Events and Reviews

In the face of personal tragedy and a rampant global pandemic, veteran show pony Lola Van Ella has never been the type to sit on her jazz hands. After the sudden and tragic loss of her mother and grandmother in 2019, she went on to mark a decade of her Show Me Burlesque Festival the…

In a 2016 interview with Jessica Price, burlesque powerhouse Perle Noire remarked that “any time a person of color reaches out to me with … complaint or they notice that other troupes aren’t featuring women of color, I always say: don’t present a problem, present a solution. If you feel that you’re not being represented,…

This powerful cabaret show is decolonising Australia, detangling presumptions and assumptions, and setting straight lingering stereotypes.

“Legendary deadpan dominatrix” emcee Miss Astrid – aka comedian Kate Valentine – has been tearing strips off unsuspecting audience members in over 1000 shows since 1997. After a number of years out of the spotlight, “focusing on other things and raising my excellent kids,” she’s back onstage next week in Miss Astrid’s Mystery Box a…

In November I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Crescent City Burlesque Weekender, a three-day celebration of New Orleans burlesque. The festival, produced by AJay Strong and Bella Blue, was held at the small, cavernous Allways Lounge in the Bywater (well removed from the Bourbon Street mayhem). Headliners Jeez Loueez, Darlinda Just Darlinda and…

London burlesque heavyweights Betsy Rose, Missy Fatale and Jolie Papillon have conjured immersive magic at The King’s Head members club with Gin House Burlesque, a heady evening of tease, tipples and prohibition chic. An adaptation – The Roaring Twenties Revue – has been brought to the Underbelly Spiegeltent to spice up the South Bank.  …

Like many wild imaginings that have materialized into full scale performances, such as the annual Land of the Sweets and Through the Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice in Wonderland, Lily Verlaine’s new work Giselle began, like so many of her endeavors, with the question: “What if?”  What if the familiar characters of the classical ballet…

Le Bouge Neon, a “disco drama” created by Moulin Rouge dancer Fallon Dee and comedian Chris Fitchew which claims to “celebrate women, art and tease”, is one of a pleasing number of burlesque and cabaret shows included at the Underbelly Festival this year, all taking place in the twinkling Spiegeltent. The success of the production’s…

Burlesque star Betsy Rose reports on Sublime Boudoir at Alder Manor, which ran for two spectacular nights in New York in May 2017.  To experience and be a part of Sublime Boudoir at Alder Manor was a treat beyond my wildest dreams. As I completed my journey from foggy London Town to Yonkers, New York,…

Dita Von Teese and her all star cast of burlesque greats are on the road again this summer with The Art of the Teese. In an interview with 21st Century Burlesque at the end of 2016, Dita called it “a glamorous but riotous two hours of show … with the biggest and most lavish production…

[wp-review id=”28184″] The Folly Mixtures put on quite a show last year in the London Wonderground Spiegeltent, performing to an adoring crowd of family, friends and fans. They, and the fanclub, are back this year at the newly renamed Underbelly Festival with their Stars and Strippers spectacular, celebrating all things American.   The opening is…

  The F-word has been front and center throughout the world and at the forefront of discussion within the burlesque community of late. With ‘Nasty Women’ and ‘Bad Feminists’ globally speaking out on important women’s issues, it has been amazing to see how the burlesque community has been combining political expression into our body of…

“The Cocoa Butter Club gives a voice to The Other.  We exist to promote the fact that performers of colour are creating in a multitude of mediums, and whilst our cabaret may not always look the same, please consider how artists draw on their past, present and futures and create work which reflects this.” After…

Well… What does one say? Donald Trump is President Elect of the United States of America. What effect this would have on the BurlyCon weekend, I honestly wasn’t sure.  I did know I was glad to be spending the weekend following the Election with the Glitter Family.  Within a space where we could all hopefully…

In March, I visited Dita Von Teese at The Crazy Horse Paris during her sold out return to the legendary erotic cabaret. As we shared a thrilling interval in Crazy founder Alain Bernardin’s backstage office as mutual superfans, I detected a noticeable glow of confidence in burlesque’s most famous and opulent star.  Little did I…

One of La Soiree’s brightest, hottest and jaw-droppingly fabulous stars is boylesque acrobat Hamish McCann, and we spoke to him about his iconic, roof-raising pole routine, which you can catch in London for the next few weeks…

Burlesque Noir, an annual burlesque and cabaret spectacular, hosted sixteen burlesque stars on October 8th at the dazzling Blackpool Tower Ballroom, including New York burlesque headliners Jo Weldon and Medianoche. Jo Weldon is the headmistress of the New York School of Burlesque and author of The Burlesque Handbook, and Medianoche is a Miss Exotic World…

Glory Pearl reviews Briefs at London Wonderground 2016.

