Friday, April 3, 2009

The Candy Gram: Kitten on the Keys

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Kitten on the Keys.

What is your hometown?
San Francisco, California

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
Wow. I started out singing in church and acting in plays at age three. Community theater and high school bands followed. I was always in rock and punk bands as a teen and in the dorms at San Francisco State. I started my whole cabaret underground burlesque stuff in the late 1990s. I started by playing and singing for San Francisco’s first neo-burlesque troupe - The Cantankerous Lollies. I played piano and sang in their orchestra. We went on tour to LA and Exotic World and won best troupe.
It was at Exotic World that I met so many cool like-minded folks and POOF! My life’s calling was found. I am an insecure attention whore and like to be naughty!

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
30! Or more. I make super silly pasties and put my poor boobs and nips through the ringer changing them all the time at shows! My faves are tiny accordions, stuffed piggies, vodka bottles with straws, tiny ukuleles and teeth! The wackier the better. I am always looking at light weight objects to make pasties out of.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Original Material: You Bring Out The Savage In Me - I get to scream and yell at the audience like a mad woman and fondle bones.

Lady by Styx with my fab partners in crime the Scenic Sisters. We have nine Viking gals on stage at the same time in our fantasy novel come true.

Good Ship Lollipop by Shirley Temple.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
Glitter
Eyelashes and eyelash glue
My Glue Gun

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Freddie Mercury, Liberace, Alice Cooper, Mae West, Betty Boop, Little Rascals, Shirley Temple, Dixie Evans, Holiday O Hara, Satans Angel, Faye Richmond

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Dirty Martini and Catherine D’Lish

What is your favorite item of clothing?
I love my black and hot pinked striped hoodie that I got in Scotland while doing the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It has little kittie ears on the hoodie that I put pipe cleaners in so they stick up. Meowalicious

What's the last movie you saw?
Happiness by Todd Soldoz. Amazing dysfunction

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Nip/Tuck, Weeds, Six Feet Under, Dexter, Law and Order and any true crime forensic stuff.

What book is on your nightstand?
DSM 4 and rhyming dictionaries.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Czech Republic or back to Maui to strum my ukulele.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
I would like magic socks that could transport me places where people need help and then I could cure them AIDS crisis, orphans, war, breast cancer, help the elderly, etc. I really like to help people and believe in the curing magic of music.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Virginia D'Vine, Tamara the Trapeze Lady, Champagne Sparkles, Selia Carmichael, Pyra Sutra, Roxi Dlite, Scarlet O'Gasm, Bombshell Betty, Foxy Moxy, Bambi Galore, Mis Rosie Bitts, Sahara Dunes, Mimi Rockafellar, Baby Le Strange, Rose Darling, Satan's Angel, Ophelia Flame, Panache La Plume, Ginger Valentine, Madame Rosebud, Little Brooklyn, Victoria Veneance, Sauci Calla Horra, Penny Starr Jr., Gemma Parker, Darla DeVine, Sparkly Devil, Vivienne VaVoom, Lux LaCroix, Charlotte La Belle Araignee, Bunny Love, Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

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