2011-04-02 Syrens of the South invade Columbus, GA

On April 2, 2011, Syrens of the South Productions invaded Columbus, GA, to add their bawdy burlesque to an evening of musical magic!  The ladies were invited down after the lead singer of The Debutante Massacre saw them perform with The Dresden Dolls back in November.

First and foremost, Charles (the lead singer) totally spoiled us by making us a home made dinner before the show.  Chicken spaghetti with salad and garlic bread.  So we were getting ready at his house, having an amazing meal and watching some Archer on his TV, it was a great way to start off the evening, lol.

We got to SOHO Bar and Grill and there was a poker tournament going on.  After talking my gamblers back down from jumping in to play, we had a tour of the space.  It was a nice stage, a huge bar and some video games and pool tables to keep everyone amused in between sets.  The staff was amazingly nice and friendly and the service was great.

Opening the show was an acoustic set done by Katie Martin that was both fun and haunting at the same time.   Following that was a super energetic and awesome set done by our hosts, The Debutante Massacre!  Great stage presence and an awesome sound.  Following that was The Hellblinki Sextet, whom we love.  We performed with them in 2008 at Eccentrik Fest which is produced by The Clockwork Cabaret and they're always awesome to work with.  Eastern European punk rock circus music....yup that pretty much sums them up, lol.

Closing out the show was Syrens of the South.   After an evening of listening to great music and having drinks with the crowd it was time for us to go up on stage.  MCing the event was Katherine Lashe (me) and I had my hands full with a rowdy crowd of fun loving drunks.  There's nothing quite like performing near an army base to get the girls in a tizzy as well.  I did end up talking a Drill Sargent into doing pick-up for us which is not something we get to do every day.

Opening the show was the Double D's of Dixie, D'lilah D'lite, she did a classic boa act with a rockabilly edge.  The audience loved her and I think someone actually threw their dog tags on stage when she was done.  Following that was The Southern Shot that Make You Hot, Brandy Noir in her One Woman Rat Pack tribute to Frank Sinatra in a very classic Vegas styled number.  Next came the smile so bright you don't know if it's day or night, Sunny Midnight, doing her geek turned sexpot routine to Reverend Horton Heat's 'Love Whip'.  Closing out the show was our very own knockout, Miss Pearl E. White, with her Rocky tribute that was a one two punch of fantastic to end the night.

It was a lot of fun and we're really looking forward to getting to come back to Columbus.

2011-03-26 Mon Cherie Present's Va-Va-Voom: "We're All Mad Here!"

On March 26th The Shelter was invaded by Mad Hatters, Cheshire Cats, Catapillers, White Rabbits,  and a bevy of blonde beauties who all seemed to be named Alice.  It was time for Mon Cherie Presents Va-Va-Voom with a special Alice in Wonderland edition titled "We're All Mad Here!"

MCing both sets was the Mouth of the South, Miss Mason.  With an adorable tiny top hat and an assortment of tea cups in different sizes all holding her precious Southern Comfort, she made the audience laugh, get rowdy and beg for the performers as she instructed!  Opening the show was the ever mysterious Chameleon Queen in a full furry regulation bunny suit making sure everyone was on time for their very important date with the hotness that was her.  Following the Chameleon Queen was Torchy Taboo as Alice who took everyone on a tour of her rhinestone rabbit hole!  She was a sassy blonde bombshell and showed everyone why she's the Godfather of Atlanta Burlesque.  New Orleans Jon came out as Mr. Three and sang "Roses are Red my love" with his normal smarmy twist.  Jacqueline Trade did a very acrobatic routine as the Cheshire Cat which included many of the amazing props she built for the show including a swing suspended from the ceiling.  Closing out the first act was Talloolah Love performing her "Too Darn Hot" routine before she took it to Viva Las Vegas Easter Weekend to represent the South.

