BHoF 2009 Poster

Best Debut: Melody Mangler (Vancouver, B.C., )

Best Group: Nanda (Portland, OR and Port Townsend, WA)

Best Variety: Gigi & Pop (Brooklyn, NY)

Best Boylesque: Hot Toddy (Chicago, IL)

Reigning Queen of Burlesque 2009 (formerly Miss Exotic World): Kalani KoKonuts (Las Vegas, NV)

Reigning Queen First Runner Up: Roxy Dlite (Windsor, ON, Canada)

Reigning Queen Second Runner Up: Perle Noire (New Orleans, LA)

Burlesque Hall of Fame Legends Award: Satan’s Angel

Most Innovative: Arabella Trapeze (Brooklyn, NY) (Harvest Moon & Mr. Fantastic)

Most Classic: Knicker Kittens Burlesque Revue (Stockholm, Sweden)

Most Comical; Little Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY)

Most Dazzling: Kalani KoKonuts (Las Vegas, NV)

Note: A few changes this year, including dropping the use of the “Miss Exotic World” title to now “Reigning Queen of Burlesque”, as well as the addition of a Burlesque Hall of Fame Legends Award. Results via World Famous *BOB*.

I’ve been waaaaay behind on my burlesque news reading, and of course, blogging here, but I just had to share these recent articles– if you hadn’t read them yet. I’m especially happy not only because the articles are fairly well-written and approach burlesque as a legitimate topic, but for me it’s still pretty rare (and therefore a breath of fresh air) to read pieces that don’t go for the sensationalistic and ever-so-wrong “burlesque is back!” angle…

1) LAT: Burlesque era remains alive in hall of fame
- A wonderful overview on the history and current state of the Burlesque Hall of Fame (formerly known as the Exotic World Museum). And it’s got a couple of the most adorable photos!

2) North by Northwestern: Michelle L’amour shows that burlesque is more than just a strip tease
- An inspiring article on Michelle L’amour’s fairly new burlesque dance studio.

Michelle L’amour walks gracefully into the studio and begins directing warm-ups for her ‘Beginning/Intermediate Burlesque’ class. The former Miss Exotic World (2005) is Dita-esque in appearance, petite and pale with short, black hair and dark red lips, and she wears an ornate feather clip in her hair, shaped in an apropos heart. She swings her hips to the sultry beat, leading the girls in the “sexy walk” warm-up, and talks all the while, making splits and turns look effortless. The atmosphere in the studio is fun, playful and very comfortable, despite the blatant sex appeal.

3) BroadwayWorld.com: Burlesque Theatre Open[ed] 3/13 At The Denver Civic Theater

For the first time since the 1930′s a theatre is being built specifically to house burlesque, headed up by Reyna Von Vett of last fall’s acclaimed Leadville or Bust– a playful romp through 1880′s burlesque (Reyna played Tanya for 2 years in the Las Vegas company of Mamma Mia!) and Michelle Baldwin, a.k.a. Vivienne VaVoom, the Mother of Neo-Burlesque in Denver and creator of one of the first neo-burlesque troupes in the U.S., Burlesque As It Was. Converting the space recently known as the Black Box Cabaret in the Denver Civic Theatre ( 721 Santa Fe Dr. , Denver ), Von Vett and Baldwin aim to bring burlesque back while playing homage to the great tradition of burlesque that began in the late 1800′s and all but disappeared in the 1960′s.

While it seems ‘crazy’ to start up a theatre in this economy, Von Vett and Baldwin point to the Great Depression and how burlesque was the one form of live entertainment that survived and thrived, even moving into the Times Square theatre district of New York when ‘legitimate’ theatres closed their shows.

… In other (non-)news, I’ve recently been in touch with a couple of local media reps who expressed interest in interviewing me for their own “burlesque is back” news pieces. There was even talk of doing a video segment of a demo Burlesque Boot Camp class. Alas, I think the ball’s been dropped somewhere, as I no longer hear back from them. We’ll see…

The word is out!

Official lineup for the 18th Annual Miss Exotic World Pageant:

BEST DEBUT:
Clams Casino
Evie Lovelle
Gal Friday
Fanny Tastic
Frenchie Kiss
Kitty Twist
Lola Bel Aire
Magnificent Liberte Belle
Mimi First
Perle Noir
Ruby Valentine
Tatah DuJour

BEST BOYLESQUE:
Hot Toddy
Sexy Mark Brown
Sin Jyn

BEST DUO:
Cafe Con Leche
Gravity Plays Favorites
Jewel of Denial & Kat Bardot
Syrens of the South
Tease for Two: Lily Verlaine and Miss Indigo Blue

BEST TROUPE:
The Amazing Knicker Kittens
Foxy Tann and The Wham-Bam Thank You Ma’ams
Peek-A-Boo Revue
Sinner Saint Burlesque
Twilight Vixen Revue

MISS EXOTIC WORLD:
Adonna Vichet
Amber Ray
Amber Topaz
Angie Pontani
Bambi the Mermaid
Bunny Love
Charlotte La Belle Araignee
Inga Ingenue
Little Brooklyn
Lux LaCroix
Ravenna Black
Sparkly Devil
Trixie Little
Violet Eva
Vivienne VaVoom

More MEW weekend info in the Burlesque Hall of Fame site.

There are so many good acts on the lineup– many of my favorites, and many more I’ve been dying to see live. I can already feel the fan-girl excitement coursing through my veins. Squeee! I can’t wait!

Tickets are officially ON SALE for weekend passes to Burlesque Hall of Fame/Miss Exotic World weekend (June 5-8, 2008).

June 5 – 8
Palms Casino Weekend Pass! featuring the Stars of Burlesque Reunion and 2008 Miss Exotic World Pageant

Each Weekend Pass is good for general admission access to ALL official Burlesque Hall of Fame/Exotic World Weekend events at Palms Casino Resort, Thursday, June 5-Sunday, June 8. Yes, ALL–and they *WILL* sell out, so get yours while they’re hot, because when they’re gone… they’re gone!

Included in the price of your $150 Weekend Pass is access to:
–Opening Party at Ghost Bar (Thursday)
–Ditch Friday pool party, Friday afternoon (Friday)
–Reunion Showcase with Jazz Legend Jimmy Scott (Friday)***
–Burlesque Bazaar, Friday-Sunday 6/6-6/8 (Friday)
–Miss Exotic World Pageant at Palms Pool (Saturday)
–Post-MEW concert with Tiger Army (Saturday)
–After Party in the Lounge (Special Guests TBA, Saturday)
–Hangover Dance Party at Palms Pool (Sunday)
–Closing Gala at Playboy Club (Sunday)

…Plus free access to the Burlesque Bazaar, live music and drink specials ALL WEEKEND LONG!

**There will be NO individual tickets sold for this event. It is an intimate showcase open to participating performers and weekend passholders only

Get yours now! (But wait until I’ve had a chance to buy mine first, heehee.)

—

Penny Star, Jr./It’s A Chick Productions has pooled together “Las Vegas or Bust“, a nationwide collective of benefit events for the Burlesque Hall of Fame. Visit the site for more info on the Burlesque Hall of Fame (including a short video on the old museum), a list of participating shows, and the overall progress of the fund raisers.