Bad Girls of Burlesque

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
House of Blues (225 Decatur St.)
11:00PM
General Admission, standing room only. No photography or video recording allowed during show.

Master of Ceremonies ARMITAGE SHANKS (Seattle, WA) Armitage Shanks is one of the most sought after MC/Performers on the International Burlesque & Cabaret scene, having performed numerous times at the London & Amsterdam Burlesque Festivals, Italy’s Burlesque Garden, Big Top Follies in Australia, The NY Burlesque Festival and scores of other venues here and abroad. He has a starring role in the upcoming feature film, “The Burlesque Assassins”. He has been featured in Playboy France & Italy, as well as Time Out London, which hailed him ” One of the darkest-hearted comperes on the burlesque circuit- not only a biting ringmaster, but a unique singer as well”. Dan Savage of THE STRANGER said, “Armitage Shanks has a voice like honey-coated gravel.  A Victorian Music Hall barker, he struck just the right tone. He was a sinister and louche presence, who put some sex in the air.”
CATHERINE D’LISH (Seattle, WA) has earned a reputation as a contemporary “striptease virtuoso” with her unusually inventive shows performed in an elegant and whimsical style. She has headlined in varied venues from Las Vegas casinos, nightclubs and fetish events, to the top gentlemen’s clubs and theaters. Catherine has competed in, and won nearly every pageant and title available to striptease performers, holding over thirty titles such as Miss Nude USA, World’s Performer of the Year, Miss Erotic World, Showgirl of the Year, Miss Exotic America, Miss Nude International, USA’s Best Shows, Miss Exotic World, and the Burlesque Hall of Fame.
IVA HANDFULL (Seattle, WA)  is a modern heathen in the Burlesque world, an albino Grace Jones, both a fashion Icon and rock & roll Diva.  Mz. Handfull is a contemporary, modern, alternative neo-Burlesquer known for her inventive, intense, epic, and oftentimes impersonating performances. She’s co-producer of Discontinued Trim Productions, producing Burlesque shows raising money for local Seattle charities, and co-owner of Haute Under the Collar, rhinestone ties for fabulous necks.
LOULOU D’VIL (Tampere, Finland) is Finland’s premier burlesque performer, persuasive in her presence.  Notorious in Scandinavia for her fierce reincarnation of seductive vintage glamour, and bump’n'grind burlesque, LouLou D’vil performs skilled striptease with a sultry nod to the legends of Old Hollywood. She started her career as one of the pioneers in Finland. Very quickly, she found herself entertaining people all over Finland, and then the world. She performs regularly in Switzerland, Italy, UK, Denmark, France, and Holland. She has been performing at prestigious events such as the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend, London Burlesque Week, Paris Burlesque Festival, Amsterdam Burlesque Festival, and Helsinki Burlesque Festival. This year, she won “Best Debut” at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas.
BETSY BOTTOM DOLLAR (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) have been performing in one capacity or another for over 30 years (dancer, actor, singer). She was the closing act on opening night at BHoF 2010 in Las Vegas, and received a web-award from burlesque star Trixie Little for her performance. Betsy joined the Cheesecake Burlesque Revue in early 2008 as choreographer and started emceeing and performing in 2009. She performs with the Cheesecakes approximately twice a month in Victoria, BC, as well as theatres and performance spaces all over British Columbia. The shows are often sold-out or near capacity (400 to 500 people), with enthusiastic crowds! She just recently performed in a group number she choreographed at the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival in May, during the Saturday Night Showcase.
MENAGE A’ TROIS (Charleston, SC) is Charleston’s newest burlesque troupe, dedicated to bringing the class and style of the art to the Holy City. They bring a variety of backgrounds and talents to the group. Miss Evelyn DeVere has performed burlesque in Salt Lake City and Charleston, in addition to being a belly dancer, aerialist, and costume designer. Miss Plume de Paname is an accomplished actress who has worked in Charleston and Paris, bringing her theatrical flair to the ensemble. Miss Giovana Rose is a skilled dancer who has performed in many productions in Charleston. Their routines range from the coquettish to the smouldering, always featuring sumptuous costumes, titillating movements, and a dash of satire.
CALAMITY CHANG (New York, NY) An alumni of the School of Burlesque in NYC, Calamity Chang has been performing in NYC for 2 years. She also produces four shows in NYC such as “Spanking the Lower East Side” at Nurse Bettie, “Drunken Dragon Nights” at Macao Trading Company, “Beatles Burlesque” and “Room 69 at Hotel Chantelle”.

