Key West Burlesque Season Kicks off Friday with “Taking it Off to See The Wizard: A Burlesque Parody”

Local Key West Burlesque performers (clockwise from top left) Miss Zurima, La La, EM&EM and Moana Amour invite the adult public to Key West Burlesque’s latest production, “Taking it off to See The Wizard: A Burlesque Parody” which opens at the Waterfront Playhouse in Key West on Friday, October 20.

Fans of the famous ruby slippers are invited to follow 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. Audiences will delight to a dazzling 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.

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 entire planned season of shows will go on, offering adult friends and family fabulous evenings of lighthearted entertainment with a bit of naughty fun.

The internationally acclaimed Russell Bruner, 2012 King of Burlesque, will play the infamous Wizard; Fort Lauderdale’s Miss Jenna Beth – pin-up model, classical dancer, figure skater and burlesque performer extraordinaire – 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.

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.”

“More so than ever we need lighthearted laughter and fun,” says creator and director Christa Hunt, who performs as Tatah Dujour, the burlesque queen of the Conch Republic. “It’s a great 2-hour long break from the day-to-day of hurricane recovery.”

Key West Burlesque performers, left to right, Moana Amour, La La, Jai Somers and Miss Zurima reach out to encourage Jackal, understudy for the role of Dorothy’s dog Toto, during a canine thespian meltdown at a recent rehearsal for “Taking it Off to See the Wizard: A Burlesque Parody.” “It will be such a relief when the principal performer playing Toto gets here,” sighed production creator and director Christa Hunt. “Jackal is the most high-maintenance b—h of an understudy we’ve ever had to work with – and heaven help us if we run out of doggy treats!”

“Taking it Off to See the Wizard: A Burlesque Parody” kicks off at 8:00pm Friday, October 20th and runs for eight evening performances at Key West’s Waterfront Playhouse, 310 Wall Street. Tickets and information available at waterfrontplayhouse.org, 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 Florida Keys first responders; call 305.619.2862 for more information. Sponsored in part by The Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

Left to right: Key West Burlesque performers La La, Miss Zurima and Jai Somers rehearse a scene for the upcoming “Taking it Off to See the Wizard: A Burlesque Parody”.

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.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.