There’s No Place Like Home: Key West Burlesque Kicks Off Season with “Taking it Off to See The Wizard: A Burlesque Parody”
Fans of the famous ruby slippers are invited to kick off the season by following the yellow brick road to Key West’s Waterfront Playhouse, 310 Wall Street, for “Taking it Off to See The Wizard: A Burlesque Parody” which kicks off at 8:00pm Friday, October 20th and runs for eight evening performances featuring a hit-list of favorite local performers, international burlesque superstars, amazing aerial acrobats, and all your favorite Oz icons, right down to a sparkling red pair of larger-than-life shoes.
The post-hurricane Irma show pays tribute not only to the beloved, classic tale – it gives a nod to the Florida Keys, underscoring beloved character Dorothy’s words “There’s no place like home.”
“I have never been so homesick or seen so many people homesick for the Florida Keys as I did in the weeks we were all displaced by Irma,” says creator and director Christa Hunt, who performs as Tatah Dujour, the burlesque queen of the Conch Republic. “People, including myself and other performers, were longing to come home, hoping to get here as soon as possible. We missed our “One Human Family” more than ever.”
Despite losing three weeks of rehearsal, costume and theater set-making time, along with the participation of several performers because of Hurricane Irma, Key West Burlesque’s planned season of shows will go on, offering friends and adult family fabulous evenings of lighthearted entertainment with a bit of naughty fun.
To replace the storm-burdened performers who had to bow out, Hunt has been fortunate to contract several burlesque superstars. The infamous Wizard will be played by the 2012 King of Burlesque Russell Bruner, an internationally acclaimed talent who offers a combination of vaudeville charm and burlesque sex appeal; Fort Lauderdale’s Miss Jenna Beth, burlesque performer extraordinaire, nationally and internationally published pin-up model, classical dancer and figure skater will perform the role of Dorothy, while the Brit-born South Floridian and International burlesque performer Miss Aurora Natrix dazzles as the new face of the Wicked Witch of the West, storming the stage with her sultry burlesque moves, ornate costumes, and classic tribute moves. New York songstress Shelly Watson, an award-winning, Juilliard Bachelor and Masters of Music graduate, once again joins the troupe as the Good Witch of the North.
And of course, the always-outstanding Key West Burlesque performers, including Tatah Dujour, Moana Amour, and Miss Zurima, parody the ensemble cast of the cherished tale including the Lollipop Guild, the speaking trees, and flying monkeys like you’ve never seen before.
“More so than ever we need lighthearted laughter and fun,” says Hunt. “It’s a great 2-hour long break from the day-to-day of hurricane recovery.”
Tickets range in price from $55-$100 depending on seating: visit waterfrontplayhouse.org to purchase or call their box office at 305.394.7445. As a “thank you” for their efforts during hurricane Irma, Key West Burlesque is offering free tickets to the Florida keys first responders; call 305.619.2862 for more information. Sponsored in part by The Monroe County Tourist Development Council.