What Dreams May Come

Dear Constant Reader,

Last night I slept fitfully, due to an injury, and I had one of those dreams. You know, when you have to take a test that you know nothing about or you have to make a presentation but you forgot your pants.

In this dream I was performing in Dita’s show (that’s how you know it was a dream). I was going to be performing my new peacock fan act (that’s a real thing — see it on Valentine’s Day). Things started a little rocky because I had forgotten my lovely Glorious Pasties, and frantically rummaged around the dressing rooms until I found an acceptable pair.

I was waiting backstage, dressed in rehearsal clothes — leggings, t-shirt, and fleecy socks — when I realized intermission was over. No one had given us a 5 minute warning or a “places” call. My music was starting and my backup dancers were on-stage doing their thing.

I remember frantically tearing off my socks, but realizing putting on my shoes would take too long. I ran into another room and began searching for my fans. Someone thought it would be cute to hand me two large *cans* (of peaches I think). I finally found my fans and rushed out onto stage where my backup dancers had been improvising and had the audience roaring with laughter. Somehow I got through the rest of the act in bare feet and rehearsal clothes (I can’t remember if I was in makeup or not) with the audience laughing the whole time.

I guess the burlesque equivalent of the dream of being naked in public is being on stage with clothes on.

M2

Published in: on 1 February 2017 at 2:32 pm  Leave a Comment  

2016 in Review

Dear Constant Reader,

January
I perform at The Teaseday Club after a long haitus. Stella announces that she’s been cast in a production of The Addams Family and it’s time for her to return to her first love, musical theatre. Most of the month is devoted to getting my little book published.

February
There is, of course, The Expo, where once again I perform, teach, host, and generally help out. Scratch moves me to tears by presenting me with a award for 10 years of service.

We perform R & J: A Shakespearean Burlesque for Valentine’s Day. It’s silly fun.

Scratch & I go to Los Angeles to celebrate my birthday where we perform at Peepshow Menagerie and Monday Night Tease (a long-standing dream of mine)

We perform at a birthday party.

March
We throw a “we survived February” party. I try Bazuka Joe’s “Nose to the Rhinestone” challenge. I also try doing Kristina Nekya’s splits stretches for a month.

April
I come back from a Caribbean cruise and come down with bronchitis. We go to see Stella in The Addams Family.

May
I perform at the B.A.B.E. Spring Spectacular Showcase alongside my students & instructors and host part of the show.

June
Scratch & I head to Chicago. We teach at The Windy City Burlesque Festival and see Michelle L’amour’s Big Sexy Show. Evie heads off to tour Asia for two months before moving to New York.

August
We take over The Teaseday Club with BeauTeaseday. It’s the last time I perform at The Rockwell. We do a private show for a fraternal organization. I realize this is as close to a classic smoker as I’m likely to get. The fabulous Lili VonSchtupp comes to visit. A movie is being filmed practically in the backyard of The Manor. I decided not to renew my lease at B.A.B.E.’s current location.

October
We start off with a geeky bachelor party. We have back-to-back gigs at RuffleCon and Another Anime Convention. Wrathskellar Tales opens. It’s probably the hardest show we’ve ever done.

Brigitte decides she needs a break and goes on hiatus. Pearl is made an official member of the troupe.

November
I perform in and host the B.A.B.E. Autumn Student Showcase, held in the bar at The Thalia. I cry a lot at the election results and then go to BurlyCon, where I teach 3 classes and have a book signing.

We invite 5 interns to join us.

December
I move B.A.B.E out of its home for the last six years and into the Rehearsal Hall at The Thalia.

The BeauTease end the year with our own New years Eve show, but also an appearance at Jazz from the Ashes, a huge party from Aeronaut Brewing and Brooklyn Boulders.

16 shows (27 performances), taught at 3 burlesque events, hosted 3 shows. Onward, upward.

M2

Published in: on 24 January 2017 at 7:31 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Arisia 2017

Dear Constant Reader,

This past weekend I attended Arisia, a local science fiction convention with a wide range of interests. For example, I spoke on three panels: on historical accuracy in costuming, on the tv show Person of Interest, and on tea (yes, tea. There was also a panel on cocktails). It’s an exhausting weekend with tons to do, like gaming, shopping, a charity auction (with associated poker tournament), music, art, historic dances, movie screenings, a geeky bellydance show, &c. And, my favorite part, amazing costumes everywhere.