The second act opened with Catatonic Raucous as the Caterpillar.  She was body painted blue from head to toe and looked amazingly ethereal with her strip tease and blue Isis wings. New Orleans Jon had another song to sing as Mr. Three. Then came Katherine Lashe (me) as the Mad Hatter with a break away straight jacket. Next was Scarlett with her burlesque debut to Ace of Spades, a brilliant music choice and a great first time out.  Closing out the second act was Stormy Knight as The Queen of Hearts with an amazing costume, a regal stage presence and a sword for anyone that didn't agree.

It was an amazing night with DJ Jennocide spinning and keeping everyone out on the dance floor.  It was a spinning room of fluffy tails, top hats, cat ears and blonde hair dancing the night away.  Mon Cherie sure does know how to put on a hell of a party and her vision had a repeat performance the next night for a private event which also went over smashingly.

2011-05-05 RIP Arthur Laurents

FILE - In this Dec. 28, 1964 file photo, composer Richard Rodgers, 

at the piano, his new collaborator, lyricist Stephen Sondheim, 

right, and playwright Arthur Laurents are shown as they begin work

on the new musical "Do I Hear a Waltz?" in New York, The musical 

is being adapted from Laurents' book "Summertime." Arthur 

Laurents, the director, playwright and screenwriter who wrote such 

enduring stage musicals as "West Side Story" and "Gypsy," as well

as the movie classics "Rope" and "The Way We Were," has died. 

He was 93. (From www.kansascity.com)

On May 5, 2011, Arthur Laurent passed away in New York City.  For those that are unaware Mr. Laurent was the author of 'Westside Story' in 1957 and the most iconic of burlesque musicals, 'Gypsy' in 1959, which was loosely based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee.  

Ethel Merman was the first to be cast as Rose (Gypsy's over bearing mother), which is considered to be the high point of Ms. Merman's career.  In later years Gypsy would have four successful revivals on Broadway.  The first was in 1974 with Angela Lansbury as Rose, in 1989 with Tyne Daly, in 2003 with Burnadette Peters (directed by Sam Mendes, the only revival not directed by Laurents), and most recently in 2008 with Patti LuPone.

He was also an accomplished stage director, wrote many radio plays including The Thin Man which was about a husband and wife detective team by the name of Nick and Nora, which later became one of my favorite movies.  He also wrote military training videos during World War II.  His biggest film success was as the screenwriter for "The Way We Were" starring Robert Redford and Barbara Striesand.

'Gypsy' has also graced the movie screen many times with many playing the coveted roll of Rose. In 1962 which had Rosalind Russel as Rose and Natalie Wood as Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee.  In 1993 Bette Midler took the lead in the made for TV version of 'Gypsy'.  It is rumored that Laurents was in talks with Barbara Streisand for a new version of the movie for the big screen with her as Rose.  

You can read more about Arthur Laurents amazing life and career at his IMDB PAGE as well as THIS ARTICLE from kansascity.com.

     

2011-03-20 Killer Creek Harley Davidson St. Patrick's Day Party

After hauling much fabulous booty back from Jackson the day before, Syrens of the South Productions hauled buns to Marietta to take it off for a bevy of bikers!  We were very excited to once again share the stage with our good friends The Psycho Devilles who have been touring all over the world and stopped by home to shed their amazing brand of rockabilly on the crowd!  They even had some of the lovely ladies performing hop up on stage and do a little dancing during their set.

There were two sets during the day, it's always strange doing burlesque during the day, daylight is not a friend to the burlesque queen but we always make it through!  Having performed for their St. Patrick's Day Party back in 2009 we were super excited to get to come back as it was such a great time and we just love getting to drool over all the amazing bikes!

Katherine Lashe MC'd both sets.  The first included D'lilah D'lite performing her love of Guinness with her giant pints.  Following that was Brandy Noir's professional debut after her amazing beginning at The Southern Fried Burlesque Fest the week before.  She performed as a one woman rat pack to Frank Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin".  Ruby Redmayne was a crowd favorite with her Sugar Daddy routine that includes her amazing disappearing pantie trick!  Closing out the first set was Kittie Katrina showing the crowd her high energy Kittie Kat Love  With her feathery tail and fuzzy ears I'm sure many of them would let her curl up on their bikes for a cat nap!

