Peep Show: A quick minute with Alotta Boutte



I met Alotta in 2005 when she flew in to perform in the New York Burlesque Festival. Since then, she's become one of my favorite people. As one of the founding members of Harlem Shake Burlesque, the nations's first African-American neo-burlesque troupe, she's a large order of triple threat with a side of "have mercy!"
Tangerine Jones: How'd you get the name "Alotta Boutte"? Was it because of all that....((coughs), personality?
Alotta Boutte: (laughs) Boutté is actually a family name... my mother's maiden name. I was trying to find something that was a word play on body parts since I'm what one would call well endowed. My mother's maiden name popped in my head while I was running through potential names. I ran it by some friends and it stuck.

Tangerine Jones: Let's talk about your "endowments", shall we? You're one of a handful of thick girls in burlesque (present company included) What are the advantages/disadvantages of having extra wiggle in your shimmy? How do people react to you?
AB: Advantages. Instant cleave and I look better in a corset than most. For a thick girl, I have a killer hourglass, especially when amplified by a corset. This next one could be seen as both, but since I'm a big girl/black girl combo, expectations are either low or different. (They're)low because I'm big and they don't expect me to be able to move well. Different because I'm black and they expect me to dance to different more modern hip-hop/pop or to resort to the booty bounce music video dancin'
TJ: I'm glad you brought that up.

AB: People are usually pleasantly surprised and blown away. I've gotten very wondeful responses

TJ:You're a founding member of the first African-American neo-burlesque troupe, Harlem Shake Burlesque. 10 years into the Neo Burlesque movement, diversity is still a bit elusive. Why do you think that is?

AB: From what I can tell, at least out here, it seems to be a predominantly white thing. Burlesque shows aren't necessarily being held in places where the majority is in favor of the brown folk. SF is diverse and I do see all colors in the audience, but brown is the minorty in the audience and in the shows. Harlem Shake, when in full force, was very specific about putting on shows in areas where the population was predominately brown. The response from those shows are people stating that they didn't even know this was going on or that we were in once upon a time.I think, like I did when i joined, that was we have a lot of history lost in this country. Folks weren't documented or they retired and put in boxes instead of sharing it because of the social climate.There are some beautiful brown folks on the walls of MEW museum and folks don't know their names. And for those of us who are trying to state our claim to being in the present scene, there just aren't enough of us able, to bring it to our people regularly, to let our people know there are other ways of being sexy and beautiful. It looks like a catch 22. Those of us who find out about burlesque go to where we can find it and many end up tokens in other groups,but that doesn't bring back to our people and they still don't know.

TJ:So what do you think your responsibility is as a burlesquer of color?
AB:To be present, to stand up and our claim our spots in this scene. It's also not enough to just be there, have lots of us and suck. Make people take notice that were are here and deserve it just as much as anyone else. Since I've started, I've never been hired as a novelty because of my color or size, and if I have been, I'm always asked back based on merit. I've been hired as a variety because I can tap dance (15 years under my belt), I can sing (which i do professionally as well), and I can perform with the best of them. Part of our responsibility being present to is to shine.

TJ: What originally drew you to burlesque as an artform?
AB: Gypsy, the musical.
Singing in the Rain. I'm a musical junky and these two were my first introdction into Burlesque. Singing in the Rain presented the variety show aspect in a music montage with Gene Kelly. Gypsy presented the tease...not once do you see Natalie Wood in pasties. Simone De La Ghetto brings a classic feel to the performance that feels like it's classic for *us*- a touch of Cotton Club for today. When Simone asked me to join Harlem Shake, I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into. I only really knew Gypsy and Singing and hoped that I could do other things to distract from my body. I wasn't so body secure then. As I found out more, I discovered many of my favorite legendary people performed in the burlesque circuit and our history in it was fascinating to me. My goal became to add more of the Juke Joint/Beale Street Cafe. Hot,sweaty, but always a lady-like feel to it.