21st Century Burlesque fondly remembers watching Folly Mixtures-to-be Ooh La Lou and Liberty Sweet perform almost a decade ago at the Leicester Square Theatre alongside fellow London veterans Polly Rae, Laurie Hagen and Frisky and Mannish. How time flies! Five years ago, Lou led the creation of a burlesque supertroupe called The Folly Mixtures, and…

The array of dazzling divas taking the stage at the Sheffield Burlesque and Cabaret Extravaganza this month are a sumptuous feast for the eyes, captured exquisitely here by some of the finest burlesque photographers in the UK. Renowned for boasting a first rate lineup of burlesque and cabaret stars year on year, The Velvet Burlesque…

[wp-review id=”26829″] BARBU, performed by quirky Quebec circus troupe Cirque Alfonse, is a sexy explosion of bombastic, beardy brilliance at London Wonderground 2016. Limber, lusty lumberjacks, mystical mayhem, folklore and live folk music make for a beguiling, hilarious and uplifting spectacle which can be enjoyed in the twinkling South Bank Spiegeltent until September 25th. We…

Having recently celebrated their fifth birthday in the venue where it all began, the Hundred Watt Club is showing no sign of slowing down. Ivy Wilde caught up with Lena Mae to find out about how it all began and what they have in store for the future.   The Hundred Watt Club “I’d been…

Aurora Galore: Glamorous Weirdo is pitched as ‘performance art, avant-garde circus and theatrical annihilation’, but in truth it is none of those things. And it is interesting that Aurora Galore does not describe herself as a burlesque artist – what she is most known for – despite mentioning her rankings in 21st Century Burlesque Magazine’s…

21st Century Burlesque Magazine thoroughly enjoyed Gin House Burlesque at The King’s Head – a spectacular, hidden jewel box in East London, commandeered by sparkling showgirls and a swarm of stylish revellers. Ivy Wilde discusses the superbly executed concept with co-creators Betsy Rose, Missy Fatale and Jolie Papillon.     When did the idea for…

Jennifer Taylor explains how a new taste for tease has shaped the face of London burlesque… Things are getting raunchier in London’s burlesque scene. A new sexual revolution has helped fuel the mainstream popularity of burlesque, once considered alternative entertainment – audiences now are sassier and more sexed-up, thanks to a glut of naked flesh…

In 2007 a chance chat via a MySpace page brought Sarah and Mark Bell together. Eight weeks later Mark moved to Devon from Wales and a month later Kinky & Quirky was born. Nine years on and Kinky & Quirky is known for its jaw-dropping events with the cream of the crop in variety, cabaret…

For more than a decade, Michelle L’amour – Miss Exotic World, Reigning Queen of Burlesque 2005 – has been bringing Chicago the “Hottest Night of Winter” with amazing Valentine’s Day productions. And now Michelle is preparing to unleash an entirely new show – Le Nu – an “intimate European inspired evening like Chicago has never seen”. Guests…

I am thrilled to present this special feature about sensational showgirl Claudine Van Den Bergh, who I had the pleasure of interviewing backstage at the legendary Moulin Rouge, Paris. After passing through a hidden door and an intriguing labyrinth of dressing rooms and studios,  I was shown into a room with a mannequinned row of eye-wateringly fabulous costumes. The view was…

It all came full circle when I got the invitation e-mail from Michelle L’amour. I’ve always wanted to participate in Stripper’s Holiday, ever since I wanted to pursue burlesque.  Not many people know this, but back in 2010 I moved from sunny San Diego to snowy Chicago. It was the big blizzard they hadn’t had…

[wp-review] When it was announced at the beginning of the year that Burlesque Noir 2015 would be held at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom my heart skipped a beat. When the announcement of Tempest Storm as headliner was released I nearly fainted, then made my way happily to the booking page, credit card in hand. For anyone…

I am a member of the New York City burlesque community. I started performing nearly four years ago, jumping into the ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of shows shortly following my debut and graduation from the New York School of Burlesque. After years of working as an associate producer with Jonny Porkpie and participating in the NYSB Driver’s Seat…

Between the Sheets: An Intimate Cabaret brings burlesque bang up to date with flair, authenticity and intelligence in a scene often plagued with complacency and a lack of creativity and willingness to push further and offer something new. It grabs you by the heart, mind and groin and holds on tight for 90 minutes of…

[wp-review] Back in London for the fourth time and enjoying an extended run at London Wonderground’s delicious Spiegeltent, Briefs – an all-male Australian revue fusing circus, burlesque and drag – certainly delivers in the entertainment stakes. The cast of seven work hard at a fast-paced gallop – we’re told they need to fit a ninety-minute…

Crystal Tassels describes House of Verlaine’s latest production in Seattle, starring Lily Verlaine, Perle Noire, Indigo Blue and Paris Original… Lily Verlaine recently curated an evening of haute burlesque that made the massive Triple Door auditorium in Seattle seem incredibly intimate. The show, Nightcap: L’Edition Noire, starred Verlaine’s new dance company, House of Verlaine, and…

