Spring is a flirtatious season. Hemlines rise, layers peel off, and sunshine puts us all in the mood for... high-caliber libidinous entertainment! Fortunately, there's no shortage of bustles and bow ties dropping onto our city's stages in the next few weeks.
Single-handedly demonstrating the wide range of burlesque subgenres Portland has to offer, this Saturday boasts two markedly dissimilar yet equally enticing productions. Both are certain to leave showgoers with sweaty palms and strained vocal chords.
Geek culture gets bawdy and naughty at Geeklesque!, the debut revue from new production team Critical Hit Burlesque. Featuring appropriately themed (read: awesomely nerdy) acts made especially for this show by its performers (including the Infamous Nina Nightshade, duo Natural 20, Sophie Maltease, and more), this event beckons to the voyeuristic, comic-collecting, RPG enthusiast in us all. Sip a beer and dare yourself to not get lost in Princess Toadstool's bedroom eyes.
Guardian Games, 303 SE 3rd, Sat March 26, 8 pm, $8, 21+
Creating an assuredly remarkable evening for the highbrow set, renowned live burlesque band Orchestre L'Pow! joins in cahoots with four veteran performers to bring us Big Time Burlesque. Local peelers Charlotte Treuse, Holly Dai, Itty Bitty Bang Bang, and Madison Moone will take the Bossanova Ballroom Stage within, among, and atop the largest props in their respective repertoires. Joined by crooner Professor Gall and emcee Vincent Drambuie, this saucy team promises a multisensory treat.
Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside, Sat March 26, 9:30 pm, $10, 21+
We'll have a couple of weeks to coax our pulses down to normal before the cast of Dangerous Curves Ahead: Burlesque on the Go-Go makes a stop here for their spring 2011 tour on Wednesday, April 13. Hailing from Brooklyn, these award-winning burlycue moguls will be showcasing their sexified hilarity alongside guest acts from Portland collective Rose City Shimmy. Hosted by drag duo ChiChi and Chonga, consider this event mandatory for any lover of cabaret artistry.
Red Cap Garage, 1035 SW Stark, Wed April 13, 8 pm, $10, 21+
Rayleen is the founder of local burlesque production house SinSavvy Productions, and she maintains a full calendar of local burlesque performances at sinnsavvyproductions.com/pdxcalendar.
