There are only a few more chances to see me in action this year!  Not sure where 2009 went, but it certainly flew by.

TONIGHT!  Brave the sub-arctic weather and check out Vaudezilla’s “Here We Come A-Tasseling” for free at Blue Bayou (3734 N. Southport).  I will be performing my third annual Christmas solo (with brand new music, as is my tradition) along with fellow Belmont Bombshell Titi Touché.  The drinks are cheap and delicious, I highly recommend the Abita Purple Haze (it’s got raspberries!) or, for the girlie drink lover in you, the Mud Bug (it’s like a chocolate martini with stuff in it!).  There is only one more Blue Bayou show before the end of the year.  I’m not performing in it, but you can be sure I’ll be there whooping it up with the other burlesque ladies.

SATURDAY!  It’s the second night of Belmont Burlesque’s annual holiday Revue – Jingle Belles:  The Naughty List!  We were picked by the Chicago Tribune this year as one of the top 40 things to do for the holidays in Chicago.  In addition to the usual holiday striptease, you will also enjoy our newest addition – Carol of the Boobs.  Like our tribute to Hanukkah, it is not to be missed.  Get your tickets in advance – we always sell out this show.

NEXT SATURDAY!  It’s the final Belmont Burlesque Presents show of the year.  Rather than shove some more holiday cheer at you, we’re doing our very own special year in review – Calendar Girls.  Take a look back at 2009 with me and Violet Vogue, Naughty Natanya, Elisa Purls, Wham Bam Pam, Donna Touch, Maria May I, MsPixy, Kitten Kaboodle, Lula Houp-Garou, Violet Splash and our special guest from Nashville’s Music City Burlesque, Freya Luna!  Hosted by the nefarious alter ego of our own Second Cousin Joe, Randy “The King” Powers!  Exclamation point!

After all that, I’m off for the holidays until January.  Make sure to check the calendar page for more info on where you can see me next!

kisses,

Paris

Last night marked the sixth annual Halloween edition of the Belmont Burlesque Revue.  This show has been evolving over the years, even though we still keep a few of our original acts, like MsPixy’s vampire version of “I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine.”  We sold out the Playground again, and ended up turning away a number of people that didn’t buy their seats in advance.  It’s a happy problem to have, but given the number of shows we’ve completely sold out lately, it would seem that we are in the market to move to a bigger venue.  The Playground has been our home for the entirety of our six+ year run, so moving will be bittersweet, but a greener pasture looks like it’s on the horizon.

I got to be the zombie for our opening number this year.  I had an amusing el train ride to the theater last night in my zombie makeup.  I highly recommend that everyone try this at least once.  Half the people around you cannot stop themselves from staring while the other half try their damnedest to ignore you.  An interesting little social experiment.

I also managed to up the gore factor before the show by slicing open my fingertip and bleeding all over the dressing room.  How did I do this?  By putting on my pasties.  I use double sided carpet tape to apply them which I have to cut and I managed to slam the blade of the scissors into my hand.  I have now officially given my blood, sweat and tears to burlesque.

Last night also brought a handful of friends (ironically, all in town from Georgia) back to see the show and hang out at the bar afterwards.  Amy Roeder (a former guest act at the BBR and current Second City cast member) and her husband Eric Schaefer (long time Paris Green friend from before I was Paris Green) stopped in as well as Stephen King, a delightful actor who was one of the show’s original super fans.  It’s nice to see old friends in the audience, especially lately, as we’ve consistently had our seats filled with newcomers to the show.

This week I’ve got two more Halloween shows on the schedule – Varietease Cabaret on Friday night and Vaudezilla’s Monster Burlesque Academy on Saturday night.  I’m also starting rehearsals with choreographer extraordinaire Erica Reid Gerdes on my two solo acts for the Hot & Heavy Burlesque tribute to The Wall which will take place in January.  Did I mention that I now own a claw foot bathtub for that show?  I do.  And the guy I bought it from also has a replica Liberty Bell and a 10′ tall Washington Monument in case anyone is in the market for that kind of thing.

kisses,

Paris

Hello bunnies – This Saturday marks the sixth annual Belmont Burlesque Halloween Revue!  We’ve got zombies, vampires, devils and more on tap for you to enjoy.  Tickets are going fast, so make sure you get yours now by visiting our official website.  I will be eating the brains of my fellow Bombshells and enjoying a giant lollipop in full Anime gear as well.