Glitter crash is real. And it is devastating. One delayed flight home and a rehearsal later, I’m collapsed on my couch for the first time after my weekend at the Snake Oil Festival in New Orleans and it’s starting to wash over me. In twelve hours I will have to don a costume again — but…

[wp-review] Before its annual trek up to Edinburgh Fringe, Another Fucking Variety Show stopped by the London Wonderground Spiegeltent to wow the crowds with an enviable, ever-changing line-up of cabaret stars. Headlining hostess Lili La Scala, exquisite opera-diva-cum-rock-star, presides in style with razor sharp wit and a series of devastatingly fabulous outfits. Her opening number,…

[wp-review] Miss Polly Rae’s Between the Sheets goes big at London Wonderground for a second year, and while last year’s show lacked overall cohesion and confidence, history will remember it as a dress rehearsal for an outstanding 2015 production which has more than found its feet. A perfectly paced, vibrant and varied burlesque pop concert…

[wp-review] The Double R Club is a dark and disturbing spectacle of Lynch inspired nightmares. Away from its usual setting at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, The Double R grows into something quite simply terrifying at the London Wonderground Spiegeltent. Host for the evening is the silver tongued wordsmith Benjamin Louche – as rakishly sordid…

[wp-review] Nocturne, Black Cat Cabaret’s latest London Wonderground production, concerns a weary London commuter who nods off on the tube and embarks on a journey through his troubled subconscious, led by “queen of the night” Lili La Scala. Nocturne’s trump card is its outstanding cast of all-star circus performers.  Katrina Lilwall is captivating on aerial chains, soaring…

Read on to find out more about a fabulous burlesque exhibition in Milwaukee, US, which is open until July 5th, 2015 and includes items contributed by The Burlesque Hall of Fame… “More on Less: The History of Burlesque From Lydia Thompson to Amber Ray presents the history of burlesque in America — surveying its cultural influence…

Veronica Blacklace is the resplendent ringmistress of a cabaret gem at Brighton Fringe 2015. [wp-review] Cabaret Boheme, holding court in a mid-size Spiegeltent at Brighton Fringe 2015, promised “an unforgettable evening … with all the skill, charm and cheek you could want”, and local heroine Veronica Blacklace and her colourful cast came through in fine style.…

Now in its fourth spectacular year, London Wonderground 2015 invites you to eat, drink and be merry in its festive fairground on London’s South Bank and enjoy evenings of entertainment inside the twinkling 1920s Spiegeltent. Once again there is a generous helping of burlesque to enjoy, as well as other top drawer variety acts. Here are some of the…

“Everybody give a cheer!” Gypsy has returned to the West End after forty years.  A period spectacular from the golden age of musicals sees the showbiz mother of your nightmares drag her weary family and their hilariously twee and mediocre act across Depression-hit America, as Vaudeville coughs out its last ragged breaths and a burlesque…

With their billowing gowns, bustles and jewelled tiaras, princesses have come to embody a sort of ultra-femininity that Western culture reserves for little girls and brides. In the burlesque world, however, we create our own opportunities for sartorial extravagance. In Seattle, Stripped Screw Burlesque’s latest production of Disney After Dark, now in its fifth year,…

Every spring, celebrated producer Paula Sjunneson (of paulanowevent, formerly The Swedish Housewife Presents) brings some legendary magic to the Triple Door in Seattle. Her burlesque-cum-rock-opera, House of Thee Unholy, is “a Tolkienian acid trip” that paints a dripping, sexy portrait of the 1970s, all set to a soundtrack of Led Zeppelin, which is played live…

Lola The Vamp tells a heartwarming tale from the Australian outback… Betoota, Diamantina Shire, in the Channel Country of Central Western Queensland, Australia. Population 0. The last living resident passed away ten years ago. Sigmund (Simon) Remienko bought The Betoota Hotel in 1957 and closed it due to ill health in 1997, a handful of…

On Monday a bejewelled, flamboyant horde of stars from the London cabaret scene invaded the luxurious Cafe de Paris for a night of awards, roasts, song and striptease. Miss Polly Rae saw off fellow shortlisted nominees The Folly Mixtures and BRIEFS to win ‘Best Burlesque’. For some time now she has set a excellent example…

Burlesque noir at its best, Pretty Haute Machine: A Burlesque Tribute to Nine Inch Nails was a gripping, if intense, tour through a songbook characterised by sex, anger, and isolation. The show was presented by Closer to Broads, the production company of neo-burlesquers Iva Handfull, Lady Drew Blood and Seraphina Fiero. PHM is not the…

21st Century Burlesque Magazine editor Holli-Mae Johnson and editor-in-chief of This Is Cabaret Franco Milazzo sat down with the delightful Rosie Kohl in her cosy sitting room just before Christmas and discussed their 2014 highlights, picked out from all the London burlesque and cabaret shows they attended and reviewed over the course of the year. …

