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Wasabassco Extravaganza: Better Than Promised … Night One

Karen Tortora-Lee — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:38:08 +0000

Temperatures were rising last night at the first evening of the two part celebration for Doc Wasabassco’s 7th Anniversary Extravaganza. The blazing hot belles were ravishing, revealing and resplendant as they strutted, sauntered and slowly stripped their way across the stage of The Bell House last night.

But that was only part of it.

As promised the place was crammed with every type of seductive, suggestive, steamy, spicy, slinky thing you could imagine. Lady Scoutington warmed up the crowd on the main stage with some get up and go-go dancing while out in front Peekaboo Pointe was Pole Dancing and doing things I’d only heard of whispered about in certain circles. She was mesmerizing to say the least.

Side tables were selling wares that would make any fan of burlesque giddy with excitement – gorgeous stockings from PEEK were avaliable as well as pasties handmade by Nasty Canasta herself!! Undoubtedly I had to get myself a pair – for research purposes of course! In homage to Ms. Canasta I got a pair of Vegas inspired pasties replete with poker chips, cards and sparkly stones. I can’t wait to … ahem … I mean … wow. Those sure will look nice on my … display shelf.

Speaking of pasties once the main show got started there was no shortage of them. After a wonderful welcome from the man of the hour himself, Doc Wasabassco, and a full-on intro by Bastard Keith (who warmed up the crowd with amusing tales and a soulful rendition of Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness” that was absolutely awe-inspiring) things got right down to business.

Hazel Honeysuckle started off the festivities with a fantastic number that featured a gorgeous blue ensemble that came off slowly to a lounge version (which was almost unrecognaizalbe until the chorus) of Ice, Ice Baby.

Following her was Magdelena Fox who didn’t disappoint as she disrobed her exotic feathered costume and shook fans that flew through the air and appeared to set her ablaze, so quickly did the red and yellow material stream and blur.

Bird of Paradise used elaborate props to re-create a Flashdance flashback, starting off dressed as mechanic and ending up as a dripping wet 80s dancer. What a feeling!

Precious Little proved she had a Precious Lot … bedecked in white feathered finery, she unbuckled her corset and spun a hoop of white plumes around to roars of approval.

Medianoche then came out and did her typical mezmerizing, teasing absolutely alluring dance complete with huge red fans and twinkling eyes. She had the audience spellbound.

Then it was time for the PEEK stocking fashion show featuring Hazel Honeysuckle, Bettina May, Tansy, Nasty Canasta and Medianoche before the crowd took a break.

At this point, knowing I was going back again tonight, I decided to call it an evening so that I would be ready to greet the new wave of Burlesque that I knew would knock my socks off again. (But just my socks, kiddies).

