Dear Constant Reader,
I hope you had a very merry Christmas, if that’s what you celebrate. Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed your Chinese food and movie.
Wednesday Miscellany
Dear Constant Reader,
The Wednesday book review should return soon. I broke down and bought some new (well, actually used) books. Perhaps as early as next week, I’ll have a new review for you. If there are any books you’re dying for me to review, please let me know.
21st Century Burlesque Magazine has an annual list of the Top 50 Burlesque Industry Figures and voting is now open. You can nominate up to 10 people that you think have made an impact on the burlesque world in 2012. These don’t have to be dancers. You can nominate producers, costumers, MCs, stage kittens, photographers, musicians, &c. Personally, I’ve nominated Scratch, among others.
These are the fabulous judges (and myself) for the Main Event at The Great Burlesque Exposition of 2010. Why are they here? To announce that applications to perform at The Great Burlesque Exposition of 2013 are now open! Hope to see you there!
The Boston Babydolls are in rehearsal for our new show The Bod of Avon. Expect to hear more about it here (and maybe there will even be pictures).
Fabulous People I Know: Red
Dear Constant Reader,
Occasionally I want to recognize people who I think are fabulous. Today I’d like to present Red to you. She’s known as Redheadedgirl to her fans on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and her followers on Twitter, but if you attended The Wrathskellar, you’ll recognize her as The Box Office Gal.
I’ve know Red for several years, ever since she moved to Boston from Minnesota and sought me out as a mentor. Not in burlesque, but for my knowledge of historic cooking and Roman archaeology (I bet you didn’t know that about me). As a bonus, she got Scratch too. He affectionately refers to her as the teenage daughter he never wanted.
Red got a Master’s degree in criminal justice and spent a long time saying she wasn’t going to be a lawyer because that required going to law school, which everyone knows is a horrible ordeal. Eventually, she caved in and went to law school. It was a grueling 3 years. This spring she graduated and then took the bar exam. To everyone’s delight (and no one’s surprise), she passed it the first time.
Yesterday morning, Scratch and I were honored to attend the ceremony in which she was sworn in as an attorney. Court was opened in Faneuil Hall, presided over by a Justice, and a motion was presented to him to admit the candidates to the bar. It was all very formal. The Clerk even wore morning dress. The shiny new lawyers swore the oldest attorney’s oath in the country and then signed the Roll of Attorneys with their official fake Montblanc pens.
Then I accompanied Red to get her license. When they called her on to the stage as “Attorney [last name]”, she may have muttered sometime profane in shock. One of the speakers during the ceremony had pointed out that they were going to be lawyers for the rest of their lives, but that new title made it real.
And here she is with her spanking new license to practice law. I’m so proud of her for pursuing this goal so determinedly and I know she’ll use her new powers only for good (or at least not to cause too much chaos).
Helping Out
Dear Constant Reader,
Scratch & I went to New York City for Thanksgiving. Previously, he’d said he felt badly about traveling there for a cheerful family feast when so many people in the area were still suffering from the hurricane. So, on Friday we loaded up with supplies at the Home Depot and went to Coney Island USA to volunteer for a few hours.
They were hit pretty badly — the ground floor flooded to impressive levels and a lot was damaged, including almost all their tech gear. They had just gotten a big donation of lighting equipment, which was waiting to be installed. Fortunately, the museum collection was upstairs and out of the flood zone. And the snakes were all removed to safety.
Scratch, being skilled labor, was put to work next door at what had been the ice cream shop, taking down the damaged light fixtures and wiring. He was working right up at ceiling height, which should give you some idea of how far up the water got.
I, being unskilled, got to do a lot of carrying. We had to rearrange the things on the second floor (which included many cases of water) to make room for some items from the first floor. Then we carried those upstairs (it is possible for 2 petite women to carry an industrial popcorn popper up a steep flight of stairs, but I do not recommend the experience, especially if you are the one going backwards) and began cleaning them with disinfectant.
It was hard, dirty work and at the end of the day, there wasn’t even the satisfaction of a job completed, because there is so much more to do. At this point, volunteer labor isn’t so useful; they need professional help and donations.
Saturday, Scratch is producing The 3rd Annual Burlesque Marathon (which you should all attend anyway because it’s superfun). We’ll be doing some fundraising with the proceeds going to help Coney Island. So, come to the marathon and buy some raffle tickets. You’ll see hours of great burlesque *and* be helping the good folks at Coney Island USA. And if you’d like to donate any goodies for the raffle, left me know.
