Burlesque is very much alive and well here in Colorado,” notes Laura Ettinger, director of public relations for the Colorado Burlesque Festival. “And if you haven’t ever seen burlesque live, this is the time to do it, because you’re going to see the crème de la crème from across the country, not just Colorado.” Mind you, many of the best performers in Colorado will be there as well, including festival producers Lola Spitfire, Honey Touche, Midnite Martini and Fannie Spankings. “Our leading ladies pretty much put this together,” Ettinger says, “and not only that, but we have nationally known headliners and over fifty performers from across the country. So it’s the best of burlesque, boylesque and vaudeville. It’s an extreme amount of talent over two nights.”

Headlining the festival are La Cholita, Trixie Little & the Evil Hate Monkey, Tigger (the Godfather of Boylesque) and Michelle L’Amour. The fun starts tonight at 8 p.m. with Naughty Pierre’s Burlesque and Comedy Extravaganza (which regularly features Spitfire, Touche, Martini and Spankings) at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, 1601 Arapahoe Street, for $20. Come back to Lannie’s tomorrow at 8 p.m. for the VIP Evening; tix are $35. The main festivities take place on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway; admission is $25. And on Sunday, the Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th Street, will host a free “Pool Party” and merchandise bazaar at 2 p.m. Visit www.coloradoburlesquefestival.com.
Thu., July 8, 8 p.m.; Fri., July 9, 8 p.m., 2010