October 2012 Archives

Kiss Kiss Coquette Naughty Natanya

Learning a burlesque routine is about more than drilling the steps; it's about finding a character to inhabit. Three years ago, when the "Peek-A-Boo!" show debuted, choreographer Erica Reid created an eerie, seductive number to close the show, set to Nick Cave's "Red Right Hand." The number takes place mostly in the dark, under the dim glow blacklight. The dancers' bodies get revealed as they slowly coat themselves in red paint. It's full of languid, sensual movements, punctuated with unnerving twitches and jerks. But there's something unnatural lurking underneath the alluring exterior. As a burlesque dancer, it's great to play with the extremes.

My brother is a super sleuth at finding these mentions... I really do feel like a million bucks right now!

From The Gaming Gang:

As things get worse and worse (or better and better, depending upon your viewpoint), the show builds to a hot dancing zombie climax as the heroes finally reach the CDC....I was particularly impressed by the choreography of Erica Reid. It wasn't a huge stage but they utilized it very well and the dancing was entertaining and flawless. You can tell that the ladies put a lot of work into their performances.

Gorilla Tango burlesques are always smart and playful, but this edition shows a developing sophistication. The dancers are more confident, Erica Reid's choreography is more resourceful (starting with an awfully sexy reverse strip and culminating in a full-out production number), and, um, standout performances are getting more common.

To defeat the burlesque zombies, the survivors decide to disguise themselves as the undead.  This infiltration leads to a dance number I should have not been surprised by, but was, and delightfully so (I won't ruin it for you).

Eventually just about everyone gets infected and the show turns into a huge ensemble dance routine. First, they stripped to AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" and then an absolutely awesome Michael Jackson, "Thriller" bit complete with the iconic zombie dance from the original music video.

Choreography was amazing, and as Count and I were actually seated next to the choreographer, we knew who to thank ;). Anyway, the girls never missed a beat and the dance number at the end was a complete surprise.

Well-choreographed and cleverly plotted, the story will be familiar to fans of the graphic novel and AMC series, but just as enjoyable to somebody coming to it cold....I was genuinely impressed with how the writers of the show found ways to take memorable scenes from the show and transform them into burlesque dances.  Who would imagine Rick's awakening in his hospital bed, removing his IV tubes, and putting on his sheriff's uniform as an occasion for a sexy striptease?  Well, the creators of this show did, and thank goodness they did, because it's sexy and fun and works really well.

I won't tell you what happened to the poor Horse, but let me tell you, it was quite sexy!...Unfortunately, [the CDC official's] not as safe as he thought, and someone's hand gets eaten throughout the course of a very nicely choreographed invasion dance number!...The finale group number is an absolutely perfect culmination of everything Zombie, Sparkles and Horror. Let's just say, a very famous glove is involved.

I will be doing a "review round-up" soon, but I had to go ahead and post this one!

Boobs of the Dead is Reader Recommended!  Not only that, but I got a GREAT mention! I feel like a million bucks! (bold and italics by me)

 Boobs of the Dead: A Walking Dead Burlesque When I told my wife (and yes, I told my wife) that I was going to see a zombie-themed strip show called Boobs of the Dead, she made a face and laid out a picture for me of gray, rotting dugs without so much as a hint of perk. Well, that's not how it turned out. This parody of the Walking Dead franchise features eight remarkably healthy-looking infectees. In fact, as a lab-coated scientist points out, the zombifying process actually makes them sexier, magically clothing them in bustiers and fishnet stockings. Even a bearded old codger gets transformed. Gorilla Tango burlesques are always smart and playful, but this edition shows a developing sophistication. The dancers are more confident, Erica Reid's choreography is more resourceful (starting with an awfully sexy reverse strip and culminating in a full-out production number), and, um, standout performances are getting more common. Paly Flames, in particular, does some honest-to-god show-stealing here. --Tony Adler Through 10/27: Fri 9 PM, Sat midnight, also Wed 10/31, 9 PM, Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee, 773-598-4549, gorillatango.com, $20.

 

YEAH!

This time in Time Out Chicago!

And look, I am quoted, yet again!

Boobs of the Dead: A Walking Dead Burlesque
If you've been following Gorilla Tango Burlesque's latest G-string of action, fantasy and horror parodies (A Nude Hope: A Star Wars Burlesque, Holy Bouncing Boobies!: A Batman Burlesque), you knew it was only a matter of time before it dressed up AMC's herd of zombies in pasties and sent them satirically in search of naked flesh to chew on. Says show choreographer Erica Reid, "Zombies typically are pretty gross and scary, but in our show, the more infected they become, the sexier they get. Our zombies hypnotize their prey with twirling tassel pasties, and we use boas instead of chains to keep them in captivity." Opens Fri 5 at Gorilla Tango Theatre, gorillatango.com.

Full article here! So exciting!

Fuzzy and I are featured on the blog "Marriage is a Joke" today! We're funny and married! Yay!

Click on over and check it out!!

Top pick on Thrillist!

At the Crypt Run 5K at Rosehill Cemetery.