The second set opened with D'lilah D'lite doing a classically naughty routine with a feather boa that tickled every one's fancy! Then came the hour glass and a half Tupelo Honey with her delectable dark side to A Demon Like Me.  Roses weren't the only thing crushed under her heel, I'm pretty sure she had the audience's hearts as well!  Closing out the show was Kittie Katrina, who was going to be performing to Bourbon in His Eyes, but we had a bit of a malfunction with the CD.  So she totally rocked the improv to a song she'd never heard before and you wouldn't have known with the way she danced and totally rocked the routine!  This is not the first time I have seen this happen to a performer, but it always amazes me the level of professionalism and dedication it takes to pull something like that out of your ass, she already had my respect, but now she has my admiration as well!

Below is a slide show of pictures from the event that include a few highlights from the burlesque show as well!

2011-03-18 Shamrock-A-Shimmy in Jackson, MS

Syrens of the South Productions brings Burlesque to Jackson!  That's what was being said as D'lilah D'lite, Katherine Lashe, Kittie Katrina, and Stormy Knight piled in the car at 5:30am to leave Atlanta to meet up with Spooky le Strange from New Orleans and Big Daddy Cool from Nashville.  And no, Jackson was not sung the whole way there as predicted, infact it wasn't until our arrival that D'lilah played it on her laptop.  Apparently there is no burlesque in Jackson and one man had a vision to bring somethig new and different to Jackson. E. C. Puffin Entertainment chose his first event to be one of burlesque with Syrens of the South in The Basement at Fire.  The Basement is a gay bar that is expanding it's audience, the second level was a large music venue and the upstairs was a very tastey mexican restaurant which we took full advantage.

During set up Katherine Lashe had a small beginning burlesque class for very eager students.  Sadly the word didn't get out about the class to everyone that was interested so there will be more classes coming to Jackson on May 7th!  Tease U will begin with classes by Katherine Lashe and D'lilah D'lite teaching history, basic move, vintage hair and pastie making.

For St. Patrick's Day, Syrens of the South Productions put together a show of bawdy Irish acts as well as classic burlesque routines and a hint of magic done by MC Big Daddy Cool.  From eating razor blades to piercing his skin with needles, Big Daddy Cool definately had the audience in the palm of his hand.  Two shows turned into three due to high demand from the audience.  Something sexy about being so popular they can't get enough!

Performances includes Stormy Knight doing an amazing bellydance routine showing that she does indeed have the fastest hips in the South and her high energy rockabilly routine that had a ho down feel with a sultry edge.  D'lilah D'lite did a sexy classic burlesque routine with some amazing chair work and stocking pulls as well as a tribute to everyone's favortie Irish beer with two feet tall Guiness pint glasses.  The Reverand Spooky le Strange did an wonderful Irish jig complete with tarten and a hint of river dance in addition to her bride routine that had her looking like an elegant stripping ghost that was both beautiful and seductive with it's grace and simplicity.  Katherine Lashe closed the first show with a classic striptease and stocking pull and the second show with a green fan dance to blend both the classic and the drunken holiday.

After the shows everyone had a drink, some amazing mexican food and signed autographs for all the new burlesque fans!  Everyone was awesome to travel with and I would definately recommend any of the for a road trip or a touring show.  The entire experience was awesome for the performers, the audience, the crew and the promotors.  Everyone is super excited about the future of shows and classes for Jackson!

Dirty Martini and the New Burlesque

Though I briefly touched on this in the post about Southern Fried Burlesque Fest, it really deserves it's own review as a documentary instead of as part of an event.