This year’s Christmas offering from the Looking Glass Productions arm of Black Cat Cabaret is Palace of the Snow Queen, which promises to deliver “…gourmet winter fayre, beautiful decor, and spectacular cabaret and circus entertainment.” Usually dinner is served as part of the experience, but Saturday 6th December is a cabaret only evening at £25…

For a second year, I am proud to say that the Burlesque TOP 50 sponsor is the incredible Sublime Boudoir, a team of creative specialists who put on a one of a kind, spectacular theatrical event every year at a different global location. I experienced a Sublime Boudoir event in 2013 when they brought A…

The Atomic Bombshells in CAKE! A Decade of Decadent Dazzle, by Crystal Tassels. Seattle burlesque mainstays The Atomic Bombshells celebrated their tenth anniversary last weekend. Hosted by the ever-so-chipper BenDeLaCreme of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame, CAKE! A Decade of Decadent Dazzle was a glitzy delight. In addition to the Bombshells themselves, the troupe invited superstars…

In October, a violent incident involving iconic Soho venue Madame Jojo’s, a celebrated performance space for several decades and home to productions including House of Burlesque, The Folly Mixtures Revue and Cabaret Roulette, led to action by Westminster Council which has been condemned as “draconian” – the complete and brutally swift suspension of its licence…

As the cast readies for the year’s final performance of Barbarellesque (at Baltimore’s Creative Alliance on November 22nd), Kay Sera, co-producer and one of the show’s Barbarellas, talks about creating “an ecdysiast theatrical experience.” Why Barbarella? Barbarella, the 1968 sci-fi camp classic starring Jane Fonda, was ridiculed and reviled in its day. But it’s now…

As the long, lazy summer days turn into dark, drizzly nights, Rosewood London invites you to spend an evening in the warm amber glow of Scarfes Bar and indulge in top drawer food, drink, and entertainment from some of London’s finest cabaret stars. You enter what could be the grand library of a sleepy country…

The fabulous Cafe de Paris (London, UK) is offering 21st Century Burlesque readers VIP tickets for their new Friday night show Cabaret des Distractions, starring Reuben Kaye, Bettsie Bon Bon, Anna the Hulagan and more outstanding performers! Descend the stairs of the beautiful Titanic ballroom, sit at a top table with a perfect view of…

In Cabaret des Distractions, the new resident Friday night production at the delightful Cafe de Paris, a pair of lovers, played by Ali Temple and Klodi Dabkiewicz, are cast into a hellish labyrinth and encounter a series of mythological characters sent to challenge, seduce, and test the strength of their love. You are invited to…

Last Friday, with just over a week left of the outstanding London Wonderground 2014 season, feisty songbird Lili La Scala brought Another Fucking Variety Show, fresh from a run at the Edinburgh Fringe, to the South Bank Spiegeltent for the first of two dates. Boasting an enviable lineup of first-rate entertainers delivering song, striptease, circus…

It has been another summer of tremendous fun and first rate entertainment at London Wonderground on the South Bank. If you haven’t enjoyed any of the fantastic shows yet, you have a week and a half left to snatch up some tickets, and believe me, it’s worth it. Here are some of the shows left…

Back from a run in Las Vegas, Pandora’s Box is described as ‘an innovative, enchanting display of high class entertainment’ and a dance-focused, erotic revue designed for observation rather than interaction. In reality, this journey through myth and legend is an amateurish, confused affair in need of considerable development. While sensual storytelling is supposedly at…

Briefs, the all-male cabaret circus troupe from (mostly) Australia has returned to London Wonderground for a four week run, starting on 2nd September. The show opens with a brilliantly choreographed ensemble piece, Captain Kidd strutting on stage with a huge white peacock tail which opens to reveal the rest of the cast. Some great use…

Returning from her very first Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Miss Glory Pearl reveals how her one-woman show, The Naked Stand Up, fared. Click here to read her preview feature about the show… About a week into my Edinburgh Festival Fringe experience I lay on my bed marvelling at the depth of my naivety; not only that…

Earlier this month, purring burlesque popstress Miss Polly Rae brought established London favourite Between the Sheets, usually in residence at the Hippodrome Casino’s intimate Matcham Room, to London Wonderground 2014 for two naughty nights of song and striptease. Expanded for the decidedly larger Spiegeltent space and refreshed with sizzling new numbers, the show was typically…

On Friday, August 15th, Kitty Bang Bang and partner Bioux Lee Hayes brought the mischief and mayhem of Boom and Bang Circus to The Roundhouse in Camden (London, UK), which took them from their residency in the intimate cabaret lounge at the Hippodrome Casino to a significantly larger playground for one spectacular night. Playing to…