Tickets are still available for what I KNOW will be another amazing night, and there’s plenty of room in The Bell House to enjoy the show. So come down early, watch the lovely ladies, buy some items, and enjoy some of the best entertainment Burlesque has to offer as you help the Wasabassco group celebrate seven terrific and successful years!

~~~

Wasabassco Burlesque’s 7th Anniversary Extravaganza will be hosted by Doc Wasabassco, Bastard Keith, GiGi La Femme, Nasty Canasta, Sapphire Jones, and Stormy Leather.

Doors will open at 9pm

With performances by: Albert Cadabra, Amanda Whip, Amber Ray, Bastard Keith, Bettina May, Bird of Paradise, BooBess, Broadway Brassy, Bryan Barletta, Emmy Dubois, Evelyn Vinyl, Gal Friday, GiGi La Femme, Go-Go Harder, Grace Gotham, Hard Corey, Harvest Moon, Hazel Honeysuckle, Jenny C’Est Quoi, Kita St. Cyr, Kobayashi Maru, Lady Scoutington, Lauren Liberman, Madame Rosebud, Magdalena Fox, Mala Morrigan, Marlo Marquise, Medianoche, Hula Hoop Harl*t Melissa-Anne, Michelle L’amour, Ms Tickle, Nasty Canasta, Nelson Lugo, Nikki Le Villain, Peekaboo Pointe, Pixie Love, Precious Little, Sapphire Jones, Stormy Leather, Tansy, The Outer Borough Brass Band, Victoria Privates, and Vikki Likkerish.

Tickets $25 are available by clicking SATURDAY

or by calling TicketWeb at 1-866-777-8932

The Bell House

149 7th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Aves)

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Wasabassco Burlesque – Celebrating Seven Years And Still Going Strong

Karen Tortora-Lee — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:51:16 +0000

If you’re any kind of regular reader of THM then you know that around here we sure love Burlesque. Lucky us! Living in New York City as we do, there is no shortage of fantastic Burlesque performers who constantly and consistently have us hooting and hollering and calling out for more.

Doc Wasabassco by Leland Bobbe

If you, too, are a lover of Burlesque then the name Doc Wasabassco is not new to you. You’ve no doubt seen the Wasabassco name plastered across any number of posters, or perhaps have seen the man himself as he introduces one of his amazing shows.

This weekend marks the Seventh Anniversary of Wasabassco Burlesque. To celebrate, Friday, November 4th and Saturday, November 5th Brooklyn-based Wasabassco Burlesque will present over 40 of Wasabassco’s favorite performers, with over six hours of risqué entertainment guaranteed to blow the roof off The Bell House in Brooklyn.

Among other things there will be a stocking fashion show, a pole dance show-within-a-show, performances by the Outer Borough Brass Band along with striptease, hula hooping, fire eating and more.

Doc Wasabassco took some time to answer a few of my questions before I head out to the big event which begins tomorrow.

You’re living every man’s dream, surrounded by beautiful women who are masters at charming, beguiling and seducing. What part of your job is actually just like any other and what part of your job defies expectations?

Doc Wasabassco: Haha, Well the part that ends up being just like any other is probably the office logistics. For every two hour show there are days of answering emails, dealing with paperwork, filling out spreadsheets, having meetings, making phone calls, all of the dull monotonous stuff involved in any job, but it all does pale in comparison with the stuff that defies expectations. My favorite moment is when the first number of any given show starts: when the lights go up, the music starts, the house is packed and there are suddenly smiles on the faces of the crowd, everything lights up and everyone shares in the knowledge that something amazing and sexy and fun is about to happen.

You advertise as “sexy, couple-friendly burlesque shows full of risqué fun, spicy shenanigans, and plenty of saucy striptease”. I have been to a few of your shows with my husband and I do agree … it’s great for couples. What ingredients go into making a show that appeals to everyone as opposed to one that’s just for the guys?

DW: The art behind Wasabassco is created by each performer, and most of those performers are women; female performers using their sexuality in whatever way they choose to entertain, to tease or inspire but always to tell some kind of story. Male and female audience members respond to that before anything else and then the sexuality is presented from a place of respect. There’s so much more to a burlesque number than just showing tits and ass (though there’s plenty of that too).

You’re about to celebrate your seventh year of Wasabassco Burlesque with a huge Extravaganza. As a showman producer of Burlesque and Nightlife Events, what’s at the heart of a terrific night of burlesque?

DW: Variety. I don’t even mean variety acts like magic and sword swallowing though that’s always a welcome addition as well. I mean variety in types of performers and style. A good burlesque show has classic numbers as well as modern ones. Sensual numbers, comedic numbers, performers with different backgrounds, body types, different talents and character. There are so many amazing talented people in burlesque, if you put the right ones in the right combination you get that terrific night.

What are some things about the business that have gotten easier since you’ve started … and what’s remains the biggest challenge?

DW: Putting together a great show has gotten easier. After 7 years we know what works and what doesn’t, what audiences will like and what they won’t, and we know how to spot something new and exciting so that we keep growing and never stagnate. The biggest challenge remains working on other people’s turf. We have fantastic relationships with some of the best venues around, but it’s always a challenge to work in someone else’s space. The goal is eventually for Wasabassco to have it’s own Burlesque House.

The women (and men!) you work with come from a variety of backgrounds, they all have different performance styles and on-stage personalities. But there must be a common quality that makes you say to yourself ”That’s the type of performer I want to be part of the Wasabassco family”. Can you put that quality into words?

DW: They need to be amazing. It’s that simple. One performer can be dark and mysterious and another light and fanciful. So long as they’re both great at what they do I want them in my show. I never want to limit Wasabassco to one style or type, but I don’t have any room for mediocrity.

The Wasabassco Hellfire Club is billed as “The Dirty and Dark Side of Wasabassco”. There are Keys to get in that cost 40 dollars. It all seems a little “Eyes Wide Shut” … but much better of course. What makes Hellfire Club different than the other shows?

DW: Ha Ha, yes, much better than “Eyes Wide Shut”. Less boring for one thing, and fewer Scientologists. As we’ve discussed, Wasabassco is always couple friendly, it’s just that some couples enjoy being a little freakier than others. That’s who the Wasabasco Hellfire Club is for. My co-producers for Hellfire Club are Stormy Leather and Nasty Canasta. Stormy’s the dirtiest girl I know and Nasty’s incredibly sexy and brilliant. We get to cross a line with this show that we wouldn’t usually with other Wasabassco shows because Stormy and Nasty are leading the way, and I trust them implicitly. The Wasbassco show is designed to turn you on, brain first.

You’ve had seven great years, with more ahead. What’s the most innovative thing you can imagine doing in Burlesque over the next few years?

DW: Opening our own club, a dedicated venue with a beautiful stage, plenty of seating, and the ability to host all kinds of performance, from aerial artists to fire performers, with plenty of ample storage for giant props and elaborate numbers.

Doc, I can’t wait to see it! I know if it has your name on it then it will be something special.

_______________

But in the meantime, I’m going to be at The Bell House to help the Wasabassco gang celebrate their wonderful success – seven years of being the hottest, best Burlesque Show On Earth! See you there!!

