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Burlesque and show tunes: Seems like a natural fit, so it's kind of surprising that tonight's premiere of Boobs Over Broadway is the first show-tunes-burlesque-extravaganza we've heard of. But Reyna Von Vett (aka Cora Vette) says this show has been a long time in the making.
"Most of us come from a musical theater background, and that's not exactly punk rock," she says. "There's all kinds of burlesque happening, but our particular group comes from mostly theater -- and specifically musical theater -- so it seems like the natural show we should be doing. A lot of people try to pretend they weren't really theater geeks, but we're just walking right into it.
"There'll be nuns," she adds. "It's a twisted interpretation of a classic, is all I'm going to say. I'm making the habits out of satin.
"I'm really excited about this one; this was the show that was on the books to do when we lost our theater space, and it feels like it circled back around; everybody needed a little extra energy," she notes.
And they are planning on reprising Boobs Over Broadway at some point. "This one, we'll be turning into sort of a signature thing," Von Vett says. "We're doing stuff from Cabaret, Jekyll & Hyde, A Chorus Line -- how can you not do "Tits and Ass?" -- Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid -- you know, something for the kids -- Oklahoma, Chicago, Avenue Q, Les Miserables. There will be nuns, there will be tigers. I don't even know, it's crazy."
And David Nehls of the Arvada Center will be playing piano, plus there will be three guest burlesque performers.
The show starts at 10 p.m. at Bender's, 314 East 13th Avenue, and admission is $12 at the door.