Dirty Martini is one of the most celebrated performers of the new burlesque and it's no shock that she would be chosen to have a documentary done about her life.  It goes over her life and performance history from her beginnings as a ballerina to her illustrious career as the number one burlesque performer in the world. 

This documentary includes interviews with her family as well as fellow neo-burlesque performers who helped create the New York neo-burlesque scene and shape the neo-burlesque movement around the world.  With Julie Atlas Muse, Tigger, Princess Farhana, Scotty the Blue Bunny, Murry Hill, Angie Pontani, Jo Boobs and many other performers who are considered staples and leaders in the neo-burlesque movement, it not only gives an in site into Dirty Martini but how burlesque came back from the shadows to one of the most celebrated art forms around the world.  The efforts all of these performers and artists took a form of expression and made it an international movement.  With performances that are political, satirical, and just plain beautiful there was a home for each different style and point of view in burlesque, which is often not the case in many outlets.


Dirty's commentary about how her size is always part of the conversation when discussing her career was very interesting.  She's an amazing dancer, has had years of ballet and other dance training and a lot of time people just want to talk about the fact that she's a size 16.  To be honest, when ever I've seen her on stage her size is the furthest thing from my mind.  Her grace, charisma and stage presence supersede anything else you might be thinking and draw you in to just sit back, relax and enjoy the show because it's amazing.  Though I do think that her size can be an inspiration for those who feel that they are over weight and it's great that being a size 16 is encouraging to embrace all body types, it's not what defines her in any way.  It wouldn't matter if she was 100 lbs or 1000 lbs, she has the "IT" factor and that's really the point.

Gary Beeber did an amazing job of piecing together a documentary that not only covered the history of Dirty Martini herself, but the whole movement.  It had performances, tips for performers, conversations about size and body image and really showed the love that Gary had for this project and has for burlesque as a whole.  In fact this whole experience now has him producing the Gotham Burlesque shows the first Saturday of each month in New York.

I highly recommend this film for those who love Dirty Martini, love history and love burlesque!

2011-03-10 The First Annual Southern Fried Burlesque Fest

Many years ago I (Katherine Lashe) was kicking around the idea of producing a burlesque festival in Atlanta.  I spoke with other people around Atlanta and it seemed like a huge undertaking I just wasn't ready for.  A few years go by, probably close to 100 shows produced and having attended tons of festivals, I felt a little more ready to take on the task.  In March 2010 I began having talks with The Holiday Inn Conference Center in Decatur, GA, with assistance from Ursula Undress, since she's an experienced wedding planner by day.  By the end of April I had a contract and by the end of May I had put down the deposit.

By June, Ursula had gone from an advisor to doing all of the graphics as well as being a co conspirator as to the direction the festival was taking.  When we realized that people were actually interested and we were indeed having a festival we were lucky enough to be joined in January 2011 by Ruby Redmayne who rounded up sponsors and vendors in lighting speed!  All of this hard work is what lead up to the First Southern Fried Burlesque Fest (SFBF).

On Wednesday, March 9, 2011, I picked up our headliner, international burlesque star, Dirty Martini; documentary director Gary Beeber; and our stage manager for the festival, the Bishop of Burlesque, David Bishop.  I got them settled in at the hotel so I could run an errand and get ready for dinner.  After meeting up with Ursula Undress we went to Watershed Restaurant for an AMAZING dinner.  I highly recommend the Crawfish Pies and Creamy Stone Ground Shrimp Grits with Toasted Pullman Plank, though there was nothing on the menu that wasn't delicious.  Afterwards we dropped them all back off at the hotel and went for our last night of sleep before the festival.


