Thu 6/27 @ 7PM

Mon 7/22 @ 7PM

If you want to know about the history of burlesque in Cleveland, there’s one person you need to hear from: Cleveland burlesque queen Bella Sin, who performs (and has started to garner national awards and attention as a performer), produces burlesque shows and has deeply researched the art form to the point of being an unofficial PhD in the topic.

Bella formed a troupe, now called Cleveland Burlesque, 20 years ago, and launched the Ohio Burlesque Fest, a three-day event featuring about 70 performers from all over the world, back in 2011. (Bella’s also an activist for causes such as LGBTQ rights and Hispanic issues, but that’s a whole other topic.)

If you’d like to know more about this growing, thriving scene and how it ties in with the historical burlesque scene at now-gone venues such as the Roxy, join Bella for one of the upcoming programs sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Public Library. Bella will share stories and images of the key venues, performers and personalities who shaped Cleveland’s burlesque circuit more 100 years ago through today. Warning: you’ll probably get so enthralled you’ll immediately be going online to buy tickets to this year’s Ohio Burlesque Fest, taking place at the Beachland Ballroom August 15-17.

The program will take place at the Bay Village Library Thursday June 27, at the Garfield Heights Library Wednesday July 17, and the North Royalton Library Monday July 22. It’s free and you can register here. Content is not appropriate for children and narrow-minded, bigoted state legislators.