihana, are resplendent tiger tamers overtaken by their wild beast. Principal dancer and choreographer Rainbow Fletcher busts out impressive yoga/taekwondo pivots and kicks. Faggedy Randy lapdances a faceless partner in an eerie but comical take on Yaz; guest star Jess Klein (formerly of Fankick!) fills in currently for Fiona Minx. Show Pony has been selling out night after night this summer- get tickets early if you’re planning a big night out so you can vie for a front row table.
www.thecancan.com

An inflatable creation by fashion designer Gareth Pugh

In other fashion-as-performance art news from last night: Lady Gaga played the Tacoma Dome, bringing a tidal wave of wacky costumes to the city of Tacoma. Polly Wood, Wiggy Stardust, and Fosse Jack were among the best dressed- see if you can find them over here.

This week: Polly Wood and Fosse Jack’s The Jack & Wood Show returns to the Jewelbox on Monday 8/23, and Thursday 8/26, my current troupe crush The Heavenly Spies heat up The Triple Door with Orchestra L’Pow.
www.jackandwood.com
www.thetripledoor.net

The Heavenly Spies (Photo Chris Blakely)

The current issue of The Stranger features my review of The Heavenly Spies show XOXOX- click HERE to read.

Catching these ladies at Can Can in particular is half the fun. I’m quite fond of situations where you can’t decide if you should be staring at a body part or holding a gaze. Tonight XOXOX encores at 8pm. (www.thecancan.com) Next up for The Heavenly Spies- Red Hot Summer presented by Can Can @ The Triple Door, August 26 with Orchestra L’Pow.

Here are a few outtakes from my Q&A with Agent Rhinestone:

Which of you performed at Exotic World, and what title did you win?

Honey’s mom makes a lot of our costumes- any thing you see with fringe was made by her! Lindsey Cunningham of Spotlight Fashions (he makes costumes for Disney) made my big ruffle skirt costume and feather backpack. We bedazzle everything ourselves and often order miscellaneous pieces online. We are all shopaholics. You can often find us at Southcenter Mall scouring for matching jumpsuits at Forever 21. I sometimes wear my mom’s old costumes- she was a belly dancer in the 80′s and gave me everything she ever made.

Kimberly Galore (Photo Chris Blakely)

Coco Capone (Photo Chris Blakely)

Chris Blakely’s book, Tassels and Emeralds, is available here; his newest mag (featuring other Can Can shots) is literally just out and linked here. Expect more Spies photos in issues to come.

Heavenly Spies perform tonight at Can Can (POC Photo)

The Heavenly Spies, known for their exotic hybrid of contemporary dance and burlesque, bring their successful XOXOX show back to Can Can for two nights this week. The show’s June run- rife with leotards, oversized blue balls, rhinestone cowgirls, and hot pink jumpsuits- sold out every show. You can catch them tonight or next Wednesday (two shows per night)- after that they’ll perform August 26 in Red Hot Summer with Special Guests Orchestre L’Pow at The Triple Door, closing with excerpts from XOXOX.

XOXOX! August 13 and 18, 7:30 & 10:30. Click HERE for tickets and info.

If you’re fiending for more burlesque this weekend, check out the latest graduates from the Academy of Burlesque at West Hall, Oddfellows Building- two shows Saturday night. On Sunday, West Hall transforms into an artist’s boudouir hosted by ladies’ man Ernie Von Schmaltz. This week’s model? Fannie Beaverhausen.

Fannie Beaverhausen = serious drawing fun

For more info on Seattle’s monthly Dr. Sketchy’s gatherings, as well as a peek at their newly updated photo gallery,
visit them here

Something deliciously suggestive has been popping out from the usual alterna-rag ads in The Stranger for the last few months. An incredibly juicy haunch here, a cherry red blow-up heart and snow white thigh in garters there, a butt cheek begging for a slapping in the Features section- it’s hard not to become fixated with these vivid little ads. Staring at pin-up photography adverts at work or on the bus might raise more eyebrows than the usual 1-900-CALL-ME fare, simply because the photos are actually provocative and sexy- because they’re actually good.

Seattle photographer Shena Lee has been shooting cabaret, burlesque performers, musicians, events, people, and pin-ups for quite some time. Her intensely colorful, beautifully lit work has been instantly recognizable in the 8×10 glossies sold at Atomic Bombshells shows or ads for Seattle’s 2009 amateur short film porn festival, HUMP! In addition to juggling multiple design and photography projects, these days Shena and stylist cohort Fuchsia FoXXX have been capturing untamed women in pin-up packages and have revamped their website; hence the renegade fleshy adverts.

