Word on the street here in Seattle is that snow is coming by the end of the weekend. That means it’s going to chilly here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Sounds like the real winter is on its way nationwide so why not get out and enjoy some live entertainment that’s sure to get you a little warm under the collar? I’m talking tassles, glitter, pasties and tasteful titillation. That’s burlesque people… or, keeping with the winter theme, burrrr-lesque!
Here’s a smörgåsbord of bump and grind for all our burlesque fans out there. Get out and get warmed up before the chill hits! You’ll be glad you did. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Abbie Rhodes, Armitage Shanks, Austin Academy of Burlesque, Backbar Beauties, Bad Luck Bazaar, Ben Wisdom, Bergamot Burlesque, Bettina May, Bettysioux Tailor, Blitzen Von Schtupp, Bon Appétit Burlesque, Bunny Hill, Bunny Wonderland, Burlesque in London, Camilla St. Sin, Captain Elastico, Charlotte Treuse, Chesty La Rue, Circus Contraption, Coco Lectric, Dee Milo, Dirty Dishes Burlesque Review, Dot Mitzvah, Eternal Otter Records, Ginger Licious, Goldie Candela, Hai Fleisch, Harley Foxx, Hors D'oeuvres, Infamous Nina Nightshade, Itty Bitty Bang Bang, Jolie Ampere Goodnight, Kendra Hayes, Kitty Katastrophe, Kryssy Kocktail, La Petite Mort, Lady Lucerne, Lady Naboombu, Lily la Vamp, Lowry Lab Theater, Miss Gams Galore, Miss Kitty Baby, Moe Wood, Moxie Sazerac, Mrs. Haggerty, Nelson Lugo, Nona Narcisse, Pearl Lux, Psychedelic Spectacle, Purple Devil Productions, Pussyfoot Burlesque, Replicant Girl, Roxie le Rouge, Ruby Joule, Ruby Lamb, Ruby Rage, Sara Dipity, Sasha Fire Gypsy, Scandal from Bohemia, Sensei Chanel, Sharkbite Sideshow, Slow Burn Burlesque, Studebaker Hawk, the Copper Gate, The Jigglewatts Burlesque Revue, Venus of Dance, Vincent Drambuie, Violet DeVille
Baby, it’s cold outside. And what better way to get your blood pumping on these chilly winter nights than to take in a little burlesque? Burlesque troupes across the country are putting on holiday-themed events for those of you that can’t be bothered with anything “family friendly” and we’re proud to ticket some of the best that burlesque has to offer. Whether you’re in the mood for a sexy spin on The Nutcracker or want a little bump and grind on Christmas Eve or maybe you’re a burlesque dancer looking for a winter burlesque course to improve your chops. Whatever it is, we got you covered (or un-covered in this case).
How about a great gift idea? Take that special someone out for a night of cocktails and cabaret or treat them to a course on tassel twirling. I, personally, can’t think of a better winter warmer.
Here’s a list of our recommended events. Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Academy of Burlesque, B.A.B.E., Backbar Beauties, burlesque, Cabaret Red Light, Can Can, Can Can Castaways, Chriskwanzakkah, Cirlesque, Dystopian Studios, Gorejess Gals Burlesque, Gotham Burlesque, Homo For the Holidays, Jigglewatts Burlesque Review, Miss Indigo Blue, Musette, Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad, Off Off Broadway, PAWS, Provocatease, Rhinestone Follies, Slow Burn Burlesque, Stripped Screw, Tempting Tarts Burlesque, The Deltan Follies, The Glamazons
Seventy-eight years ago today, prohibition, the national ban on the sale, production and transportation of alcohol that was in place from 1920 to 1933, was repealed. Thus making today “Repeal Day.” Over the last few years we’ve seen a resurgence of interest in this very interesting time in American history. Speakeasy-style bars, classic cocktails with hand-cut ice cubes and the popularity of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire are all evidence of this trend. I have to admit, it’s hard to resist the romanticism of getting dressed up, going to a dimly-lit, subterranean gin joint and knocking back a sazerac while vintage jazz plays in the background.