Hopefully yours,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Constant Reader,
Today I like to reflect on all the things I am thankful for and there are many. One of the most important to me:
I am thankful for the on-going friendship, support, and creative collaboration within the Boston Babydolls.
You gals & guys are the best!
What is something you are thankful for?
Happy Birthday!
Dear Scratch,
Happy birthday to the best producer/director/MC/partner a glamour gal could ever want!
Kisses,
A Miscellany on a Tuesday
Dear Constant Reader,
You have been so patient waiting to hear about the New York Burlesque Festival, but I’m going to make you wait a little longer.
The Wrathskellar finally opened and that means I’ve finally had a chance to breathe. Perhaps I’ll even get back to my usual writing schedule here.
The best review of The Wrathskellar so far comes from the local theatre aficionado and Photoshopper extraordinaire who perpetrates the Sleep No More Crossover Fan Fiction blog: “The Wrathskellar is fucking fantastic. Go see it!”
Normally Wednesdays (that would be tomorrow) are my day for writing book reviews. However, I am completely out of burlesque books to review! Here are the options:
I could get more burlesque books and review them. Please go to my Library and scroll down to the Wish List. Let me know which of those books you’d like me to review. A truly generous soul would send me said book…
I could review books on other related topics, such as vaudeville, dance, beauty, and fashion.
I could review burlesque DVDs, instructional and otherwise.
Faithful readers, I am asking you to let me know what you want to see on Book Review Wednesday and will do whatever you want (within reason).
Yr humble servant,
NYBF!
Dear Constant Reader,
Tomorrow night I have the honor of performing my tribute to April March, The First Lady of Burlesque at The New York Burlesque Festival. I’m staying to see the Friday night show and then racing back to Boston on Saturday for load-in of The Wrathskellar.
I’m sorry to be missing The Golden Pasties and all the attendant fuss on Sunday, especially since I’m a nominee (Fingers crossed for me!), but a Babydolls show has to trump everything else.
Bad News
Dear Constant Reader,
Have you ever had one of those moments where, in a heartbeat, everything changes?
Saturday night, I returned to Babydoll Manor late and full of good cheer. Billie von Bon Bon, former Babydoll songbird, was back in town for her bachelorette party. I’ve missed her terribly since she moved to San Francisco and it was so good to see her, especially on such a festive occasion.
One last check of my mail before bed, I thought. And that’s when I read the message I wish had never been sent.
Devora Darling was in an awful accident. She’s in the hospital with a broken arm, broken hip, and broken jaw. Scratch wrote up more details here, if you care for such things.
Scratch & I visited her and it was heartbreaking to see our usually cheerful D.D. so miserable. She tried to keep her outlook sunny, like she always does, but it was obvious she’s in a lot of pain, physically and emotionally. The Wrathskellar opens in a month and she’s devastated that she won’t be able to dance. She originated the role of The Lost Girl, created the iconic “Creepy Doll” act, and has a new danse Apache with Evie that’s stunning. I can’t imagine the show without her.
All the Babydolls have pulled together to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. The show will go on and Devora will be involved somehow, but right now we’re holding emergency auditions for a new Lost Girl. I’ll keep you posted.
Tearfully,
Hello new readers
Dear Constant Reader,
It seems that there are a lot more of you today. Apparently Neil’s Twitter Wife mentioned my little scribblings here.
Well, welcome all. I send out missives a couple times a week. Fridays are reserved for Friday Tips — snippets of advice about burlesque, which means performance, costuming, hair & make-up, business, and anything else I feel can benefit the burlesque entertainer. Wednesdays were usually book review day, but I’ve recently commented on the last burlesque book on my shelf. (See Wish List for what I hope to review in the future.) I’m usually quiet on the weekends because I’m performing and/or rehearsing and on Mondays because I’m too tired from the weekend.
This Saturday Brigitte and I will be performing at The 3rd Annual Salute to Bettie Page while Scratch cooks and the rest of the Babydolls serve a delicious dinner at Stately Babydoll Manor to our most generous Kickstarter patron. On Sunday I’ll be taking some workshops with Princess Farahana of Hollywood and then racing back for rehearsal. Don’t expect to hear from me on Monday.
Again, welcome to my glamourous life.
Oh, The Glamourous Life! 