Next weekend there are a ton of shows going on here in Chicago.  I will be exploding confetti onstage in a zombified version of Happiness is a Warm Gun at both Varietease Cabaret and Vaudezilla’s Monster Burlesque Academy at the Portage Theatre. Both evenings involve prizes and boobies, the perfect combo for your Pumpkin Day needs.

kisses,

Paris

There will be several opportunities in the coming weeks to see me as my Beijing Opera alter-ego, Lady Pung Pung, including a brand new night of Belmont Burlesque performances.  Kicking off the new “Belmont Burlesque Presents…” series is Around the World in 80 Dames, a night of burlesque with an international flair.  See me, along with Lady Annabelle, Coo d’Twat, Violet Vogue, Naughty Natanya, Kitten Kaboodle, Natasha Minsk, Pearl Pistol, Titi Touché and the Amazing Tomas, plus Jack Midnight’s French twin, Jacques Minuit.

In case you missed it at Blue Bayou last night, I will be performing my balloon animal striptease at tomorrow night’s Belmont Burlesque Revue!  Tickets are still available and can be purchased online by visiting our website.

New gigs have been added to the calendar, including a special Vaudezilla Absolut Sexy show featuring the very talented Minnie Tonka of New York!

First off was the New American Review, our second show of the weekend.  Big, enthusiastic audience that was on board very early on and super excited to see us do our thing.  I wasn’t able to stay for the whole show because I had to fly off to Belmont Burlesque…

…which was crazy packed to the gills with people.  We had two birthday parties and a bachelor party joining us.  Since Jack and Joe were both off last night, MsPixy did the hosting for the evening and was just fantastic.  We had rockstar special guests in Lady Jack and Sean Flannery; Titi Touché debuted her new skinny dipping number and was absolutely adorable.  I’ll have some videos to post later this week as soon as I get them from our intrepid videographer, Keith of Vaudezilla Productions.

One thing I love about performing – burlesque, comedy or whatnot – is watching the audience watch a show.  When people are effected by what they are seeing (positively or negatively), their reactions are so genuine.  I’m usually pretty busy backstage during Belmont Burlesque shows and I tend to miss the opportunity to watch people, but the past two weekends with the New American Review have given me a chance to check in with the people that pay to see us.  My personal favorite are women that are so tickled by an act that they cover their mouths with their hands and wiggle around in their seats.  It’s super cute.

Tuesday morning I’m off to a photo shoot with Greg Inda for the September edition of Vaudezilla’s Blue Bayou bartop burlesque show.  I will be a big silly alien girl for your amusement.  I haven’t had an opportunity to work with Greg as a photographer yet except through the performance shots he does at shows around town.  Today I’m finishing my new shiny cape and tomorrow I will be off to Uncle Fun for sparkly, sparkly ray guns.  A girl cannot have enough ray guns.

boobies,

Paris

Two shows tonight – 10PM New American Review at No Exit  and midnight Belmont Burlesque Revue at the Playground Theater.

Belmont Burlesque is kind of special this month as both Jack Midnight and Second Cousin Joe are off be fabulous elsewhere.  MsPixy (aka the Funny One) will be hosting with her favorite pal, Giant Martini, and Titi Touché will be debuting a brand new solo.  We also have the lovely Lady Jack and comedian Sean Flannery as our special guests tonight.  You still have a bit of time to get your ticket in advance.

Last night for New American Review we filled up the joint with a friendly and exuberant audience. It makes a huge difference on stage when you can hear folks enjoying themselves and what you’re doing.  There were a few technical difficulties with my song, but that is the adventure of live theater. Everyone still got to see Bizzy and Buzzy (the bee pasties) and nobody caught on fire or exploded.

Because you can never be fabulous enough, I stopped by Hancock Fabrics on the way home from BBR tech rehearsal to pick up a few things – liquid silver lamé, pink maribou, iridescent sequins and glitter.  Ozmandia (my space girl) needs a sparkly capelet to go with the rest of her ensemble.  I enjoy my visits to crafting stores – a giant pile of shiny always provokes a question or two from the staff.  Also, you know that you are a burlesque dancer if you can’t make it through the shop without holding half a dozen sparkly, fluffy or shiny bits up to your chest to see if they would make fantastic pasties.

boobies and kittens,

Paris