Prohibition, obviously had some negative effects on American culture: organized crime grew rapidly as mafia groups got into the bootlegging business; the economy suffered as government funds were allocated to enforce prohibition; and it virtually destroyed the fledgling U.S. wine industry as lower quality grape vines with thick-skinned grapes that could be transported more easily replaced quality grape vines causing many winemakers to leave the United States for other wine producing countries or to get out of the wine business altogether. Also, ironically, alcohol-related deaths soared as Americans drank more than they ever had before prohibition. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: An Immersive Play, Art of Restraint, Boardwalk Empire, Casino Moderne, Femina Potens, Foz the Hook, Goose Island Brewery, Greta Jane Quartet, HBO, Mafia Walking Tour, Prohibition, Repeal Day, Spanos Bakery, speakeasy, Speakeasy Dollhouse, The Art Deco Socity of Los Angeles, The Big Sleazy, The Howard Fishman Quartet, The Los Angeles Athletic Club, TUSH! Burlesque
Today is neo-burlesque icon Dita Von Teese‘s birthday. A prominent figure in the neo-burlesque movement since the early 90s, Von Teese, is in no small part responsible for the burlesque revival that continues to this day. Inspired by the films and musicals of the 30s and 40s, Von Teese helped define the performance style and aesthetic that has become de riguer with modern burlesque performers. Von Teese’s look is inspired by classic cinema and retro style, particularly elaborate lingerie such as basques, corsets and stockings, and her live shows often feature props such as a giant powder compact and a giant martini glass. She’s also known for a fan dance which features the world’s largest feather fans. Von Teese has been featured in Playboy, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Elle and has also recently designed a new lingerie range with Wonderbra (see video below).
While Von Teese is the public face of the neo-burlesque movement, there are girls (and guys!) all over the country that are taking what Von Teese popularized and adding their own, unique twists and shimmies. Brown Paper Tickets has long been a supporter of the burlesque movement and we ticket hundreds, possibly even thousands, of burlesque events year round. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Academy of Burlesque, BPT, burlesque, Can Can, Coney Island, Disney After Dark, Dita Von Teese, Gotham Burlesque, Laramie Burlesque, Redlight Variety Show, Stripped Screw Burlesque, The Castaways, Wonderbra
Burlesque was originally used to describe comical literature, theatrical productions and musical pieces that mocked serious topics. Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” is often described as burlesque for it’s mocking portrayal of romance.
But the term took on a newer, sexier meaning when it hit American shores. American burlesque shows originally started as an offshoot of English burlesque, with British burlesque troupe Lydia Thompson and the British Blondes achieving notoriety in New York in 1868. At that time, burlesque shows were more of a variety show that consisted of comic sketches, acrobats, magicians, and chorus bits, but eventually American burlesque began to focus more on female nudity. By the 1930s burlesque shows focused mostly on stripping with one or two comics performing between acts. Some notable celebrities got their start in burlesque including Mae West, Abbott and Costello, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson, Danny Kaye and Jackie Gleason.
Classic American burlesque began to fade in popularity with the onset of Prohibition and lingered on to waning popularity until the 70’s, when more sexually explicit strip clubs took over. But in the 90’s a revival began, and most towns in the U.S. now boast their own neo-burlesque troupe. Annual conventions like BurlyCon and Miss Exotic World Pageant draw thousands of attendees. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Abbott and Costello, Al Jolson, and Fifi Giatine. And welcome new Cherry Bombs: Thelma Gunsmoke, burlesque, BurlyCon, Cha Cha Velour, Cherry Bomb Burlesque and Cabaret, Danny Kaye, Donna Darko, Goldie Candela, Gotham Burlesque, Jackie Gleason, Jolie Ampere Goodnight, Lady Bomb DeLuxe, Laramie Burlesque, Live Burlesque in Las Vegas, Livid Cult Burlesque Theatre, Lydia Thompson and the British Blondes, Mae West, Miss Exotic World Pageant, Moxie Mayhem, Panty Mime, PDLesque, Pearl Lux, Ruby Joule, Ruby Lamb, Rudy Ramirez, Sassy Delure, Scarlet Fever, Tempting Tarts Burlesque, The Jigglewatts Burlesque Revue, Tootsie Time Bomb, W.C. Fields
Brown Paper Tickets recently celebrated our new services and updated website launch with a raucous party in our hometown of Seattle, Washington. We partied with over 400 of Brown Paper Tickets event producers, performers and friends.
Our new services are aimed at empowering event producers to successfully organize and ticket any type of event they may desire. This inspired us to adopt a theme of “Anything is Possible” to lead the night’s entertainment and modern-vaudeville vibe. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Anything is Possible, Brown Paper Tickets, launch party
In the heart of the Pike Place Market, here in Seattle, we’re lucky enough to have a little gem of a nightclub called the The Can Can a subterranean cabaret that’s become one of the most popular night-life destinations in town.
The Can Can’s aesthetic is steeped in Moulin Rouge-era Paris but maintains a modern edge. Descending into the basement night-club visitors anticipate a show heavy on nostalgic naughtiness. However, The Castaways, the Can Can’s in-house dance troupe, are not retro bump and grinders. These guys and gals perform burlesque with a edgy, surreal twist. My band has performed with them quite often and they constantly blow me away with their aggressive, high-energy, ultra-sexy dance moves. Always heavy on quirk and humor, they manage to trick audiences into watching modern dance by disguising it as a burlesque show. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Pearl Jam, Pike Place Market, The Bad Things, the can can, The Castaways, The Stranger, Vince Mira