Show dates and reviews from the burlesque scene in Chicago.
The past few years have seen a revival of burlesque as an art form across America. I'm not talking about about lap dances in strip clubs, but rather variety stage shows, some of them quite elaborate, featuring striptease as part of the mix. Troupes have popped up in cities everywhere including, I am happy to say, Chicago. On this humble page, I try to cover burlesque in my city as completely as I can. If you wish to submit a review or are aware of upcoming shows that I have not listed, please at burlesque at this domain. Now read on, then go see a show!
Ray's Guide can come to you! or send an email with the word "subscribe" in the subject to burlesque at this domain. I will send out email notices once or twice a month to alert you to upcoming shows and events. I maintain the list manually and will remove you immediately on request.
Reviews of Current Shows
Belmont Burlesque updated 5/23/04
Intimate, funny, and at times poignant. Highly recommended. Read review.
Reviews of Past Shows
An Evening at the Stone Burlesk reviewed 3/15/07
An interesting and fun recreation of the heyday of the Stone Burlesk Theater in Detroit, MI. Read review.
Dante's Voodoo Cabaret reviewed 5/21/04
Not a burlesque show, strictly speaking, but a concert by a local burlesque performer/singer and her band, along with a bit of striptease fun. Read review.
Flirt Cabaret updated 6/14/05
New production is more of a song and dance revue than a burlesque show, and doesn't generate a lot of excitement. Read review.
Fluffgirl Burlesque reviewed 10/4/05 in the Rantings A touring show that fell a bit flat. Read review.
Girlie-Q Variety Hour updated 3/29/07
An enjoyable evening of spoken word, performance art, and burlesque. Highly recommended. Read review.
Gurlesque Burlesque reviewed 7/24/04
A burlesque tour de force packed with over 20 acts. Future shows are a must-see for any burlesque fan. Read review.
Hellcat Hussies updated 5/19/05
They put "the ass back in sass." Their 2004 production needed improvement, but they have turned in some fun performances since then. Read review.
Kit Kat Honeys reviewed 3/23/04
A song and dance revue in fishnets. Read review.
Lavender Cabaret's Church of the Lavender Day Saints reviewed 8/10/04 in the Rantings Sacreligious and sexy...a fun combination. Read review.
Lavender Cabaret's FemmeTV updated 5/19/05
Slick and sexy, with lots of laughs. Highly recommended. Read review.
Star and Garter Burlesque reviewed 10/6/06
Striptease and stand-up comedy done right. Highly recommended. Read review.
Suicide Girls reviewed 2/19/04 in the Rantings Astonishingly lame. Read review.
Upcoming Shows as of 10/2/08
Vaudezilla Productions presents a Free Burlesque Show featuring Red Hot Annie and more - Friday, October 10, 9:30pm-10:20pm - Exit - 1315 W North Ave - 773.395.2700
Girlie-Q Variety Hour presents Ghouls! Ghouls! Ghouls! (A Halloween Spook-tacular) Hosted by Ms. Bea Haven & Red Hot Annie and starring Cherish the Burlesque Goddess, Clare de Lune, The Honeybuns, Jack & Jinx (contemporary vaudeville), Lola Getz, Lyra Belecqua, Maria the Purple Goddess, Natasha Minsk, Pearl Pistol, Read My Hips (tribal bellydance), The Revelettes (Ghoulish Go-Go!), Salome Slaughter, Strawberry Fields (back from OKLAHOMA!), Surgeon Scofflaw (back from ARIZONA!), Violet Vogue, and more. - Saturday,Ý October 18, 10pm, $15 in advance or $? at the door - Empty Bottle - 1035 N Western - 773.276.3600