~~~

Wasabassco Burlesque’s 7th Anniversary Extravaganza will be hosted by Doc Wasabassco, Bastard Keith, GiGi La Femme, Nasty Canasta, Sapphire Jones, and Stormy Leather.

Doors will open at 9pm

Tickets ($25each night/ $40 for both nights) are available by clicking FRIDAY or SATURDAY

or by calling TicketWeb at 1-866-777-8932

The Bell House

149 7th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Aves)

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Burlesque Blitz – The Strip Down Before The Count Down

Karen Tortora-Lee — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 06:16:27 +0000

Wondering what to do with the last week of the year? Maybe 2010 hasn’t been steamy enough for you and you need a little more sexiness before counting down to 2011? If that sounds like your kinda heat – especially in this snowy weather, then get yourself to the 2010 BURLESQUE BLITZ! For Four Nights Only (December 27th through the 30th) at the Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) you can catch the hottest Burlesque in New York City.

I’ll be getting my fill of all things glamorous, glittery and gorgeous while being seduced by sweet sirens, beautiful boys and delicious drag queens. Come to some or come to all – but don’t miss what promises to be the hottest week of December!

The 2010 Burlesque Blitz will run December 27-30 at 10:30pm in The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery). Tickets to all shows ($15) may be purchased online at or by calling 212-868-4444.

Monday, December 27 @ 10:30pm: Bastard Keith presents A Tale of Two Bastards: A Jewlesque Fable

” A Tale of Two Bastards is a holiday treat from the mind of MC, bon vivant and man of action, Bastard Keith. An homage to his favorite classic musicals, this tale of crime, mistaken identity and old-time burley gathers the talents of Darlinda Just Darlinda, Minnie Tonka, Madame Rosebud, Gal Friday, ace magician Matthew Holtzclaw, and Keith himself.”

