Interview With Crimson Boudior

by Cary

Crimson Boudior is not just a room in your house anymore, she's an amazing Burlesque Performer in South Florida.

Classic Burlesque has become a huge phenomena lately, what about it first captured your interest?

Burlesque itself has an amazing history, one that isn’t known generally began in New York in the 1800’s! I love the freedom of expression, the costumes, the feminist aspect of burlesque. In New York, where I am originally from, burlesque has many different shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. It is not about stripping, it is about telling a story through tease. I love the fact that burlesque is an art form. Burlesque in its’ truest expression is about parody, making fun of. I love the women in Burlesque, their humor, glamour, and spunk.

What kind of performance do you put on?

I have my training in theater, so the way I approach burlesque is from a story-telling perspective. Every act is a mini story with a beginning, middle and end. I teach burlesque in the same way. I perform with a troupe of women in different venues and usually we have a “theme”. For instance, we did a show recently that was called “Pulp Fiction Burlesque”. It wasn’t what most people imagined . It didn’t have anything to do with the movie. Pulp fiction is the name of all those dime store novels. You know, the ones with titles like “She done him wrong” and “Rehab Nurse”. Every act, had a “title” so to speak.

At what kind of events do you perform?

At the present time, I run two different ongoing shows, one which is monthly at the Kevro Art Bar in Delray, and the other at Mojitos, the retreat, in Lake Worth.

We are doing the MS benefit at the Blue Martini in Ft. Lauderdale this week. I have performed at Rock and Clubs in Miami, local bars, for benefits, and private venues.

I would LOVE to perform at the Casino in Hollywood if anyone is reading this who could get me there!

What's it like performing all over and experiencing the different scenes?

Burlesque artists usually have everything they need with them. We are the modern day vaudevillians! We live out of suitcases, and will usually do whatever it takes to make a venue work . Although, it is a bit difficult performing in spaces that don’t have a proper dressing room, but that is usually the case. I have changed in kitchens and in storage spaces. I have put my makeup on in bathrooms with 3 other women doing the same. Not always the easiest thing to do! I love all of the venues that I have performed at. The different scenes are so much a part of the burlesque artist’s experience.

It all makes for very interesting story telling!

Where is your favorite place to perform?

My favorite place to perform is a place with a stage, and a dressing room. It is a rarity in this business, so it always feels like a luxury when it actually exists.

Has anything crazy ever happened at a show?

A couple of interesting things. The last show we did at the Kevro, we were changing in their back art space (fabulous!) and someone seriously thought we had pot to sell.

It was hysterical cause we thought he was kidding. He shoved a twenty at me, through the curtain, and I was like…Um…we don’t do drugs, let alone deal them! Needless to say, he got thrown out cause he made a scene. This was before we even went on!

I was doing an act, where I mimed throwing a gun out a window. Someone in the front row, picked the toy gun up and put it back onto the stage. As an actress, I had to deal with the reality of the situation. I feigned shock and dismay at seeing the gun having re-appear, and re-threw it out the fake window, and this time made sure that the gesture was understood! He left the gun where it was.

We had “Buddy”, a 100 year old vaudevillian come to see our show at the Kevro last month. When his son, asked him at the intermission if he was ready to go, he told him-“No, I want to see the rest of the show!”

That was awesome!

Are there any other creative mediums you work in?

Yes. I am an actress and a song writer. Although, I have been mainly concentrating on burlesque for the last 2 years.

What are your favorite types of outfits to perform in?

Well, this may seem obvious but ones that come off easily. Nothing like getting the zipper caught, or the latex cat suit stuck to your sweaty body!

I love to play characters, so I love vintage outfits and wigs. I LOVE wigs.

What are your least favorites?

Anything that pulls over your head and takes your wig off. That’s a bitch!

What kind of music do you like?

I love Rock and Roll. I perform to a lot of different styles from Joan Jett, to Ella Fitzgerald and back again.

What do you like to do for fun?

Travel. I am going to Paris and England in April to check out the burlesque scene there. I love to dance, check out the local haps, see theater, and burlesque. I also love to play board games, but no one that I know seems to want to do that.

I am a TV junkie. I love the new show, United States of Tara on Showtime. Sometimes fun is eating ice cream and reading a book. I have enough excitement being a burlesque performer!

See more of Crimson Boudior at:

www.myspace.com/crimpsonboudoir

See more of Crimson Boudior at:

www.myspace.com/crimpsonboudoir