What do you get when you throw Freddy Krueger, Pennywise, Chucky and M3GAN into a blender with rhinestones, glitter and a whole lot of skin? A Nightmare on Strip Street, a deliriously irreverent horror-themed burlesque now slashing its way through Denver at the Arch through August 31.
From the creative team behind The Empire Strips Back, this no-holds-barred parody slices through decades of horror tropes with athletic choreography, circus spectacle and a gleeful sense of anarchy.
From the creative team behind The Empire Strips Back, this no-holds-barred parody slices through decades of horror tropes with athletic choreography, circus spectacle and a gleeful sense of anarchy.
This isn't the troupe's first time bringing these monsters to the stage; they debuted a version of this show in Portland last year under the title Killer Burlesque: A Horror Parody, but this new iteration feels tailored for Denver, a city with a thriving burlesque scene and a deep appreciation for strange, niche entertainment. And judging from the packed Sunday matinee on July 13, the local audience is here for it.
Even before the curtain rises, the party has already begun. As audience members trickle into the RiNo venue, spooky silhouettes flicker behind the scrim, zombies lurch, hands claw and figures flee as 80s rock blasts from the speakers. This pre-show, part horror tableau, part shadow play, sets the tone: playful, provocative and a little deranged.
A performer in A Nightmare on Strip Street: A Burlesque Parody strikes a pose.
Courtesy of A Nightmare on Strip Street
The venue itself adds to the experience. The Arch, a sleek multipurpose arts space, offers tiered bleacher seating in the back and cabaret-style VIP tables near the stage, perfect for close encounters with killer clowns and devious dolls. But a word to the wise: street parking in the area is limited. Arrive early or rideshare if you can, and maybe grab a horror-themed cocktail from the bar before you settle in.
The show opens with a bang, as a chainsaw quintet tears through the stage in a chaotic tribute to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, complete with sparking blades and synchronized destruction. It’s as loud and ludicrous as it sounds, and the crowd ate it up like Halloween candy.
From there, the evening is emceed by Julie Goldman, a whip-smart comedian (and The Big Gay Sketch Show alum) who appears in a Beetlejuice-style pinstripe suit and dubs herself “BeetleJew.” Goldman has the difficult task of filling the gap between elaborate acts, and she nails it. Her crowd work is razor-sharp, veering from cheeky jabs at Boulder to a sexually charged game of trivia. Goldman's horror knowledge may be recently acquired, but her comedic instincts are killer.
The acts themselves blend serious talent with absurdist flair. One standout is a Backstreet Boys-inspired “Slash Street Boys” number, where horror icons like Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger croon “I’ll Kill You That Way” in a delightfully dumb dance routine. That’s followed by a jaw-dropping ballerina-as-Pennywise performance set to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” a routine so technically impressive, with clean pirouettes and pristine form, it momentarily eclipses the clown mask and red balloons.
Much of this show's success can be credited to the vision and precision of Bec Morris, who serves as director, choreographer and co-creator. Under her leadership, Nightmare on Strip Street strikes a pitch-perfect balance between chaos and control. The choreography is tight, the transitions seamless and the tone deliciously campy.
Morris is no stranger to large-scale genre-bending burlesque, having helmed The Empire Strips Back and staging the show's debut in Portland, and she proves once again that she knows how to deliver spectacle with smarts. Her work is further elevated by the concert-style lighting and effective scenic design by Ross Graham, who transforms the minimalist set into a pulsing, eerie playground using strobes, shadows and smoke.
Other numbers include a seductive nun-led exorcism set to Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life," a slow tease from Samara of The Ring crawling out of a stage TV, a demonic wedding featuring Chucky and Tiffany and a "Bohemian Rhapsody" number starring a group of Pinheads. While not every sketch packs the same punch (for example, the zombie killer and her "zombie bitches" number feels less focused), it's all executed with such conviction that any slight lull is quickly replaced by the next over-the-top sequence.
The piece's highlight is a jaw-dropping dance battle between Ghostface and Michael Myers, which escalates into full-fledged breakdancing, flips and boogie-fueled bloodshed, culminating in a wild lap dance on an enthusiastic audience member.
Then the whole cast reunites for a finale set to "Thriller," where the whole monstrous crew shakes and shimmies under strobe lights. Phones came out for the first time (officially permitted for the finale only, though widely ignored throughout), and the audience leapt to their feet for a standing ovation.
And Denver isn’t the end of the road. Morris confirmed on Instagram that the show is coming to other cities, and Fever has already listed waitlists for Nightmare on Strip Street in Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami. This blood-soaked circus is only getting started, and you'll want to see it before it vanishes into the night.
There are genuine moments of awe throughout. In a Nightmare on Elm Street segment, a Freddy Krueger performer climbs into a bowl of water elevated on a platform and transforms it into a sensual, splash-heavy aerial performance. Later, a performer dressed as M3GAN spins and flips through an athletic pole routine so polished it had audience members gripping their seats, especially as the pole visibly wobbled, but she never missed a beat.
A group of Pinheads performs a "Bohemian Rhapsody" number in A Nightmare on Strip Street: A Burlesque Parody.
Courtesy of A Nightmare on Strip Street
The piece's highlight is a jaw-dropping dance battle between Ghostface and Michael Myers, which escalates into full-fledged breakdancing, flips and boogie-fueled bloodshed, culminating in a wild lap dance on an enthusiastic audience member.
Then the whole cast reunites for a finale set to "Thriller," where the whole monstrous crew shakes and shimmies under strobe lights. Phones came out for the first time (officially permitted for the finale only, though widely ignored throughout), and the audience leapt to their feet for a standing ovation.
A Nightmare on Strip Street is exactly what it promises: a gaudy, gory and gloriously goofy night of entertainment. It’s for horror fans, burlesque lovers and anyone who enjoys a side of satire with their sequins.
Yes, it’s sexy. Yes, it’s stupid. Yes, it’s a little unhinged, but it’s also impeccably crafted and wildly entertaining.
Yes, it’s sexy. Yes, it’s stupid. Yes, it’s a little unhinged, but it’s also impeccably crafted and wildly entertaining.
And Denver isn’t the end of the road. Morris confirmed on Instagram that the show is coming to other cities, and Fever has already listed waitlists for Nightmare on Strip Street in Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami. This blood-soaked circus is only getting started, and you'll want to see it before it vanishes into the night.
A Nightmare on Strip Street: A Burlesque Parody, through Sunday, August 31 at the Arch — A NPU Venue, 3001 Walnut Street. Learn more at nightmareonstripstreet.com/denver/.