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Tuesday, December 28 @ 10:30pm: Misty Meaner, Stormy Leather & Go-Go Harder present Meaner Harder Leather… Burlesque With A Twist

“In the spring of 2010, Misty Meaner and Stormy Leather’s love affair gave birth to a beautiful, baby-butt smooth boy, Go-Go Harder. Since then, this trio of sexual ambiguity has literally been taking NYC by the family jewels. Uniting Drag, Burlesque and Boylesque, MEANER HARDER LEATHER brings you one of the most exciting shows in Manhattan! With your GLAMMY NOMINATED hosts, a variety of classic and scandalous performances, and a roster of talented guest stars, it’s sure to leave your seat wet and your heart curious… Hosted by Misty Meaner, Go-Go Harder & Stormy Leather. Guest starring The Bendable Christopher Bousquet; The Shimmering Chanteuse of Burlesque, Melody Sweets; The Chocolate Queen With a Touch of Cream, Mocha Lite; The Bad Boy with a Heart of Gold, Richert Rocket, with Lacey Knickers as your stage kitten.”

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Wednesday, December 29 @ 10:30pm: The Sweet & Nasty Burlesque Mystery Hour presents The Case of “The Fallen Starlet”

“On Wednesday night, tune your radio dial to the Sweet and Nasty Burlesque Mystery Hour for heart-pounding suspense and jaw-dropping burlesque, presented live onstage. This month The Naked Detective Nasty Canasta and her helpful housegirl Sapphire Jones solve the case of “The Falling Starlet,” with the vocal and visual talents of Gal Friday, Tigger!, Victoria Privates, Miss Ruby Valentine and the sound-effects wizardry of Michael Johnson.”

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Thursday, December 30: GiGi La Femme & Doc Wasabassco present Revealed Burlesque’s Holiday Bonus

“REVEALED is a burlesque show unlike any other. It’s a seduction, a tease, an epiphany, a dare, a conspiracy of pleasure. Hosted by devilishly charming master of ceremonies Bastard Keith, each show stars pin-up queen GiGi La Femme and a rotating ensemble of the most beloved burlesque performers in New York. Fresh editions of Revealed feature new performer debuts, surprise guests from around the world and innovative performances representing the state of the art in risqué entertainment. Come out and experience an evening of salacious striptease and skin, where the climax of each number leaves everything…Revealed. This special edition showcase will feature delectable performances by: The Girl Dreams Are Made Of GiGi La Femme; The Seductive Siren, Harvest Moon; The Borg Queen of Burlesque Kobayashi Maru; The Shining Jewel Of Burlesque, Sapphire Jones; and in her Revealed debut, Cheekie Lane! Hosted by the charming and inebriated Bastard Keith and his Sensational Stage Kitten Sidekick, The Girl Who Fell To Earth, Madame Rosebud!

Friends Of Dorothy – An Oz Cabaret (Fringe Festival 2010)

Karen Tortora-Lee — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:23:12 +0000

When I was a child there were a few things you could count on, and one of them was that (in the days before VCRs – and yes, honey, I AM that old) if you waited long enough The Wizard of Oz was going to be on TV at some point that year. Back in the day, TV had that kind of power . . . it could make you wait expectantly for something and then give you the big reveal – making your heart beat faster for that one joyful night.

Seeing Friends Of Dorothy – An Oz Cabaret was a little bit like that and . . . I have a feeling that – just like the hallowed movie – we haven’t seen the last of it. Dorothy is a Fringe Encore if I ever saw one. So, while the show has packed up its rigging and its pasties, sit tight. Here’s a little breakdown of what will certainly come around again:

“Toto,” Dorothy (Rita MenWeep a.k.a Jessica Silver) says to her iPod – crammed with play lists of the band famous for songs like “Africa” . . . “I don’t think we’re in Starbucks anymore!” Poor Dorothy, she got swept away, not in a huge Twister big enough to carry away a house, but rather in a tiny, tidy-bowl sized twister that swirled her through the toilet that she was doomed to clean, had it not, instead, transported her to this magical Land Of Bras. But Poof! Just like that the tiny twister took this sister away from her minimum wage job and into the glittery world of burlesque.

