A Smörgåsbord of Wintertime Burrr-lesque!

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.

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Burlesque for the Holidays!

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!

 

Happy Repeal Day! Prohibition-style Events To Bring Out Your Inner-Flapper.

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the national ban on the sale, production and transportation of alcohol that was in place from 1920 to 1933, was repealed.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.

 

Happy Birthday Dita Von Teese! Celebrate With Your Local Burlesque Troupe.

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.

 

Brown Paper Titillation: Burlesque Events You Need to Know About

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.

 

Launch Party in Seattle

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.

 

BPT’s Favorite Venues: The Can Can

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.