But I wanted to tell you about a couple of moments I enjoyed that have nothing to do with any of the con’s programming.

When I was in the ladies’ room, I took the opportunity to refresh my lipstick, like you do. Every time I pulled out my Atomic Cosmetics liquid lipstick and the little light in the wand lit up, everyone around me was awed. I explained where it came from and did a little pitch about how awesome Dr. Jen and her products are. There was lots of interest and I saw at least one person write down the company name. I love turning people, especially strangers, on to my favorite things.

Now, true confession time, Constant Reader. Sometimes I feel what I do doesn’t matter, that it isn’t seen or appreciated. Burlesque is a niche in the performance world and we struggle to gain audiences from and be accepted by the more mainstream performance community. I often feel like I’m struggling to be recognized in the burlesque world as well. It can be daunting and dispiriting. However…

Early on at Arisia, a woman approached Scratch and me and asked “Were you in Wrathskellar Tales?” She recognized me as The Diva and praised my performance. That buoyed my spirits a great deal. Pebblestardom*, as Marrus calls it, is a great boost. As I was getting ready to leave, someone else asked me if I had been in Wrathskellar Tales. It’s great being recognized, but even more so from one of the shows of which I am most proud.

But the high point of the weekend was a woman who recognized me as a member of The Boston BeauTease. She was somewhat nervous and very shy about talking to me, but it was also clearly important to her to do so. She said how much she enjoyed our performances and that they made her happy, they gave her hope. She implored me “Keep doing what you do for as long as you can.” I was deeply touched, more that I could express.

This is why I keep doing what I do.

M2*Because you not actually famous enough to be a rockstar.

Published in: on 19 January 2017 at 3:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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So Very Busy

Dear Constant Reader,

It feels like it’s very a very long time since I penned a missive that was not a Friday tip.

We’ve been very busy preparing for Twenty-SevenTease, our New Year’s Eve show at The Thalia, in its first use as an actual theatre.
It’s going to be a splendid show of opulent acts — some you’ve never seen before and some favorites — along with a little comedy, song, and magic, and appearances by our new interns! Please join us on Friday the 30th or New Year’s Eve!

We’ll also be appearing, early in the evening on New Year’s Eve, at Jazz from the Ashes at Aeronaut Brewing Company/Brooklyn Boulders Somerville. The party is shaping up to be a very interesting experience. I’m so intrigued to see it in full-swing! From there we’re running back to The Thalia for Twenty-SevenTease.

The Thalia is being built around us. We’ve basically been rehearsing in a construction site, but we can handle it! If you saw Wrathskellar Tales, you won’t recognize the space. It’s a work in progress, but so much progress has been made!

And to top everything else off, I’ve been moving out of the B.A.B.E. studio. We’ve been in that building for six years and it’s been a lot of work to return the space to its original state. Almost all of the B.A.B.E. and BeauTease paraphernalia is out, the dance floor is gone, and tomorrow the mirrors are coming down. I’m sad to leave, but exciting to be moving on.

See you at The Thalia!

M2

Published in: on 28 December 2016 at 3:17 pm  Leave a Comment  

On Being Better

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s been turbulent times. I had tears of joy and hope in my eyes last Tuesday as I cast my ballot for a woman for president. And I spent most of Wednesday in tears, weeping for what we had lost and all that we might lose.

On Thursday I got on a plane and went to BurlyCon. Being insulated from the outside world for four days with some of my favorite strippers gave me a chance to revitalize and reflect. I’ll write up my adventures, but not just yet.

In the days following the election I’ve seen some people take small actions toward making change and be scorned by some who say it’s not enough, they’re not really committed. Because of that, the former feel like they might as well not do anything.

No matter how we strive for perfection, we shall never attain it. That’s just the nature of perfection. That’s not a reason to stop striving, but be realistic. Scratch reminded me of this verse from Leonard Cohen:

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

If we waited to be perfect, nothing would happen. What we can do is try to be better. At BurlyCon I did a book signing (which was wonderful — my first author event!) and I inscribed the books “Keep being better!” “Being better” is part of my personal philosophy and I hope you consider incorporating it into yours. Just be a little better, a little kinder, a little more thoughtful, learn something new, move out of your comfort zone a little, challenge yourself, let in the light.