First on the scene to welcome her is Glinda (Miss Mary Cyn) who is swathed in a puff of stuff . . . but not for long. Seems clothes just don’t stay on a gal in this Cool New Land. Glinda sticks around just long enough to strip off the candy pink confection she arrived in, and to give Dorothy some good advice. Seems the Wicked Bitch of the West (Bianca Del Rio) is looking for the Ruby Pasties (which somehow made their way onto Dorothy’s . . . dainties) and if Dorothy knows what’s good for her she’ll . . .well, you know the story.

Soon Dorothy is carried off to dreamland courtesy of a Munchkin (Veruca Honeyscotch) who then dances on the Aerial Silks to a driving Annie Lennox tune. Sweet Dreams indeed! Ending with a death defying drop that had the audience gasping in unison as if on cue, this is one Munchkin who knows how to represent – more than just The Lollipop Guild.

So, as Dorothy moves through this strange but exciting land it’s the usual gang of suspects – Scarecrow (Jenny C’est Quoi) does a fun striptease from atop her perch amid the corn, Tin Man (Schäffer The Darklord) entertains with a foul mouth and a nasty attitude (“I am the Tinman . . . who the hell are you?”) by breaking it down for us via a 100mph rap that – if you can follow it – does a great job of telling the Tale of Dorothy Gale. And of course there’s The Cowardly Lion (Sizzle Dizzle) who removes her clothes to the A-Team Theme Song. Cute. It’s right about at this point in the show that Gypsy’s “You Gotta Get A Gimmick” popped into my head (Once I was a Schleppa, Now I’m Miss Mazzeppa . . .) and I thought “Wow, this is SOME gimmick!”

The Wicked Bitch does her best to strut and sneer and vamp delightfully, when she’s not introducing the next act. I mean, summoning her minions. Flying monkeys (Harvest Moon and Mr. Fantastic) doing a beautiful routine on the static trapeze and more stripping – courtesy of The Wizard -but not really the Wizard (Ambrose) himself round out much of the middle.

When the gang manages to thwart The Wicked Bitch – not with a pail of water but with something much more frightening to a carefully made-up drag queen – there is rejoicing all over the land, including the joyful Gate Keeper (Go-Go Harder) who does a neat little strip of his own.

In the end, Dorothy realizes that she never wanted to go home anyway, The Land of Bras is where she wants to be . . . and as she strips down to her magical Ruby Red Pasties it’s clear that she’s where she belongs.

Fun from start to finish, with just the right mix of kitch, drag, burlesque, circus, and glam this is one wild ride over the rainbow that doesn’t disappoint. Keep an eye out, this one will be twisting its way back into town again soon – count on it.

~~~

Friends of Dorothy: An Oz Cabaret
Conatus Productions
Writer: Rita MenWeep, Scot Marshall
Director: Megan Doss

www.conatusproductions.com
VENUE #7: The Ellen Stewart Theatre @ LA MAMA

The Happiest Medium » Go-Go Harder

Wasabassco Extravaganza: Better Than Promised … Night One

Related Posts:

Wasabassco Burlesque – Celebrating Seven Years And Still Going Strong

Related Posts:

Burlesque Blitz – The Strip Down Before The Count Down

Monday, December 27 @ 10:30pm: Bastard Keith presents A Tale of Two Bastards: A Jewlesque Fable

Tuesday, December 28 @ 10:30pm: Misty Meaner, Stormy Leather & Go-Go Harder present Meaner Harder Leather… Burlesque With A Twist

Wednesday, December 29 @ 10:30pm: The Sweet & Nasty Burlesque Mystery Hour presents The Case of “The Fallen Starlet”

Thursday, December 30: GiGi La Femme & Doc Wasabassco present Revealed Burlesque’s Holiday Bonus

Related Posts:

Friends Of Dorothy – An Oz Cabaret (Fringe Festival 2010)

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