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Interview With Weirdee Girl by Cary Weirdee Girl is an all around cool person and Burlesque Performer. Classic Burlesque has become a huge phenomena lately, what about it first captured your interest? The glamour of it all. When I was in high school I loved the costumes and look of burlesque performers in the 40’s & 50’s. When I discovered burlesque was back with a vengeance about 6 years ago again it was the glamour that was alluring to me.
What kind of performance do you put on? I’m fairly classic, I’m pretty much a girly-girl and like to do pretty, sexy things. But when I can I introduce humor or something silly, like chest hair and a mustache for my Ed Wood act or my comedy of errors fan dance. I like what I call a side dish of geekery. Lately I have been trying to push myself to venture into new areas. Right now I’m working on an act involving black lights & white body paint, completely different for me, I’m really excited about it.
At what kind of events do you perform? For the most part it is different burlesque shows on the lower east side of Manhattan and in Brooklyn, a regular Sunday show I perform at is Kitty Nights at Bar on A. Right now I’m involved every Wednesday with Big Apple Burlesque and their Burlesque Musical at Corio which is absolutely fantastic. I also co-produce and co-host a themed monthly show at Identity called Weirdee Girl & Menace Present every 4th Tuesday of the month. I’m really excited about this month’s show, the theme is fetish inspired burlesque. In addition I’m part of a troupe called The Merkinettes, we have paired with The Lady Aye to do a show called Flirty, Dirty & Nerdy which is a huge amount of fun. And we can’t forget charities, I love to perform for fund raising events when I’m available.
What's it like performing all over and experiencing the different scenes? It’s a lot of fun, especially the audiences in different states. You never know what type of reaction you will get to certain acts. I do a Miss America act where I cut myself toward the end and strip down to a merkin. In NY it is a real crowd pleaser, in Seattle I saw jaws drop and stunned half of them into silence! It was hilarious, especially since the act isn’t all that controversial. But I like the different vibes, it makes it interesting.
Where is your favorite place to perform? I don’t have one favorite, I like Asbury Lanes for their hospitality and tater tots, Identity and all it’s Sugary goodness, Hell's Kitchen Lounge with their amazing staff, Bar on A which is like a home away from home and now Corio!
Has anything crazy ever happened at a show? Crazy? No I can’t think of anything I would consider crazy. Too bad, it would make for a good story.
Are there any other creative mediums you work in? It all comes back to burlesque. I can sew, which comes in handy for costuming and I’m a crafty gal so that helps with props. I have all those basic granny skills down like knitting, crochet plus I can spend hours playing in Photoshop creating bad flyers for shows.
What are your favorite types of outfits to perform in? I love all my costumes, but my absolute favorite is the white and silver 40’s outfit Amber Ray made for me. It was inspired by Barbara Stanwyck in “The Lady Eve”. And I’m very fond of the emerald one I use for my fan dance. There isn’t much to the costume, it’s rather small but it’s nice and sparely. I guess that answers the question, I like something with a lot of shine and glitz.
What are your least favorites? I don’t have any, since I make or help design whatever I wear I had better like it!
What kind of music do you like? It all depends on the act, I’ve used K.D. Lang, big band standards, Combustible Edison, Muse, Max Raabe & Palast Orchester, I’m kind of dorky in my musical tastes but it works for what I do.
What do you like to do for fun? Burlesque IS what I do for fun! There isn’t an aspect of it I don’t have fun doing. Coming up with acts, creating your costume, finding the perfect prop, deciding on a song, choreographing an act, even going to shows to see your friends perform or discover new talent. I’ve recently started co-producing shows, which I really enjoy, but it’s a lot of work as well. For non burlesque fun I enjoy movies, old, new, indie, guilty pleasures, foreign, sci-fi, you name it. I have also discovered a recent passion for driving go-carts and playing Wii.
See more of Weirdee Girl at: www.myspace.com/weirdee_menace_present www.myspace.com/bigappleburlesque
| See more of Weirdee Girl at: www.myspace.com/weirdee_menace_present www.myspace.com/bigappleburlesque
Photos by: Norman Blake, Cherry Blossoms, Matt The Photographer, Ted Dottavido, Joe Rosetti 
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