The Double R Club at London Wonderground 2014, reviewed by James Lee on August 2nd 2014. For anyone unfamiliar with the Double R Club, it is a cabaret inspired by the work of David Lynch (though by no means restricted by it). Away from its usual home in the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, the…

Join Jo Weldon and friends as they celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the New York School of Burlesque with all-star spectacular GodDamned Women, featuring a fantastic lineup of NYSB instructors, including burlesque heavyweights Dirty Martini, Angie Pontani and Julie Atlas Muz.  Jo Weldon, headmistress of the New York School of Burlesque and author of The…

Cirque du Cabaret returned to the London Wonderground Spiegeltent for a third year last week and welcomed a packed house of Pimms-soaked revellers. Champagne Charlie was a highly successful and effervescent host who, after a slightly nervous start, struck the perfect balance between grandiloquent ringmaster and louche mischief-maker. Each half began with a number from…

Pinup model, burlesque performer and artist Miss Miranda shares her experience of Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School at London Wonderground 2014. I was delighted to receive a last minute invitation to attend Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School at London Wonderground – I’m rather ashamed to admit that I have never been before! On my recent travels around…

As she makes her final preparations for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Miss Glory Pearl tells 21st Century Burlesque Magazine about what led a burlesque artist to try her hand at stand-up comedy… Taking your clothes off in public for money does something to you. The assumption is that you possess confidence and self-love in buckets,…

Burlesque songstress Miss Polly Rae, star of West End hit The Hurly Burly Show and Between the Sheets, shares her tips for keeping an audience tantalised and titillated. You can watch Polly Rae, Kitty Bang Bang and cast in action at London Wonderground next month; see below for details… Create A Welcoming Environment Entice your…

An Italian in Chicago: Stripper’s Holiday 2014 report from Miss Vampfire… I first heard about Stripper’s Holiday in 2012 and I was immediately intrigued by it. Just the thought of taking classes with one of the best performers in the world, living at her place with other ladies from all over the US, sounded fabulous…

Described as a ‘variety show with an alternative edge’ and featuring some of the very best performers on the UK and international burlesque circuit, Kinky & Quirky’s events promise a riot of colour, show and spectacle, and at the Riviera Centre on July 5th they delivered a highly entertaining display of burlesque, juggling, hula-hooping, tap…

As the application period for this year’s Theatre Bizarre production nears its deadline, read about Mark Brown’s transformation into sinister Theatre Bizarre mascot Zombo the Clown and his duet with Roxi D’Lite. If you want to apply to perform at Theatre Bizarre in 2014, you can find details below. Burlesque performers are considered alongside other…

Welcome to the world of Cabaret Roulette, an innovative, no-holds-barred variety show in London where the audience calls the shots! Cabaret Roulette launched in November 2012 with a simple goal: to shake up the cabaret scene by throwing out old ideas, empowering audiences and challenging artists to push beyond their comfort zones – all the ingredients for…

As the application period for this year’s Theatre Bizarre production nears its deadline (July 1st for burlesque performers), read about GiGi La Femme’s unforgettable experience at last year’s incredible event. If you want to apply to perform at Theatre Bizarre in 2014, you can find details below. Burlesque performers are considered alongside other variety acts,…

House of Burlesque has returned to London Wonderground’s evocative, twinkling Spiegeltent for a third year with a new production playing a string of dates in August and September. It’s a high-energy, well paced and enjoyable show, boasting a high quality line-up of accomplished soloists, but is let down by the standard of in-house costume and…

Black Cat Cabaret at London Wonderground reviewed by Miss Glory Pearl. After a successful run at Café de Paris and scooping the 2014 London Cabaret Awards ‘Best Production’ prize, Black Cat Cabaret crosses the river to the Wonderground Spiegeltent, promising a ‘uniquely theatrical cabaret spectacular’. The cast’s heritage is impeccable, featuring a generous dose of…

by Kay Sera. In the 1950s, Baltimore launched the career of the legendary Blaze Starr and helped shape burlesque’s history. Sixty years later, Baltimore again made history when the Maryland Institute College of Art Exhibition Development Seminar (EDS) launched ‘Workin’ the Tease: The Art of Baltimore Burlesque’. EDS is a sequenced, cross-disciplinary program of students…

London Wonderground is set to spice up the Southbank for a third year this summer, with an extensive and varied programme of events covering cabaret, comedy, music, circus, and burlesque.  I heartily recommend multiple visits to Wonderground; you can enjoy a cool drink in the gardens with lanterns dancing above you in the trees, browse…

Sunday May 11th offers a rare and very special opportunity to meet three beloved burlesque legends at The Highline Ballroom in New York.  Presented by The New York Burlesque Festival and The New York School of Burlesque, the event will honour Hollywood’s Russ Meyer girl Kitten Natividad; ‘the epitome of excellence’, Shannon Doah from San…