TESSA VON TWINKLE (Bloomington, IN) This Galactic Gem has one hell of a shine!  Tessa von Twinkle, the Pint Sized Diva, delights audiences with her charm, elegance, and sass.  Don’t let her size fool you!  She will knock your stockings off with a touch of classic tease and modern naughtiness.  Tessa began her burlesque career in 2009 at the first annual “Hoochie Coo Burlesque Party” in Bloomington, IN. Since then, she has been performing monthly with her troupe, the Bloomington Burlesque Brigade (B3)  as well as traveling to festivals and venues throughout the Midwest so spread the gospel of sparkle.   Tessa has proudly been a part of the St Louis “Show Me Burlesque Festival” 2010 and 2011, the 2011 “Best of Midwest Burlesk Festival”, and the 2011 “Windy City Burlesque Festival”.  Tessa can’t wait to show you the twinkle in her eye that will cause a shiver in your thighs.
DEIRDRE DOLL (Chicago, IL), “The Uncover Girl”, is a Chicago burlesque performer and model who has performed across the city at venues such as The Music Box Theater, The Greenhouse Theater, Blue Bayou, Debonair Social Club, Crimson Lounge, Seven’s Cabaret at The Center for the Performing Arts, The Lakeshore Theater, Subterranean, Five Star Bar, Exit, Hydrate, Lincoln Tap Room, and more. She has also performed in such distinguished burlesque festivals as The Toronto Burlesque Festival 2008, The Best Of Midwest Burlesk Festival 2009, The Burlesque Hall of Fame 2009 (Best Group), The New Orleans Burlesque Festival 2009 and 2010, The Windy City Burlesque Festival 2010, Lola Van Ella’s Burlesque Showcase 2010, and The St. Louis Show-Me Burlesque Festival 2011.  Deirdre Doll is also proud to be the pin-up model on the new Original Sin Cider posters.
BLAZE (Dallas, TX) started performing at an early age with all the usual classes; tap, jazz, ballet & more. After her time as a US Army Military Police officer she felt the call of the stage again and started belly dancing & is now a member of a well-known and respected tribal troupe in Dallas. Blaze first discovered burlesque when she saw Dita Von Teese perform and was instantly in love. Finally her love of the stage, dance, elaborate costumes, and obsession with all things sparkly combined in one spotlight! She is also an award-winning costume designer and creator; her eye for detail and refusal to settle for anything but the best truly sets her creations and performances apart from the rest!
DELIA ACES (Chicago, IL) is a burlesque performer and artist, born and bred in Chicago. She relishes the opportunity to amuse and excite her audience with new and creative acts. She began taking classes from Michelle L’amour in 2009 and fell in love with the beautiful world of burlesque. Her favorite acts and inspiration are always narrative, clever, and seductive.
JEEZ LOUEEZ (Chicago, IL) is “The Powerhouse of Midwest Burlesque!” A lethal combination of drama, hilarity, and killer kinetics, she creates memorable acts that leave you (and her) out of breath! A member of Vaudezilla Productions in Chicago, Miss Loueez has been wowing audiences with her innovative and energetic style since 2009. She’s performed at the Best of Midwest Burlesk Festival, Show-Me Burlesque Festival, and Windy City Burlesque Fests and was voted #39 in the 21st Century Burlesque Top 50 internationally. She’s a born n’ bred  St. Louis girl and frequently travels back home as a featured guest in the Beggar’s Carnivale and St. Louis Burlesque Showcase.
GINGER LICIOUS (New Orleans, LA) has been a dancer since the young age of 4. She incorporates acrobatic antics, vaudevillian humor, and sexy sauciness into her strip teases. She performs in New Orleans with Slow Burn Burlesque. She is sweet, she is spicy, she is everything nicey. She is Ginger Licious.
TALLOOLAH LOVE (Atlanta, GA) 2011 was a very busy year for Talloolah Love. She is the producer of Talloolah Love Presents: a series including The World’s Fair Exposition, and Rue Du Paradis at The High Museum of Art in Atlanta. She is the moderator of the Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret club and she was voted first place in fan’s choice out of 45 performers to compete in this year’s Miss Viva Las Vegas Competition.
MS. REDD (Las Vegas, NV) is the Sin City’s VaVaVoom Girl! She is a pin-up model and burlesque performer.This year, she was Runner-Up in the Miss Viva Las Vegas Burlesque Competition at The Orleans in Las Vegas. She was also selected to model lingerie at the Secrets In Lace lingerie show at the annual rockabilly weekend.
NATHAN KEPNER & MORGAN TSU-RAUN (New Orleans, LA) of The Crescent Circus joined forces in 2009 and moved to New Orleans from the Northeast to perform their fresh style of entertainment combining magic, juggling, hula-hooping and more.  Together the duo holds a total of 6 international titles for their original work including the World Magic Seminar Stage Champion, and has performed for audiences across the globe in cities including Las Vegas, London and Prague.  More succinctly, as the chairperson of the Society of American Magicians put it, Nathan and Morgan are “international threats to complacency and dullness…[they] MUST BE STOPPED!”