Thu 8/11-Sun 8/14
The year was 2011. I was writing for Scene Magazine. And one day, a dark-haired dynamo calling herself Bella Sin descended on our office. I had previously interviewed her for a cover story I did on the then-nascent rise of neo-burlesque in Cleveland of which her troupe, Le Femme Mystique, founded in 2004, was in the leading edge.
That troupe had played a lot of offbeat spots, many in Akron, but Bella, who was already turning herself into a knowledgeable historian of the art form as well as NE Ohio’s premiere producer of burlesque shows, had bigger plans. As she slapped pasties on a co-worker, whose identity I promised never to reveal, she told us about something she had in the works: what she was then calling the Ohio Burlesque expo. It debuted at the Beachland Ballroom in August of that year as the Ohio Burlesque Festival.
That event was a one-night hodgepodge featuring just over a dozen acts, including a rock band whose singer took off her clothes while performing. But the seeds were there for what is now a three-evening extravaganza with more than 60 artists from across the country and even abroad. This year’s tenth annual festival (yes, two years were skipped due to the pandemic) takes place at the Beachland on Thursday August 11, Friday August 12 & Saturday August 13. You can’t go wrong snagging tickets for any of the nights — or all three.
Bella started Le Femme Mystique (now renamed Cleveland Burlesque) as a plus-size troupe after having a lot of bookers telling her she needed to lose weight to perform. But she quickly punted to being what she called a “real woman show,” featuring all sizes and types, a philosophy that underpins all the show she presents.
And eclecticism in performer type — size, race, ethnicity, gender — has become a hallmark of her shows, along with diversity of acts, which range from old-school glamorous to horror-influenced, comedic to dead-serious (one act dealt with domestic abuse). She’s had pole dancers and gymnasts, hula hoopers and trapeze artists, ballet dancers, and torch singers, magicians and, recently, lots of drag artists.
Each of the three shows — Thursday’s Rock &Roll Opener; Friday’s All-Stars and the Saturday Night Gala — features a completely different cast of performers, with the best of northeast Ohio’s local artists performing alongside national touring stars, with performers from Brazil and Japan booked as well. Regulars will see some familiar faces (Holly Grail, Scarlett Chaton, and drag artist Veranda L’Ni are among my favorites), as well as a whole flock of newcomers to the area. On Sunday, the weekend culminates with the QueenLand Brunch.
Thursday night’s show is headlined by Akron’s Ruby Rabbit, an aerialist and fire performer, and Chicago’s glamorous Ruby Spencer, who performed at the 2017 and 2018 festivals, with her traditional-style burlesque. Friday’s starring acts are high-energy Texas star Chola Magnolia, New York City’s GiGi Holliday, and Bella Sin herself who, over the course of nearly 20 years has developed into a skilled, powerful performer equal to any national star, with numbers that often draw on her own Mexican heritage and culture.
Saturday’s top performers are sassy “boylesque” star Tre’ Da Marc aka “The Chocolate Drop That Won’t Stop;” San Francisco’s Red Bone (pictured above), a burlesque producer and international star; and NYC’s Medianoche, “Sin in an Hourglass,” and Miss Exotic World Queen of Burlesque 2017.
Currently 17 performers are scheduled for Thursday, 20 for Friday, and 23 for Saturday. (A few always drop out due to travel and other issues.) But you’ll get more than your money’s worth any night.
In addition, a show of 60 images of local burlesque and drag performers, on and offstage, called Contrast Contoured, taken by local portrait photographer Bridget Caswell, is currently on view at the Maria Neil Art Project and Space: ROCK Gallery, both a short walk from the Beachland. They will be open for viewing prior to each evening’s show.
The theme of this year’s festival is “With One Voice: We Stand,” continuing the festival’s (and Cleveland Burlesque’s) focus on lifting up and helping people in the community. Each year, it picks a “charity of the year.” This year’s is The Caring, a nonprofit which helps all in need without discrimination, providing food, school supplies, clothing and other essentials to at-risk families and children.
For full lineups and tickets go to ohioburlesque.com.