M2

Published in: on 17 November 2016 at 3:54 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Happy Halloween!

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s a little treat to celebrate my favorite holiday!

We’ve only got two performances of Wrathskellar Tales left: tonight and Saturday!

M2

 

 

Published in: on 31 October 2016 at 2:25 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Follow Up

Dear Constant Reader,

I’m pleased to report, after my note about arts funding being slashed in Massachusetts, that the state legislature has voted almost unanimously to override the Governor’s budget cut!

M2

Published in: on 1 August 2016 at 11:01 am  Leave a Comment  

Exciting News!

Dear Constant Reader,

If you’re in the Boston area, you probably know that there’s a dearth of small to mid-sized theatres. And there is no shortage of performers looking for space. We’ve been there…

I am so excited for the opening of The Thalia, a performing arts complex opening in Central Square, Cambridge. It will have a 99-seat theatre, a rehearsal space, and a lounge. It’s being built by theatre people for theatre people, so you know the backstage is going to be great.

I’m especially excited because we’re going to move B.A.B.E. to the rehearsal hall. While I have some regrets giving up our exclusive-use studio, having our classes right in the heart of Central Square is a win for everyone.

As with all arts projects, The Thalia needs your support, so it can turn from a vast and dingy basement into a fabulous performance space. There are three ways you can help:

1. Contribute to the Kickstarter campaign. No matter what, you should go watch the video to get the full story on The Thalia.

2. Come to the Summer Fun-Raiser on July 28th. Desserts, silent auction (including a little something from B.A.B.E.), music from Samantha Farrell, and keynote speaker Joyce Kulhawik! Tickets here.

3. Spread the word! Tell your friends, your enemies, your rich uncle about The Thalia!

I’ll keep you posted on the progress! And thank you for your support.

M2

Published in: on 14 July 2016 at 10:53 am  Leave a Comment  
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Happy Anniversary to Me

Dear Constant Reader,

WordPress reminds me that it’s this blog’s 5th anniversary. That’s five years, 59 book reviews, 246 Friday Tips, and a real live book. Thank you, Constant Reader, for reading. Without you, I’d just be talking to myself.

M2

Published in: on 13 July 2016 at 10:54 am  Leave a Comment  

Bravery and Civility

Dear Constant Reader,

A couple of weeks ago Maggie McMuffin was traveling back to Seattle from New York with a lay-over in Boston. It was at our own Logan Airport that a JetBlue employee told her that she couldn’t board the plane unless she changed her clothes. Apparently the pilot thought that Maggie’s shorts (by J. Von Stratton) were “lewd, obscene, or patently offensive”, which is what JetBlue’s Contract of Carriage forbids (and all it has to say on how passengers dress). This was despite the fact that a JetBlue pilot had just let her fly in the same outfit from New York to Boston without problem.

But I’m not actually here to debate whether what she was wearing was appropriate or not. You can judge for yourself. But I don’t want to hear your opinion. This isn’t about that.

It’s about Maggie’s bravery. Her story went viral. It was reported in several countries, she was interviewed by local news stations, it was hot on social media, it was even trending on Facebook’s news feed.

That means a lot of people saw her story and felt the need to express their opinions. And those opinions were not always kind or polite. It’s so easy to be cruel to someone you only see on the internet. After all, it’s not like they’re a real person with feelings and complexity. They’re just some pixels to judge and mock and feel superior to.

Thousands of people said horrible things about Maggie without knowing her or caring that she’s kind and funny or that she can do impressively big hair or that she likes clowning or that she recently had a major upheaval in her life. They just saw a target.

By taking her story public and pushing it to go viral, she knew this would happen. And she did it anyway. That’s brave. She shouldn’t have to endure insulting commentary on her body, her intelligence, her morals, &c. to tell her story about feeling discriminated against because of how she was dressed. But that’s the reality today. It’s sad.

So, please, Gentle Readers, when you see a story on the internet and you feel compelled to comment, stop for a moment and think before you write. Does the entire world really need to know your opinion? Can you express it clearly and without attacking anyone? Do you need to use insults or foul language to make your point?

Just a little civility, my friends, would make the world a much better place.

And, Maggie, thanks for fighting against arbitrary discrimination. You are a hero in shorts.

M2

Published in: on 2 June 2016 at 3:54 pm  Leave a Comment  
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