Monday, November 30, 2009

All The News That's Fit To Strip

It appears that Holly Madison is filming a reality show about her life and her experiences as a burlesque showgirl. Madison, currently dances in Peepshow, at the Planet Hollywood hotel and resort in Vegas. Despite her experience as a Playmate, she still is picky about how and when she goes topless. She said:

"The ‘toplessness’ is worked into the show very tastefully and I was very controlling about when and how long I would be topless. Not because I am shy about nudity at all, but because I feel there is an effective way to do a burlesque show and then there is a sloppy way. I'm very inspired by Dita Von Teese and people who do it really well. Hef really liked the show, but I knew he would. He loves burlesque and the girls in the show are really beautiful. There are contemporary pop songs in the show, but a lot of old school style, too. The Red Riding Hood number reminds me so much of the sexy Red Riding hood Tex Avery cartoons from the 40's that Hef loves."

In other news...

New York City's Pinchbottom Burlesque hosted Lurid Pulp, an event promoting the new pulp novel, The Corpse Worse Pasties written by Jonathan Van Gieson, aka, Johnny Porkpie.

The Dallas Burlesque Festival announced that applications are now being accepted for the second annual festival, held the first weekend in February at the historic Texas Theater in Oak Cliff.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

All The News That's Fit To Strip

It seems like more and more stars keep getting added to the cast of Burlesque, the much anticipated musical starring Christina Aguilera and Cher. Fans of Grey's Anatomy will be happy to learn that Eric Dane signed on to play the love interest of Aguilera. Production reportedly begins this month with an expected release during the holidays next year. Dane joins Cher, Aguilera, Cam Gigandet, Kristin Bell, Stanley Tucci and others in this dramatic musical.

In other news...

Paris-based burlesque queen Gentry de Paris produces Gentry de Paris Burlesque Revue, full length burlesque production inspired by the famous cabarets and clubs in Paris. The upcoming show, Cinema Burlesque is Dec. 4, at Scopitone, 5 Avenue de l’OpĂ©ra.


And speaking of Paris, international burlesque star, Dita Von Teese is busy practicing verb conjugations and vocabulary words while she studies French in order to speak to her French boyfriend in his first language. She said via Twitter:

"Why oh why didn't I pay more attention in high school French?? Yes, now it really DOES seem like 20 years ago."

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Video of the Week

Given all the news about Burlesque, we'll give you a little Christina Aguilera burly preview.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Burlesque Undressed

Immodesty Blaize's Burlesque Undressed, in which she mixes live shows and interviews with burlesque stars past and present, hits the big screen in January -- in high definition.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Dita Dishes On Modern Burly

Dita Von Teese chatted with The Daily Beast about Paris, her new flipbooks and her gripes with modern burlesque. Her main complaint? Neo-burlesque doesn't pay tribute to its predecessors.

“You see a lot of burlesque-themed nightclubs opening, where there are girls dancing with boas, then the curtains close and that’s it. Burlesque was about striptease, and especially in America, a lot of the mainstream burlesque acts are taking all of the important elements about the history of burlesque out,” Von Teese laments. “I’ve made it my personal mission to stay true to what burlesque was in the ’30s and ’40s and keep striptease in. Maybe that makes me a little bit dangerous for American audience but it’s more important to me that I stay true to the big stars of burlesque, like Gypsy Rose Lee, Lili St. Cyr, and Sally Rand, the women who took their clothes off in front of an audience.”

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Monday, November 9, 2009

All The News That's Fit To Strip

A new actor has signed on to play in Steve Antin's new movie Burlesque which begins filming today. Alan Cumming, an actor from Scotland, joins Christina Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Julianne Hough and Kristin Bell as a new cast member. Cumming will play a gender-bending emcee, not unlike Joel Grey's Oscar-winning role in the 1972 movie, Cabaret.

In other news ...

From photographer, Sheryl Nields, come a new book for Dita Von Teese fans. Dita: Striptease . This book features flip-book captures of some of Dita's most famous acts.