London Wonderground is set to spice up the Southbank for a third year this summer, with an extensive and varied programme of events covering cabaret, comedy, music, circus, and burlesque.  I heartily recommend multiple visits to Wonderground; you can enjoy a cool drink in the gardens with lanterns dancing above you in the trees, browse…

Beauty and the Beast, starring Julie Atlas Muz and Mat Fraser, reviewed by Stephanie Nolasco. A tale as old as time? Sorry Disney, but the best fairytale for grown-ups ever is being shared nearly every night until March 30th on New York City’s Lower East Side. On the gritty streets of downtown Manhattan is the…

A fantastic report from BurlyCon 2013, by BurlyCon Board Member and Vice President Jo ‘Boobs’ Weldon. Prepare for a lot of mushiness, gratitude, and self-congratulation. I had a great BurlyCon 2013 weekend. BurlyCon was seven years old this year, and it was our first year as a full-fledged 501C-3. It reinforced my passion for the…

On Saturday 22nd March, Dolores Daiquiri and Elena Gabrielle will oversee a Guinness World Record attempt in Victoria, Australia: Burleskathon – 24 Hours of Tease!  Over 70 performers will take to the stage in a non-stop 24 hour burlesque showcase and raise money for important charities.  I was curious to hear more from Dolores about…

House of Thee Unholy preview by Jessica Price. All photos by Christopher Nelson and Michael Doucett. We haven’t heard much from producer Paula Now – formerly known as The Swedish Housewife – since she partnered with filmmaker Deirdre Timmons (A Wink and A Smile) for the deliciously visceral showcase KINGS: A Boylesque Extravaganza nearly a…

It’s all change at Cafe de Paris.  Resident guest show The Wam Bam Club has departed, and the venue now has its own new shows, produced in-house.  One of these is Showtime, a supper club cabaret with the option of a three course dining experience, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  If you’ve never been to Cafe…

With a spot in the Burlesque TOP 50 2013 under their belts, Mod Carousel, creators of the now deservedly famous Blurred Lines parody, headed to Australia for a number of performances.  Now in their final week Down Under, you can catch them at The Butterfly Club in Melbourne.  The boys sent me a virtual postcard…

Chicago Starlet Lady Ginger reports on Michelle L’amour’s All I Want For Christmas production… Yes, Chicago, there is a Santa – but she’s a woman, she’s sexy as hell, and her name’s Michelle L’amour! Michelle L’amour, together with the sexiest ‘elves’ you’ve ever seen, The Chicago Starlets, brought Chicago audiences the hottest gifts around for…

Before the Burlesque TOP 50 madness kicked off at New Year, I enjoyed a highly entertaining evening at Sean Mooney‘s Beyond The Christmas Cabaret at The Clapham Grand in London.  Sean can always be relied on to put on a good show, but I didn’t expect this festive offering to be such a family affair.…

EXPOSED: Beyond Burlesque is a vital and valuable addition to the growing number of burlesque films and documentaries; a challenging, moving and enlightening examination of some of the best-known contemporary burlesque pioneers and trailblazers in all their raw, naked glory. It is screening at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, UK from tonight, 9th…

Tiny Twist Productions presents the 2014 Burlesque Legends Calendar, featuring tributes by Jo “Boobs” Weldon, Burgundy Brixx, Roxi D’Lite, Amber Ray, Sydni Deveraux and more! All proceeds from the Burlesque Legends Calendar and tribute show are donated to help get the Legends to the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. It is our way…

“Welcome to the legendary Tim Tam Room, where the music sizzles, champagne flows, and dancing beauties tempt and tease. When Tansy, the club’s crown jewel, announces her imminent departure, the club’s MC is left holding his heart in his hands. Exuberant hijinks and salacious striptease collide as this night of classic burlesque unspools into a…

A fantastic amount of money has been raised from the shows and events which have already taken place across the world for Dixie Evans Week, and there are still more events to come.  Here are some reports from the shows in L.A., San Francisco and Berlin.     San Francisco “San Francisco’s event United We…

The Shanghai Pearl’s upcoming Burlesque Royale is in many ways the show she was born to create. Though she’s been producing since she was just an eager young lass brandishing her bona fides from the Academy of Burlesque (some may recall shows she had a hand in at the Jewelbox and Wallingford’s Seamonster), it wasn’t…

Frenchie Kiss recounts her experience of Dita Von Teese’ spectacular Strip Strip Hooray! when it visited Chicago this year. Ever since Dita Von Teese‘s surprise appearance at Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend 2013 to present Catherine D’Lish with the Sassy Lassy award, I’ve had a bit of ‘Dita fever’. So when I found out that…

Between the Sheets is a highly enjoyable demonstration of what is possible when creative freedom, loving friendship and tremendous talent are combined and given the space to work. I saw the first run of Between the Sheets last year, shortly after seeing Polly Rae in The Hurly Burly Show, and some of the concerns I…