Varietease Cabaret presents a Halloween Show with Backdoor Aly, Mae & Danielle the Bellydancers, Miss Tamale, Paris Green, Miss Holly Wouldn't, Naughty Natanya, Natasha Minsk & Lola Getz, Miss Bea Haven, Red Hot Annie, Viva La Muerte, Cherish the Burlesque Goddess, Natasha Minsk, Lola Getz, Salome Slaughter, The Amazing Tomas, Titi Touche, Pearl Pistol, Lyra Belecqua, Dearie Delicious, Maiden Sacrifice, Maria the Purple Goddess, Chee Chee Claquette and Sugar Fixx. - Friday, October 24, 10:30pm, tickets $15 at Lakeshore Theater - 3175 N Broadway - 773.472.3492
Belmont Burlesque - Jack Midnight and the Belmont Bombshells welcome Gerdes & Reid and the Amazing Tomas. BYO and get ready to laugh until it hurts. - Saturday Night, October 25, 12:15am, $10 - The Playground - 3209 N Halstead - 773.871.3793
Vaudezilla Productions and Mo Rose's present Barrie R Bone's Burlesque Brothel, a monster Halloween Show featuringJ ack & Jinx, Chasity Chaos, Red Hot Annie, Pearl Pistol, Salome Slaughter, and many more - Thursday, October 30, 9pm - tickets $10 in advance or $13 at the doordarkroom - 2210 W Chicago Ave - 773.276.1411
Current Weekly Shows
Lavender Cabaret presents Motel Burlesque with Michelle L'amour and her seductive Starlets - Wednesdays, 10pm, no cover - Motel Bar - 600 W Chicago - 312.822.2900
Lavender Cabaret presents French Quarter Burlesque - Michelle L'amour writes, "Every Thursday you can see me dancing 3 times from 11pm to midnight. It's such a fun show for me because I get to dance on the bar and just have fun with the audience." - Thursdays, 10:30pm, no cover, The Blue Bayou - 3764 N Southport Ave - 773.871.3300
New Millenium Theater Company presents The Flaming Dames in Hell's Belles, "A Deliciously Sinful Burlesque Revue" - limited engagement Fridays Oct 3 through Nov 7, 10:30pm, tix $15 at NMT or 312.458.9083 - The Spot - 4437 N Broadway - 773.728.8933
Lavender Cabaret heats up the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts with Michelle L'amour, The Starlets and standup comics hosted by Dan Sanders Joyce in Lipschtick! - Fridays, 11pm, tickets $15 at
Annoyance Productions presents a burlesque-themed improv show, Late Night Tit-Bits, featuring the seven stimulating ladies of the Roadside Bombshells Club and club owner on a pogo-stick, Nick - Saturdays, 10:00pm, tickets $15 by web or at 773.561.4665 - The Annoyance - 4840 N. Broadway
Local Troupes and Resources
Belmont Burlesque Revue
Lavender Cabaret
Girlie-Q Live
Gurlesque Burlesque
Eve's Parlor Burlesque
Varietease Cabaret
Flesh Tones Burlesque
RIP: Hellcat Hussies, Flirt Cabaret, Kit Kat Honeys, Peekaboo Revue
Local Performers
Angela Eve
Backdoor Aly
Bloody Belle (sigh...moved to NY)
Cherish - Burlesque Goddess
Dante
Michelle L'amour - Miss Exotic World 2005!
Red Hot Annie
Miss Tamale aka Minxy McVixen
Dominique Trixx
Miss vonLivid
Miss Vivian Velvet
Miss Holly Wouldn't
Out-of-Town Performers I Have Enjoyed
Miss Dirty Martini - Miss Exotic World 2004
Miss Indigo Blue
Fancy Chance
The Swedish Housewife
Mr Murray Hill
Immodesty Blaize
Other Links
Michelle L'amour has been hosting a net radio show on Monday evenings: In Bed with Michelle L'amour
Claire De Lune, aka Meredith Miller, was recently interviewed by Centerstage.
Read about Michelle L'amour at Gapers Block, and hear an interview with her and Frankie from Tuesday, 9/20/05, on Chicago Public Radio's Eight Forty-Eight.
In June of 2004, Chicago Public Radio's Eight Forty-Eight aired a program on burlesque that included a brief interview with me. Listen here.
Another Chicago-area burlesque fan: Mark's Bettie Page
Jo Wheldon aka Jo Boobs