Atomic Bombshell Revue Sparkles and Teases at Two Orcas Shows

Kitten LaRue brings the Galaxy of Burlesque to the San Juans next weekend

Also Friday, August 31 at Lopez Community Center
Saturday, Sept. 1 at Orcas Center (2 shows)

Last December, Island entrepreneur Jared Lovejoy gambled that the island would love high-quality burlesque as much as he did. So he brought “The Galaxy of Burlesque Revue” to Orcas Island and the audience ate it up — so much that it sold out.

To prevent anyone from missing out, Lovejoy & Co, The Outlook Inn and The Kitchen invite you to the return of The Galaxy of Burlesque Revue with Kitten LaRue, Ruby Mimosa and Lily Verlaine, for two shows on Orcas. There will also be a show at Lopez Center the night before, on Friday, August 31.

The two Orcas shows take place:

• 1st Show – 6 pm doors open, 6:45 pm Show
• 2nd Show – 9:30 pm doors open, 10 pm Show

Also on stage will be the trans-dimensional Dance Belt USA, featuring Inga Ingenue, Waxie Moon, and Lou Henry Hoover.

Hostess for the shows on Orcas is the legendary Miss Indigo Blue. She will be joined by The Atomic Bombshells, founded and managed by Kitten LaRue. To find out more about burlesque, Orcas Issues talked to Kitten LaRue, Atomic Bombshells manager as well as performer.

When she came to Seattle for the summer nearly ten years ago, Kitten found only “underground burlesque.” She wanted to offer northwest audiences the “super-polished, choreographed burlesque” that she had viewed and performed in her native New Orleans. Kitten defines burlesque as an art form that has been around for over 200 years.  “It encapsulates many different forms of entertainment. Its roots are in vaudeville and classic burlesque was performed in the 1940s and 50s. Burlesque combines comedy, dance and striptease,” with the emphasis on “tease.”

She formed her own troupe, The Atomic Bombshells, whom she describes as “the crème de la crème of national burlesque.” The islands’ show hostess,  Indigo Blue, is the 2011 title holder, the reigning Queen of Burlesque.

Kitten LaRue modeled her troupe’s performances on the  New Orleans show, “the Shim Sham Review.”  Their first show was as opening act for Dita Von Teese, an international burlesque star, at the Showbox in Seattle. Following that performance, Camel cigarettes promoted the group on a 30-city tour of the U.S.

She is like most burlesque performers in that her earliest training came from dance — ballet, tap or jazz. “For me, it just happened,” Kitten says. “I saw a New Orleans show and was mesmerized by the glamour of it. I grew up loving the big MGM productions, and it seemed a throwback to that.

“Then, you learn things along the way, like the art of the tease and connecting with the audience.”

The show is advertised as adult entertainment, for those 18 years and older. But the audience may see bolder things on prime-time television, she says, for burlesque is “so beautiful, charming and gorgeous, and is about what you don’t reveal as much as what you do. Yes it has risqué elements, because it’s sensual performance — nudge, nudge, wink wink.”

“It’s a fabulous art form, totally unique, that everyone can enjoy. It’s something not to miss.”

The evening will feature “Bites” provided by The Kitchen, included in the ticket price, and a no-host bar. Tickets are $26 and are available at the Chamber of Commerce, Smith & Speed Mercantile, The Outlook Inn, The Kitchen and Brown Paper tickets.