Looking up

Some good news to temper my recent long, somber post about the state of New York's venues. Last night two of the best burlesque shows in town happened on the same night as they do the fourth Wednesday of every month; both happen to be at very different venues, proof that some shows are perfectly suited to an intimate space. Clams Casino, incidentally, is in both of them and that always makes for some mad dashing between shows. Starting in the fall Big Apple Burlesque, one of the City's most distinctive troupes that presents old-school themed shows with a live band and singers, has presented their noir-style show Last Call At the Starliner Lounge at the SoHo supper club Corio. They do it every Wednesday and if you haven't made it yet, check out one of the most fun and different shows in town! Then at 10:00, at the Under St. Mark's Theater, an easy-to-miss black box space in the East Village, was this month's Revealed Burlesque. Revealed is a sexy show and that's its initial audience hook, but the fact is, every month it becomes a space where performers can try their newest, boldest, biggest concepts; acts that take on elaborate props, new themes or moods, where performers really seek to challenge themselves. It always makes for an exciting and entertaining night, and last night's show was perhaps the best yet, with every number involving getting wet--a challenge for any live performer! This month's cast includes everyone in the terrific Revealed promo shot above (by Luke Ratray) as well as the fabulous Anita Cookie! But the lineup is always great so go next month.

And, this just in: another happy addendum to my previous post: the winter season of Pinchbottom Burlesque will go, at the 45 Bleecker Street Theater