I want to tell you all about Dixie Evans Week, which will take place on August 26th – September 1st, 2013. Dixie Evans, a treasured burlesque legend who has touched so many of our lives, needs our love and support more than ever at this time.  If you are new to burlesque and don’t know…

A look back at Stripper’s Holiday 2013, by Black Mariah. I love Stripper’s Holiday. I love to talk about Stripper’s Holiday. The name just begs to be said out loud… STRIPPER’S HOLIDAY!  The name makes everyone who hears it want to join in, and I can only speculate about what people must think we do…

Catherine D’Lish will be hitting the UK next week, and she shares all the details about the trip and upcoming performances here with 21st Century Burlesque Magazine… You kick off your UK appearances at the Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival in Bradford on May 17th. What do you plan to perform? I’m very happy to have…

Every time that ringer sounds and the Bareskin soundtrack begins, I still experience a happy tingle of anticipation. Forever Crazy is a standalone collection of classic and recent numbers from the Crazy Horse Paris show, designed as a tribute to founder Alain Bernardin, and part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations. The show is entertaining London…

Enjoy this wonderful diary from Dirty Martini, describing her adventures on tour with Dita von Teese, Murray Hill, Perle Noire, Monsieur Romeo, Lada Nikolska, Catherine D’Lish and Selene Luna – the fabulous cast of Strip Strip Hooray! Bling bling pretty boss lady!  (May 9th) As Murray Hill and I strolled into the LA House of…

The Hurly Burly Show: Naughty But Nice!, reviewed on Tuesday 10th July. It has been so interesting following Polly Rae’s career over the past years. I recall watching Polly and her ‘Hurly Burly Girlys’ at the Soho Revue Bar in 2007/2008 and later at the Leicester Square Theatre. Then, after what Polly has described as…

Bobbie Burlesque relives his Tease-O-Rama 2012, Friday to Sunday experience… Saturday April 21st, 12:30pm Dear Diary, What a beautiful day in this wonderful city. Took time to go sight-seeing and explore Fisherman’s Wharf with friends and hotel room mates, Ruby Champagne and Drea Dillinger. We had a great lunch with an amazing view of the…

This is the story of ten strippers picked to live in a house… Since attending Michelle L’amour‘s Stripper’s Holiday I’ve made (and heard) plenty of Real World jokes while fondly discussing this very special week of cohabitation, artistic exploration and growth for burlesque performers. And while it helps my listener draw their own outrageous conclusions,…

Greetings from Brooklyn! We’re back home safe and sound! Read all about our last week on the road… On April 26th we drove from Tucson, AZ to Albuquerque, NM and made a pit stop at Sparky’s Restaurant in Hatch, NM – the Chilli Capital of the World – to sample their chilli shakes and spicy…

Click here to meet the troupe and read Minnie’s introduction… Greetings from the road! We started off on April 16th with a drive through the ‘Big Sky Country’ of Montana on our way to Missoula.  Our host, Stella Pearl of the Cigarette Girls Burlesque, welcomed us with a hearty, home-cooked meal. She served us local Montana…

Seattle photographer, Paul O’Connell looks back at Viva Las Vegas 2012. With photos by Paul and fellow photographer, Derek Jackson… Viva Las Vegas, now in its 15th year, is “the Biggest Rockabilly Party in The World”, with rockabilly fashion, hundreds of souped-up vintage cars, scores of bands, and more neck tattoos than I have ever…

Click here to meet the troupe and read Minnie’s introduction… Greetings from the road! Our Dangerous Curves Ahead: Burlesque on the Go-Go! Spring Tour 2012 kicked off on April 10th in Charleston, WV, where we arrived almost two hours late to our show due to heavy traffic and what we think was a time warp…

The 21CB festival and show diaries are some of the most popular features on the site, and when Minnie Tonka asked if I would be interested in publishing weekly diaries from the new Dangerous Curves Ahead tour, which starts today, I thought it was a fantastic idea! I am sure you are all familiar with…

“…I knew that I wasn’t alone, and more than that, I knew that burlesque was more than a fluke; it was a true revolution and we were the generals of this new army…” Dirty Martini Tease-O-Rama is, in many ways, the reason you are reading this right now, on this website. I decided to create…

‘Frederick Wiseman spent ten weeks with his camera exploring one of the most mythic places dedicated to women: The Crazy Horse. Over the years this legendary Parisian cabaret club, founded in 1951 by Alain Bernardin, has become the Parisian nightlife ‘must’ for any visitors, ranking alongside the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.’ As a long…

The Burlesque Ball, 2011 is almost upon us – an annual Australian tour of grand spectacle and all-star international headliners. Founder and producer, Jac Bowie discusses the Ball’s beginnings, highlights and future direction, after recently announcing that this year’s Ball will be the last… When and why did you create The Burlesque Ball? What were…