Thursday, March 10, 2011, we did some last minute errands before making our way to the hotel to set up registration and prepare for the Cock-Tails Party and Atlanta Screening of Dirty Martini and the New Burlesque.  Ursula went to pick up The Headmistress of the New York School of Burlesque, Jo "Boobs" Weldon; The Burlesque Mayor of New York, Jonny Porkpie; and Burlesque Legend, Tiffany Carter. The hotel was descended upon by international burlesque glitterati for sweet tea, pigs in a blanket, fruit and cheese trays provided by the festival; with cocktails at the bar.  Once the snacks had cleared everyone went into the ballroom to watch the documentary.  It was an amazing film that really got behind the glitz and glamor of the "new burlesque" and how things have evolved.  Afterwards I moderated the Q&A so everyone got to ask questions of Gary Beeber and Dirty Martini about the film, burlesque, film making, etc... It was a really great experience and very informative.  We're hoping to continue you the tradition of having screenings of burlesque documentaries and themed movies to show burlesque's influence on the screen as well as on the stage.


Friday, March 11, 2011, at 9am had vendors open selling wares and began the series of classes offered at SFBF.  One room held all of our movement classes while the other held all of the lecture classes.  There were dance, stage presence, craft, history, prop, and other amazing classes offered by neo-burlesque performers, burlesque legends, and other members of the burlesque trade.  While classes were going on the Friday night performers were doing their tech rehearsals.  


Friday night was the Free Range International Burlesque Showcase and The Hatchling Student Showcase.  The talent for the Free Range show was amazing and included performers from all over the world and opened with Atlanta's own Big Mike and The Dames Aflame doing the full Elvis Gospel Choir to bring the energy up for the show, then came Kisa von Teasa (Knoxville), Vivienne Vermuth (Dallas), Katherine Lashe (Atlanta), Lola Spitfire (Denver), Mitzy Cream (Toronto), Iva Handful (Seattle), Moxie Sazerac (New Orleans), Chad Sanborn (Atlanta), Lady Ginger Licious (New Orleans), Dolly Derringer (Athens, OH), a very pregnant Ursula Undress (Atlanta), and Lydia de Carllo (Vancouver) rounding out the show before the Legends and Headliners took the stage.  First up was Gyna Rose Jewel who wowed the crowd with her classic moves and light up robe and pasties.  It was an amazing blend of classic burlesque with a modern twist.  Next was Jonny Porkpie (New York) who showed his Olympic level routine and brought the house down with the perfect blend of sex and humor.  Then came Burlesque Legend Tiffany Carter who smoldered with sex and she strutted her classic take on burlesque in a beautiful tribute to her friends who had passed and showed the audience why she was a former Miss Nude!  Following Tiffany was Jo "Boobs" Weldon, doing her classic tribute to Gypsy Rose Lee in gold fringe flying everywhere seemingly brighter then the sun.  Closing the show was Dirty Martini with her kick ass tribute to Tura Satana and the bad girls of old dressed as Batman.  It was high energy, fun and amazing.


The Hatchling Student Showcase almost brought a tear to my eye.  I MCed the show as I usually do for the students, but Tease U students from Atlanta's ABCs & 123s of Burlesque students were joined by Knoxville's Salome Cabaret Burlesque Academy's Students, who opened the show.  First up was Nipsy Tussel who had amazing stage presence and was totally fearless!  Then came Nica Luna who was done up as a Day of the Dead character with amazing make-up and costuming, it was hard to believe it was her first show.  Then came the Atlanta students, beginning with Sunny Midnight who showed us all her "Love Whip" and how sexy being awkward can be.  Following her was Ruby le Chatte who did a sensual dance that would make a French lounge singer blush.  Teacups Devereaux showed us how much she wanted to be evil which is against her seemingly sweet disposition.  Brandy Noir did a Vegas Style routine that would have made the Rat Pack proud.  Closing out the show was Pearl E. White, who knocked out the audience with her Rocky tribute.