When asked about her start with pin-ups and how she and bellydancer pal Fuchsia FoXXX began working together, Shena had this to say:

“I had friends, and friends of friends who were burlesque performers- and I was lucky because those performers were some of the best in Seattle. I’ve worked with Miss Indigo Blue, Ben DeLaCreme, Sydni Deveraux, Honeysuckle Hype, The Can Can Castaways, and of course, Fuchsia FoXXX, to name a few. The subject matter just kind of fell in my lap! I’ve always photographed people, especially women, and I found a ridiculously talented and glamorous pool of models in the burlesque community.

When I first started doing the packages, Fuchsia’s fabulous hair and make-up styling was an add-on, but it was such a crucial piece of the experience that it became a permanent addition. We’ve been doing the packages in their current incarnation for about two years, and we really do make magic for our clients. Fuchsia’s styling is immaculate- it’s fine-tuned for my specific lighting and editing style. We have a broad variety of props, many tried and true poses, and our wardrobe (not to mention shoe collection!) has grown to ridiculous proportions. We can do sexy, sweet, fetish, vintage, cheesecake, modern… all of our clients want something different, and we specialize in creating looks that match their fantasies. Our clients leave our studio commenting over how much fun they had, and how comfortable they felt- and when they get their photos, it’s pure delight. We offer a unique opportunity to step into the decadently glamorous ‘showgirl life’ for a day, and come away with images they can hold onto for the rest of their lives.”

Shena Lee Photography + Design’s Pin-up info can be found @ www.shenaleepinups.com

Shena Lee: One of those naughty little ads...

Behind the scenes at a shoot with Fuchsia & model

Shena Lee: Can Can Castaways & Can Can Chris

And just in case you were wondering, Seattle’s amateur-and-locally-produced porn festival returns this fall. HUMP! goes down November 5-6 at On the Boards in Seattle and November 13-14 at Cinema 21 in Portland. The deadline for submissions for HUMP! 2010 is 5:00 p.m. on October 15, 2010. www.thestranger.com/hump

An image from Hump 2009 (Shena Lee)

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After catching the neo-burlesque of Seafarer Follies this weekend, check out some vintage stars of early striptease with the Seattle premiere of Behind the Burly Q. See it- it’s HISTORY!

*Behind the Burly Q runs from Aug 6-12 at The Grand Illusion
www.grandillusioncinema.org

Bambi The Mermaid in Helendale, CA (photo Andrew Brusso)

Bambi the Mermaid, Coney Island’s loveably lunatic showgirl, makes a first time appearance in Seattle this weekend at The Seafarer Follies. In email, Bambi peppers her sentences with generous and sincere exclamation points- she’s just that excited to see new cities and bring her extraordinary sideshow stripping to the stage.

A sunny blond with a beatific smile, Bambi’s acts are deceptively sweet: she’s been a Pantyless Cheerleader, Bug-Eating Wild Girl, Snake Charmer, Little Girl, and an array of half Bambi-half creature characters. She’s a fixture at the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade and has performed at NYC’s Slipper Room. Jo “Boobs” Weldon credits Bambi as a pivotal force in her own realization that burlesque could be full-blown, bizarre performance art.

“Bambi has a significant body of work that revolves around sea creatures and her costumes are over the top amazing, which is why I felt she had to be part of this event,” says Paula The Swedish Housewife, producer of the first annual revue and pageant. “I could have booked an entire show just with her, but you’ll only get to see two of her delightful Sea Crustaceans at The Seafarer Follies this year. Too bad we don’t have a tank on the stage.”

Regardless of her fabled cache of costumes, with Bambi (who has forged a rich career in various acts of creative sex work and exhibitionism) you get the distinct impression she’s the type of wild woman that’s difficult to keep still- let alone with her clothes on.

Click HERE to read my full preview of The First Annual Seafarer Follies in the current issue of The Stranger.

For Seafarer Follies tix, visit : www.thetripledoor.net

Trixie Little (photo Mike Lee)

Baltimore’s Trixie Little & The Evil Hate Monkey are legendary for their combination of burlesque, vaudeville, and circus arts. The pair won Best Duo at Exotic World in 2006, and this year the Monkey scored Most Comical as well as Best Boylesque. Trixie’s taken home her share of titles as well- 2nd Runner Up and Most Innovative in 2008. Paula The Swedish Housewife brings them to Seattle for The First Annual Seafarer Follies August 6 & 7 at The Triple Door- and Trixie graciously took some time to write about her fantastical career:

You and The Evil Hate Monkey been performing together since 2002- how did that start? You have an amazing chemistry and friendship- it’s very visible even in YouTube clips.

