Displaying items by tag: Burlesque

The usual holiday tales that bring us together around the winter season fill us with joy but there has also been a not-so-usual tradition in Chicago that brings a titillating thrill to the holiday season! Who needs the Nutcracker Ballet, when you can have the Buttcracker Burlesque (#buttstuff)! The fantastical holiday show gives a sexy and alternative spin to the traditional Nutcracker tale and you can catch it at at The Den Theater for 4 showings in December (the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th.)

Join Clara at her holiday party and delight in the wild trip she takes to the Land of Sweets. Enjoy the treats of this partial parody and variety show- as Clara battles the rats, and experiences the thrills of burlesque/boylesque, ballet, body positivity, and circus acts. ‘The Buttcracker is wonderfully directed by Leah Urzendowski and choreographed by Jenn Freeman/Po’ Chop.

Each show will have a new cast of featured dancers and acts, nodding to the traditions of vaudeville, cabaret, and burlesque.

December 5th's introductory show of the season delighted Clara with the following sweet treats as her reward for victory over the Rat King. Vodka (Rockabilly Ronnie), Tea (Brad French - a juggler with brilliant comedic timing), Coffee (Lolita Love- a lady who can work a cape/crepe dress), Chocolate (Sio Bast a stunner with feather fans) and Mother Ginger (Angelica Grace an unbelievable high kicking, high energy dancer). The show is supported by a great ensemble cast - Clara (Nikki Hartung), The Buttcracker (Scarlett Begonias), Drosselmeyer (Miguel Long), Boss/Rat King (Molly Gloeckner), The Sugar Plum Fairy (Mocha Mocha) and the Ensemble dancers (Michael Ashford, Harlie Honeypot, Nicole Amber, and Olivia Cucco.) ‘The Buttcracker’ is hour and a half of exciting costumes, solo performances and group dances with fun that just keeps on going.

Bring your friends and, if you like, bring most of the family! Have dinner and drinks in the Haven Lounge before the show. Bring your drinks into the theater from the bar, refill them during the show. With a variety of seating options: GA $25 (to stand) and $30 (to sit) and VIP tickets available at $55 (which offers early entrance, table seating, cast meet and greet, swag and entrance to Clara’s Late Night Holiday Party), this show accommodates every which way to enjoy theatre. All ticket holders can also stay for Clara’s After Party! For an additional $15 theater goers are treated to another hour of more intimate, scintillating performances beginning at 10:30 after the show.

‘The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque’ should be your new holiday tradition. Go to one show or go to all of them for unique holiday memories you will never forget! Each show will be a new gift and different performers to unwrap!

Happy Ho-ho-ho-holidays!

There are something’s that just stick with you from your childhood. Any time a reminder of said memory comes up you can instantly recall when and where that memory took place. For me, I can clearly remember watching Ghostbusters as a young child and it sticking with me throughout my life. I have driven many people to the point of anger by quoting the movie time and again. I never thought anything could come along and make the movie of my childhood more special. That is until I saw Ghostbustier: The Story of the Real Ghostbusty.

The show features an all female cast as they try and save New York from ghosts like, a sexy Slimer, a curvaceous Stay Puft Marshmallow Woman, and many other sexy ghosts. Ghostbustier is an all out entertaining burlesque show brings the classic comedy to the stage, but with a sultry and sensual twist. Janine, the dry monotone receptionist for the Ghostbusters, narrates the show as she takes the audience through the certain paranormal activities occurring throughout the city. But, the story itself everyone knows there is nothing new to it. The true entertaining portion is how the story is told as well as the female empowerment that it represents. 

What everyone comes to see are the dance performances put on by the all female cast members. The thing to remember about a burlesque show is that it is not just about sexy dancing, but also a fun satire. Seeing Slimer give a striptease and chase the Ghostbusters around, or a sexy Stay Puft Marshmallow Woman dance to “Wrecking Ball” while she destroys New York makes it not only sexy, but also purely entertaining to watch. There comes a point where Janine gives a comedic, but seductive, striptease to Egon while dancing to R-Kelly’s “Bump and Grind.” 

There are no defined body types proving that anyone can be sexy no matter what. Each woman comes on stage completely owning the moment as they all try and one up each other to see who can get the crowd to “whoop” and holler the loudest. It is not just a satire of a film, but also a celebration of body image. These women are the example that there is no shame in how you look and they are there on stage to celebrate that fact. There is a certain empowerment behind the show, something I completely get behind and support. 

The show only lasts an hour, but there is never a dull moment where you wonder why you are there. It is a fun show that will keep you laughing the whole way through while enjoying fun dance performances. Ghostbustier: The Story of the Real Ghostbusty is showing at the Gorilla Tango Theatre, as is only one part of other burlesque shows. Other shows include: A Nude Hope, Game of Thongs, Great Scott, Those are Boobs!, and Holy Bouncing Boobies! All are worth the price of admission. Just remember, you have to be 18 to attend and your voice may become horse after all the “whooping” and hollering in excitement. Performances take place on Saturdays at 10:30 pm.

For more info - http://www.gorillatango.com/

Game of Thrones, breasts, and booty: if you're an admirer of any of these three -- scratch that, four -- things, then you are well-suited to play the Game of Thongs. A burlesque revue of the wildly popular HBO show and book series by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thongs is an hour-long adventure through the land of Breasteros and across an overwhelming Narrow Sea of pasties.

Things are awry in the kingdom of Breasteros when Ned of House Stark-Naked is appointed the new Hand Job of the King and must travel to the capitol, King's Landing Strip, to assist his old friend King Robert of House Bare-ass-eon. As the tale unwinds, we meet the other members of House Stark-Naked, the closer-than-appropriate Lannister sibling duo, a pack of dancing direwolves, the sensitive Jon Snow ("the only bastard hot enough to melt the Wall"), the hilariously petulant to-be-king Joffrey, and as many other GoT characters that could be crammed into sixty minutes as imaginably possible.

("Wait, who died?" "Jon Arryn." "Who's that, again?" "The old Hand Job of the King! His death started all these shenanigans!" "Oh, right, right." Even the characters can't keep the characters straight.)

We also meet Daenerys Tits-bare-yen and her brute of a fiancé Drogo. Their marital bliss is interrupted by the insufferable Viserys who, when receiving his final punishment, a vat of golden glitter dumped on his head, realizes he "will never be royal!" (You guessed it; queue the Lorde track.)

A tribute as well as a parody, Game of Thongs affectionately makes fun of the well-loved drama everyone can't seem to get enough of. As a burlesque, it's less erotic than it is cheeky -- after all, you will find more nudity in the TV show than you will in the burlesque -- but if you're a fan of Game of Thrones, exuberant camp, or can appreciate a well-placed set of glittering pasties, you will certainly survive the Game. For in the Game of Thongs, you strip or you die.

Game of Thongs is playing at the Gorilla Tango Theatre every Friday at 10:30PM until June 26th. Call (773) 598-4549 or visit gorillatango.com to purchase tickets. #TittiesAreComing