Saturday again began with classes while the vendors were selling their wares.  The evening brought The First Annual Southern Fried Burlesque Pageant!  Best Duet included Freya West and Mr Exposition (Nashville), Queertini Time (Austin), and The Fister Sisters (Knoxville).  Best Variety included Catatonic Raucous (Atlanta),  Bourgeois Betty (Augusta), and Tim Monteith (Atlanta).  Southern Fried Burlesque Queen included Vivian MirAnn (Albuquerque), Red Hot Annie (Chicago), Siren Santina (Knoxville), Hottie McNaughty (Seattle), Madame Mae I (Vancouver), Lola le Soliel (Atlanta), Wham Bam Pam (Washington D.C.), and Honey Cocoa Bordeauxx (Dallas).  While we were tallying votes our headliners took the stage.  The Godfather of Atlanta Burlesque, Torchy Taboo, did a tribute to Gone With the Wind that showed her magnolia roots.  Our MC for the pageant Jonny Porkpie did a routine that included an amazing fan dance and fringe in to emphasis his *ahem* attributes.  Dirty Martini did an amazing number to Purple Haze that made the crowd go wild with her flurry of feathers.  And the winners are....

The First Southern Fried Burlesque Queen - Siren Santina

Southern Fried Burlesque Queen
Siren Santina

Second Runner Up and
Best Costume Lola le Soliel 

First Runner Up Vivian MirAnn

Most Classic
Honey Coco Bordeauxx

Best Variety and
Most Humerous
Bourgeois Betty

Best Duest and Audience Choice
Queertini Time

Once the excitement of the Pageant wore down it was time for the Dirty South Showcase which included some of the best performers from all over the Southeast.  It opened with Lah Lah Luscious (Atlanta), Delinda d'Rabbit (Knoville), Rosie Palms (Atlanta), Dolly Dee (Charleston),  Rachel Riot (Fayetteville), Kittie Katrina (Atlanta), Curvature (Atlanta), Fonda Lingue (Atlanta), Lysa Strata (Memphis), Tupelo Honey (Atlanta), Salome Cabaret (Knoxville), and closing out the show was Torchy Taboo who did her Tiger routine which had all the grace of the cat she was portraying.  Afterwards there was some naughty picture taking in the lobby since all the hotel rooms have windows facing down, it was an exhibitionist's and a voyeur's wet dream. We've spoken to the hotel so there's a good chance we'll be able to recreate this again next year! 

Sunday, March 13, 2011, was a day for recovery!  With the time change we didn't get started with the Legend's of Burlesque Panel until 10am.  For two hours, patrons could ask questions of Gyna Rose Jewel, Tiffany Carter and Torchy Taboo.   Questions ranged from how burlesque was and where it may be going and everything in between.  It's a great time to get to know the Legends and hear how different it used to be.  I always love hearing about the stage door johnnies that would bring flowers, furs and marriage proposals.  If only that were still true today!  After the Legends Panel, Dr. Sketchy's Atlanta had a special session with many of the performers from out of town who don't normally get to model in Atlanta.  It was also one of the few times photographers were also welcome at Dr. Sketchy's since there was plenty of room for sketchers and shooters alike.  My keyhole ended up being the perfect backdrop for all the girls.  The Queen had a great time posing with her tiara!

Overall, we were really pleased with the applicants, the performers that ended up being picked for the shows, the teachers, the legends and some amazing volunteers!  I'm very pleased to announce that we will be doing this again next year at the Holiday Inn Decatur Conference Center on March 8-11, 2012.  They've already confirmed that we will again have the $99 a night deal plus breakfast in the morning as well.  Next year will be bigger and better and we're already planning for some amazing after parties and trying to figure out a good way to take advantage of the indoor pool!  We hope to see you there next year and we're currently accepting 2012 Sponsors with some half price packages and discount weekend passes at only $100 until August 1, 2011, when they go up to $150.  We'll begin accepting applications for performers from August 1, 2011 thru November 15, 2011 with all applicants being notified by January 1, 2012 so everyone has plenty of time to plan their travel and get cheap advance flights.

Here is the slideshow for the Southern Fried Burlesque Fest Group on Flickr.  I know many of the photographers are in the process of getting their pics up but I wanted to make sure that everyone could find it!