How Big Can It Get? In Its 11th Year, Ohio International Burlesque Fest Is a Juggernaut

Thu 8/10-Sat 8/12 @ 8PM

When the Ohio Burlesque Festival debuted in 2011 to a small crowd as a one-evening hodgepodge of acts at the Beachland Ballroom, no one knew it would become the internationally noted juggernaut it is now in its 11th iteration.

Well, maybe except for Mexican-born, Cleveland-based burlesque performer, burlesque historian and producer Bella Sin, aka Cleveland’s Burlesque Queen, who conceived the whole thing as an offshoot of her now-20-year-old burlesque troupe Le Femme Mystique (now Cleveland Burlesque). Bella never thinks small. By 2013, the event expanded to two nights, in 2014, it opened with a preview night followed by two nights at the Beachland, and in 2015, it featured a sprawling three full nights. In 2011 there were 16 performers. This year, over three evenings at the Beachland, there are more than 70.

The event has grown in other ways too. Always diverse in terms of performer identity and performance types, it’s become ever more so as Bella has made it a point to feature performers of all race, ethnicity, sizes and gender identities in addition to acts spanning traditional and neo-burlesque, various forms of dance, acrobatics, comedy, opera, torch singing, drag and more. Acts range from glamorous to bawdy to occasionally even telling sobering stories.

This year’s festival motto is “Now, More Than Ever.” Anyone who has been to past Ohio Burlesque Festivals might have a hard time imagining what “more” might be, but somehow, Bella will come up with it.

Eartha Kitten at 2019 OBF by Anastasia Pantsios

Thursday night’s Rock & Roll Opener is a great introduction for burlesque newbies. It features headliner Maja Jera from Columbus and featured performer Eartha Kitten from Detroit. The lineup includes 16 other performers from New York to Texas to Canada but one of the highlights is likely to be Cleveland’s Dr. Lady J., a drag artist whose acts are fueled by her unlikely background, complex personal identity and her scholarship — she has a PhD from Case Western Reserve with a dissertation on drag.

Friday night’s All Stars bill is topped by headliners SamsonNight from New York City and Bella Sin herself, along with featured act Commanders Sins from Columbus. They’ll be joined by 26 (!) other acts including some welcome familiar faces such as Akron’s fierce Miss Hollie Grail, chameleon Heather and Lace, and Columbus’s elegant Scarlett Chaton, with Xochii de la Noche hailing all the way from California and Scarlet Delirium & Amethyst Howl coming in from Vancouver.

Bella Sin by Anastasia Pantsios

On Saturday, The Gala will offer as headliners Las Vegas’ Cervena Fox (pictured) and Montreal’s Sucre A La Crème, with featured act Lottie Ellington from Detroit. The other 27 performers include some familiar faces — drag artist Anhedonia Delight hosts the GlamGore monthly shows at the Grog Show, Cleveland’s Rose Faluda and Chicago’s Mama Disco have performed on Bella’s show many times. And San Francisco’s Red Velvet returns as well. But the evening also features BAMBOO from Japan, Celeste de Moriae from Croatia and Maria La’Pearl from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. One of the pleasures of the Ohio Burlesque Festival is seeing favorite familiar performers along with a host of new faces and acts.

The festival will also feature classes, a small business fair and afterparties. Go to ohioburlesque.com for more information and tickets.

Post categories:

Leave a Reply

[fbcomments]