TJ: If you could share a stage with a legend, past or present, who would it be?
AB: Toni Elling and Lottie the Body! I had the pleasure of meeting them at the last EW. Magnificent ladies! Mae West,cause i think it would be a hoot. I would love to pick Gypsy's brain and hear Zorita tell her story. She was an outspoken queer in a time where it wasn't nearly as tolerated. There are many upcoming folks and a few legends I've already had the privilege of sharing a stage with. Amazing performers all.

TJ: If you were an ice cream flavor, you'd be.....?
AB:Cookies and cream

TJ: Tell us your favorite dirty joke
AB: I've forgotten them all. I'm going to have to go get a book. Can't be slackin' on the dirty jokes.

TJ: You recently got a spot as an understudy in Beach Blanket Babylon, which has been described as pop culture on acid. What's it like being in Babylon?
AB: Surreal. For one, I don't know any woman or queen that didn't want to run around in a Glinda the Good dress. I get to do it at least twice a week while singing Proud Mary. The show changes as fast as the headlines do.

TJ: Are you going to Exotic World this year?
AB:Sadly, I'm not. Shameless plug allowed? I'll be participating as a cyclist in AIDS LifeCycle 6 this year. It's a 545 mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles June 3rd - 9th, raising money for the SF AIDS Foundation and LA's Gay, Lesbian Center. For anyone who'd like more information or to help me reach my goal donation total, go to http://www.aidslifecycle.org/4359
Peep Show is a peek into the world of burlesque and the underground art and music scenes.

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posted by -h* @ 3:45 PM, ,  


Peep Show: a quick minute with Creamy Stevens


Creamy Stevens is half of the dynamic duo that produces Starshine Burlesque, a weekly variety show featuring the finest in burlesque with dashes of old school comedic madness. Creamy stands in the balance of kitsch and macabre...she's like American Bandstand with teeth. I caught up with her arsenic and apple pie cuteness for a quick chat. Proceed at your own pleasure.

Tangerine Jones: How do you spell Burlesque?
Creamy Stevens: L-i-t-t-l-e-B-r-o-o-k-l-y-to the n. She does it from burning need and pure joy

TJ: Speaking of Little Brooklyn, how does it feel to be the Lucy and Ethel of Burlesque? Although you guys perform solo at your shows, you're very much a team. How did that come about and what keeps you together?
CS: It came up because we both wound up go-going in the window at RiFiFi before we ran Starshine. We evolved as producers together because we had a very similar vision of what we wanted a show to be. We stay together because there is no freaking way I could do something like this without her. She's got boundless energy, creativity and talent and knows how to apply those things to the show's benefit. I just try to keep up with her!

TJ: If you were a shade of lipstick, what would we call you?
CS: Medium Rare

TJ: Fill in the blank: I am a______________ with ________________ and____________________
CS: I am a lucky freakshow with amazing friends and a fantastically cute and patient life partner

TJ: As a female producer, do you think your gender has any bearing on what kind of burlesque show you put together?
CS: That's tough...I guess..yes, in that we try to be as diverse as possible in who we book...and well....we generally try to limit the penises to one per show. *Wink!*

TJ: Okay, let's do some word association... Creamy?
CS: Bizarre
TJ: Super
CS: girl
TJ: Exotic World
CS: brilliance
TJ: Heroes
CS: villains
TJ: Starshine
CS: Home!

TJ: Which Neo-Burlesquers would you most want to be stuck in an elevator with?
CS: Ooh! Good one! How many can i have?
TJ: Only six
CS: ok...Jo Boobs, Bambi, Tigger, Dirty Martini, Alotta Boutte and Pinkie Special

TJ: What do you consider your super special skill?
CS: Well, sort of a 50-50 thing...I'm good at seeing the humor in things and I'm good at getting along with lots of different personalities.

TJ: What's the funniest thing you ever saw?
CS: Ooh, that is hard. Well...i think something is truly funny if you can watch it over and over again and you laugh every single time...and I'd have to say that for me, that's "Raising Arizona", the Coen brothers movie.