Monkey and I started out swing dancing a long time ago and we got really good at all the throws and acrobatic moves. It wasn’t long before we wanted to focus on the flipping and cut out the dancing. We began going to study with former Cirque Du Soleil acrobats in Vermont for several weeks each year and over time we cultivated our unique style of “flipping-and-stripping!”

Your bio mentions high-level circus training- and it shows! Your physicality is awe-inspiring. What’s the background and training behind it?

As you can imagine, Monkeys are hard to keep up with! They really do have about 7x the strength we do- so going into trapeze and acrobatics seemed like the best thing to do with him. A little ways back, we actually moved up to Vermont for two years to study more intensively at our favorite circus school and we go back to continue training whenever we can. The way I see it, it will take a lifetime to truly master our art.

You’ve performed in such an amazing array of places- what has been most memorable to you?

We are so lucky to travel so much! We have annual trips that we look forward to each year- we always look forward to Seattle and Key West the most! As for individual shows, one REALLY memorable show was called “Elegance.” This was a show I produced two years ago in Baltimore’s former burlesque/vaudeville theater district that is now the red light district, called “The Block.” It felt majorly radical to stage a burlesque show in a fully nude strip club. There was literally not even five minutes between the nude girls dancing to Poison and the start of our show with Miss Astrid and Catherine D’Lish. It was so funny to watch our audience file in and sit down on the red velvet couches beneath the giant coochies framed in marabou- major deer-in-headlights looks going on. It took a few drinks, but the audience relaxed and went bananas for the whole experience. The stage was in the round on a granite table top with people seated all around it staring up at us. We tried to incorporate the two stripper poles into the show as much as possible and Monkey and I made several amazing entrances from the second floor by sliding down from the top balcony! The performances were off the charts too! It just felt historic to bridge the gap between burlesque and stripping for just one night.

So you’re from Baltimore? What’s it like there? The John Waters mental images about being from Baltimore are pretty alluring in a cult-kitschy kind of way.

Baltimore is AMAZING and John Waters is pretty much a patron saint here. There are definitely parts that have the classic “Bawlmer” (that’s how Baltimore sounds with a proper local accent) vibe- there really are women who call you “Hon” and chain smoke on their stoops. But it’s also an arts-friendly town with major art and music schools, cheap warehouse space, great audiences, a supportive arts council and a down-to-earth / do-what-you-want mentality which allows people to cultivate a wild sense of individuality. This past Saturday alone, I attended a community water ballet in a public park, performed in an Aerial Festival that was staged in a two story alley / graffiti gallery and then went to a burlesque show in a rock club!

Speaking of John Waters- what/where did you perform with him?

We opened for him once when he was doing a one-man Christmas show. It was a huge club in Washington, DC called the 9:30 Club. Afterwards we actually hung out and talked about our favorite dive bars, most of which were being bought by developers at the time, so it was a nostalgic conversation. I told him about my favorite corner bar that used to be on my street- it was called Fran’s. Fran was the owner and bartender- a grandmother who actually crocheted doilies and covers for the liquor bottles, the bar back was her butch daughter who always wore a sleeveless plaid flannel shirt and taped her knuckles. That place had the best juke box ever too, all doo-wop.

You’ve been here before, for Moisture Fest- what are your ties to Seattle?

A fan/friend in Washington, DC told me about the festival about 5 years ago and I remember seeing photos of the Aerialistas dangling from chandeliers over Hale’s Brewery- I was mesmerized! Every part of that equation sounded like something I wanted to be part of! So, our friend encouraged one of the producers, Tim Furst, to bring us out and he actually DID! Now it’s one of our favorite trips each year, we have been out 4 years in a row now. Also, we know Paula the Swedish Housewife and Indigo Blue from the national burlesque community. In my humble opinion, Seattle has the best burlesque scene in the entire country. Beating out my second fave, NYC, based on the quality and quantity of venues, performers, producers and professionalism.

Seeing as the Seafarer Follies are sea-themed- I’m guessing we *might* see your mermaid act. Any other hints on what you and Evil Hate Monkey have in store for Paula’s show?

Yes! That Mermaid act was one of the reasons Paula wanted us to come. Also because she really wanted to see a life-size Sea Monkey singing “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. But make no mistake; we’re bringing an ocean-full of shenanigans with us! We are also polishing up two brand new numbers just for Seattle: one will be a new duo trapeze number and the second we will be auditioning to become host Cap’n Bloodbeard’s pirate crew and we’ll stop at NOTHING to please him! It’s kind of a “pirate casting couch” situation with Bloodbeard!

Seafarer Follies tix: www.thetripledoor.net

Trixie Little & The Evil Hate Monkey (photo Mike Lee)