What good is setting alone in your room? Come to the cabaret!
That's what legions of fans and dozens of unique cabaret acts did over the weekend in Seattle's Inaugural International Cabaret Festival.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Candy Gram: La Cholita

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 Tanya Cheex a line at t.cheex AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello La Cholita

What is your hometown?
Los Angeles land of the fabulous, glamorous and occasional train wreck

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I was born performing and haven’t stopped since.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
I have about 5-7 pairs that are in regular rotation but I own an insane amount of them. My best friend just started a pastie company called Chi Chi Couture which has everything from basic to one of a kind over the top pieces. I get to test drive and model all her creations before they go up for sale so they are everywhere in my house. It’s always funny when people come over ,innocently pick one up and go “Wow this is pretty.. what is it?” as they inspect it try to figure it out and then the look on their face when they finally realize and I say ‘Oh that goes on my nipples”

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Malaguena by Brian Setzer, It’s the song I performed to when I won Miss Viva Las Vegas 2007 and is definitely one of my signatures, Other than that it varies. I love anything raunchy with big horns and and lots of drums/symbals. My favorite is performing with live music because no matter what song you do it always takes on a life of it’s own. I love the live exchange that happens between musicians and dancers it’s such a thrill.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
An audience, red lipstick and rhinestones

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Aside from my mother Mae West was the single most spectacular woman to grace this earth and has been a big inspiration as far as grabbing life by the balls and being fabulous while doing it. Bette Midler is a sensational show woman whom I admire. I also like Astrid Hadad and her creativity as far as costumes and concepts she is brazen and decadent and I love her for it.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Immodesty Blaize, Lili St Cyr, Satan’s Angel, Tongolele and TIGGER!!

What is your favorite item of clothing?
A divinely outrageous bullet bra gold lame backless mermaid couture gown with Swarovski detailing that was designed just for me by David Contreras who owns and designs Tarantula Clothing. He understands the female form better than any designer I’ve ever met and his creations are all just to die for!

What’s the last movie you saw?
Perfume it was enchanting, intoxicating, disturbing and beautiful.

What’s on your must-see-TV list?
I don’t get to watch it much but I like Chelsea Lately and the last show I saw that I really loved was It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

What book is on your nightstand?
There’s two, The Alchemist which I’ve read 100 times and “did she or didn’t she” A book of all the most marvelous women stars from the 20’s- now and the scandals that surrounded them.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
I would love to charter a luxury yacht through the Mediterranean for me and 200 of my closest friends.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
I suppose it’s rather predictable but Time Travel. I would kill to have the ability to travel the world throughout different eras on a regular basis. Like “Oh I think I’ll spend this summer in Paris circa 1940” There are so many moments in history that would be amazing to experience first hand, shows I’d love to see, people I’d want to meet.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Gentry de Paris, Jade Pearl, Kitten DeVille, Miss C, Immodesty Blaize, Nasty Canasta, Vivienne Vermuth, Scarlett James, Tura Santana, Tatah DuJour, Susie Caboose, Gigi La Femme, Kitten on the Keys, 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.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009

All The News That's Fit To Strip

While lots of buzz is circulating around the forthcoming movie Burlesque, staring Christina Aguilera and Cher, burlesque fans can see a striptease by another famous actor in the upcoming musical, Nine. Penelope Cruz plays a burlesque dancer and mistress of well-known film director Guido Contini, played by Daniel Day Lewis. In the movie, out on December 25, Cruz's character performs a sultry striptease in a corset and stockings.

In other news...

Striptease in Canada? While burlesque may be known as an American art, our friends to the north have their own history as well. Becki Ross' new book, Burlesque West: Showgirls, Sex and Sin in Postwar Vancouver reveals the unique burlesque scene in Vancouver from 1945-1980. Ross' book is the product of 11 years of research and interviews with more than 50 people from dancers to workers and club owners in the burlesque theaters and clubs.

The Crazy Horse Saloon is unveiling a brand new show, bringing to life the artistic vision of choreographer Philippe Decouflé.