TJ: If you had a choice between the ability to speak to chimps or monkey like agility and grace with a constant craving for bananas, which would you choose?
CS: Holy crap! I hate monkeys with the fire of a thousand suns, so i'd choose agility and grace. The only way i'd choose talking to monkeys would be if i could tell them they suck.

Editor's Note: You can catch Starshine Burlesque every Thursday night at 10ish at Rififi. Wanna smell like a long running weekly show? Cop a bottle of Starshine by Lizzie Sweet.
Peep Show is an interview series with the brightest and best of burlesque and the underground art and music scene.

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posted by -h* @ 12:55 PM, ,  


Peep Show: a quick minute with Molly Crabapple





I first encountered the delicious and ambitious Molly Crapapple when I posed for her life drawing series, Dr. Sketchy's. Don't let the wide-eyed, delicate Victorian moppet looks fool you, this dainty dollie is a powerhouse. A former artist's model turned illustrator, Molly has capitalized on her ability to go both ways by starting Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, a life drawing series using burlesque bombshells and the stars of circus and cabaret as models.


Started in 2005, Dr. Sketchy's has quickly gone from underground NYC art salon to a worldwide art movement with chapters stretching from Los Angeles to London and beyond.

Now, with the release of Dr. Sketchy's Rainy Day Colouring Book, it's safe to say that Molly's plans for world domination are well underway. The life drawing series has been scribbled about all over the Web and will be featured in an upcoming article in the L.A. Times. The book has garnered stellar reviews from Playboy.com and the Village Voice and new Sketchy's chapters continue to sprout up around the globe.



Tangerine Jones: How does it feel to be the undisputed queen of the "larger-than life drawing class?

Molly Crabapple: Immensely gratifying on many levels. I proved that you can pay models good wages as long as you make the class entertaining enough to draw a crowd. Dr. Sketchy's gives credence to my idea that artists yearn for hot and debauched life drawing classes. Who doesn't want to hire lots of sexy boys and girls?

TJ: Before coming up with the creative juggernaut that is the Dr Sketchy's machine, you were a artist's model. Was it glamorous or grimy?

MC: It was glamorous and grimy. On some days, I got hundreds of dollars to pose at liquor launch parties. On others, I deflected the advances of wheelchair bound illustrators while posing naked on their desks. In between though, it was mostly a mundane grind of hauling my tired body onto the platform and getting drawn.

TJ: If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

MC: Cupcake pink

TJ : Do you color inside or outside of the lines?

MC: I didn't know there were lines.


TJ: What artist, dead or alive, puts a shimmer in your stocking? Who do you most admire?


MC: I'm in love with Gibson for his pen and ink style, but my heart belongs to Aubrey Beardsley. Not only did he invent the decadent style of illustration before coughing his life away at twenty six; he was also a Machiavellian little careerist. Deciding that a life of clerking (the 19th century equivilent to office work) wasn't for him, he used his hot sister as bait to get into top artist Edmund Burne-Jones' mansion, then schmoozed and press-manipulated his way to fame and fortune.

TJ: You in five words.


MC: Caffeinated. Workaholic. Bookworm. Verbose. Not so good at these lists.




(Disclosure: Molly has immortalized me as a paper doll in the book. If that's not sufficient enough reason to take it home, crack it open and whip out your crayons and colored pencils, I don't know what else to tell you. Did I mention that it features paper doll versions of the delectable Darlinda Just Darlinda,the glamourous and hilarious Little Brooklyn, the ever fabulous Amber Ray and other familiar lovely lovelies, cut out pasties, puzzles and amazing illustration? It's art you can hold in your hot little hands. Go buy it now.)

Peep Show is an interview series with the brightest and best of burlesque and the underground art and music scene. Quick peeks into what's good and interesting.

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posted by -h* @ 10:33 PM, ,