DIRTY MARTINI – JULIE ATLAS MUZ – MIMI LE MEAUX – KITTEN ON THE KEYS – ROKY ROULETTE – EVIE LOVELLE If burlesque had a rock band, this would be it.  Six of the coolest, most talented and hard working strippers burlesque has to offer the world on one stage, for three nights on the…

I have been a part of planning BurlyCon in different ways since its beginning three years ago, and just like a fine wine – it gets better with age. In the last two years (just two years!) the number of attendees has DOUBLED in size, a testimony that burlesque is here to stay. BurlyCon is…

I really can’t say enough about BurlyCon. I feel positively gleeful with excitement every time I think about it, or see a new announcement. Of all the things Indigo Blue has contributed to burlesque, BurlyCon is a precious, ingenious gift, for which she has my admiration and the gratitude of the burlesque community. For anyone…

I’m not one to blow smoke. In fact I’m the opposite. My friends laugh at me and say I’m the ‘Patsy’ of burlesque – meaning Patsy, the jaded, cynical chain smoker from Absolutely Fabulous. In a way it is comically true. I like to critique burlesque the same way I would critique any other show…

Roxi D’Lite’s Boom Boom Burlesque reviewed by Katie Hargreaves. It’s only just past 7pm, and already a line is forming outside Windsor, Ontario’s Boom Boom Room nightclub.  Located on Windsor’s main bar strip, it’s not odd to see dozens of club-goers teetering on their high heels outside the bar. On this pleasant Saturday evening, however,…

The Gypsy Centennial (Seattle, 1/8/2011 @ The Triple Door) The frustrating part of being obsessed with an American burlesque icon – or any icon for that matter – is separating myth from unvarnished truth.  Gypsy Rose Lee’s memoirs are standard curriculum for burlesque aficionados – treasured, but perhaps a bit embellished by their author. Certain…

Tales of the Cocktail is a week long festival of all things ‘cocktail’ – attendees include bartenders, distillers, liquor reps, writers and folks who are simply cocktail enthusiasts. I was there to learn about the industry and spread the word about Montanya rum, who recently hired me to be their brand ambassador. I had convinced…

*You can now read a fabulous review of the show and enjoy some stunning photographs by clicking HERE…* Tales of the Cocktail kicks off in New Orleans this week, and believe us when we say – this year’s ‘opening ceremony’ is going to be FABULOUS. The delectable Dita-Cointreau collaboration has touched down in New Orleans…

©Don Spiro “So you wanna know about the Naked Girls, huh? Naked Girls Reading is a group of beautiful ladies who love to read… naked. That’s really it. There’s not a whole lot more to it. Should there be? I mean, sure, we also like to do it in front all of you voyeurs via…

“These are my friends and this is my life.” – Tigger! on stage during Friday night curtain call. Batten the brassieres and hold onto your hatches! ©Trixie Little Through some magical combination of warm weather, gorgeous people, lush foliage, hours of hot-tubbing, amazing entertainment and cases of fruit flavored Vodka; the Key West Holiday Extravaganza…

Read on to find out what is in store at this week’s Scandanavian shimmy-fest! “Being of northern descent, I know I’ll love the culture of Finland. And I’ve heard nothing but beautiful and fabulous things about Helsinki burlesque! The people and the producers go so out of their way to make your visit a truly…

Germany loves burlesque, but excitement is at fever pitch right now, thanks to two marvellous shows! Black Flamingo at the Wintergarten Variete Theatre in Berlin has enjoyed a fabulous run so far, which concludes in January 2010 (still time to see it folks!) and in Stuttgart, The Sugar Blue Revue has just begun! Since 1992,…

Tatah Dujour and Minnie Tonka Interview the Stars of NYBF 2009 at the Golden Pastie Awards… Directed and Produced by Marky Pierson (www.markypierson.com) Golden Pastie Results: Burlesque performer most likely to appear in Playboy: Angie Pontani Biggest Kissing Bandit of burlesque: Tigger! Biggest Hair in burlesque: Darlinda Just Darlinda Performer with the most luggage /…

Wondering what to do this Saturday? If you can get to London, I recommend supporting an extremely worthwhile cause. The attitudes and prejudice towards mental health issues in the 21st Century are truly appalling, and I know many creative and talented individuals in our community that have battles to fight and stories to tell. To…

“The Annual New York Burlesque Festival, now teasing its way into its 7th year … is the largest burlesque event in the world, and has attracted sold-out crowds since its beginning in 2002. Festival producers, Thirsty Girl & Pontani Sisters Productions will deliver forth once again 4 nights of glitter and glamour in Gotham, with…

Trixie Little takes you behind the curtain at the first New Orleans Burlesque Festival… Day 4: Sunday 11:30am Woke up at noon to thunderstorms rattling the windows of our 25th floor hotel room. It has been a rain and glamour soaked weekend. Sitting in bed wondering how much I drank last night. Not sure I…