Newsworthy Happenings!

Special Announcement! I'm very proud to say that the September 6th Black Cherry Burlesque show was my debut of performing with my Go-Go Tornadoes! We resurrected their first act, Boogie Fever, and it felt like we were Solid Gold dancers! New and exciting things in the works for the Tornadoes, including a new member, a website (soon), and of course, fun new acts!

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT! Our Black Cherry Burlesque shows are THIS FRIDAY! The ever-entertaining Scotty The Blue Bunny www.scottybunny.com is hosting! Scotty is coming to Tucson from The New York Burlesque Festival and we are very excited for his return to The Old Pueblo. I'll be bringing my Lady Evil act back to the stage, which was my first act ever! I figured it was only fitting for me to do my sultry updated version of it to celebrate 7 wonderful years of performing with Black Cherry Burlesque. And yes, you will see me sporting ass tassels in my Greek Statue act as well! Please join us for this exciting show, tickets available at www.blackcherryburlesque.com

More News - Save The Date! The Black Cherry RAW Halloween Spooktacular is Friday October 18, and I'll be gender-bending as a goofy, yet scary tv character! This show is a must-see! The Raw Dogs have put together a chilling song list chock-full of hauntingly strippable tunes!

New Act Update! The Friday November 1st shows will be our very most Halloweeniest show of the season! I'm very excited to debut an act I've dreamed of and wanted to do for years (and I hope you'll all be excited for it too) - Morticia Addams!!!

A brief interview with Black Cherry Burlesque

The Mikie Show interviews Black Cherry Burlesque! The actual interview starts around 10:25.

http://themikieshow.org/category/podcasts/

Victory Variety Hour

http://www.victoryvarietyhour.com/About.html

In August of 2012 I had the thrill of headlining at Victory Variety Hour! Voted "Best Badass Burlesque" in the LA Weekly 2012, and also voted one of the top 3 burlesque shows in LA by the LA Weekly 2013, this long-running show in North Hollywood has featured perfomances by Kitten de Ville, Coco Lectric, Diamondback Annie, Ray Gunn, Margaret Cho, Russell Bruner, and Lux La Croix, to name just a few... Produced by Penny Star, Jr. and showcasing a regular cast of talented local performers, this fun, bi-monthly show draws in burlesque performers and afficianados from all over the nation. Penny and her team made sure I had such a great time not only on stage, but backstage as well. Truly a great experience!

More, more, more

I'm looking to do more modeling! Well,, as much as I can fit in between my burlesque and Go-Go Tornadoes... I just signed up on iStudio, check out my profile here:  www.istudio.com/stormyleigh

Here's another photo from my shoot with Vestige Photography, in the Tiki Bus at The Shady Dell in Bisbee last October: 

I also got myself registered on Burlesque Bitch here:  http://www.burlesquebitch.com/article.php?id=2348

Oh! Last week I, along with some of the other Black Cherry Burlesque ladies, did an exciting outdoor photo shoot with Skwid Inc. Photography! Not only did a lot of amazing photos happen that day, but we had a great time hangin' together. I'll be posting photos from that shoot as I get 'em.

Happy Thursday!

Yakety Yak

Here's my interview with DJ Red Viking of The Wasp Factory at The University of Arizona's KAMP Student Radio!

 

http://hookjaw2000ad.podomatic.com/entry/2013-08-14T11_27_00-07_00

Centurions

Since I'm still playing catch-up from not blogging from November 2009 to January 2013, as well as turning my focus more on Tucson, I would like to make a mention of my experience of performing at the 2012 Centurions Fundraiser. For those that aren't familiar, it's a HUGE party held each May to benefit Carondelet/Saint Mary's Hospital. When I say HUGE, I mean they even blocked off the streets downtown as well as take over several businesses and nearby parking lots just to contain the whole party! Thousands attend and it's a top-notch themed event with a costume contest, gambling, bands, food, and a hefty amount of alcohol. Description here:  http://www.downtowntucson.org/2012/04/the-centurions-are-throwing-a-masquerade-escapade-party/

Black Cherry Burlesque was the final and featured act of the festive evening at the historic Rialto Theater. The hosts of the show rushed us from the green room (a separate building from the theater) to backstage as we were told the venue was filled with a restless audience. They wanted burlesque! Lola Torch opened the show, warming up the audience with her lovely version of Let Me Entertain You. I was up next, with the first striptease routine of the evening. Taking a deep breath, I quickly walked to center stage and struck my opening pose. The lights came up, my music started, and I turned to face 1,400+ people standing shoulder to shoulder, watching and cheering as I undressed and worked my boa... Sizzling acts by Ginger SinClaire and Diamonda Morgue followed, further captivating the audience. I finished the show by performing my playful and high-energy Greek Statue act, most certainly initiating quite a good number of people to a crazy lil' thing in burlesque we call "Ass Tassels!"

www.thecenturions.com

If there were more hours in the day, just imagine how worn out we would all be?

That festival deadline I mentioned earlier came and gone... And no new video was made. Not enough hours in the day! So, I was unable to submit, and I'm back to my original schedule and plans, for the most part. As I'm still in the process of getting myself back on track, this is fine. All in good time...

I did spend the bulk of my weekend working on my acts for our Black Cherry Burlesque shows happening this Friday. One act hasn't been on stage since 2008, and basically got a complete overhaul. It's a patriotic act, and the timing is perfect for our Independence Day weekend! The dress has been altered, a robe has been completely done away with, and a lovely new sash has become an intricate part of this routine. Many, many hours were spent over the past few weeks working with the changes in costume, choreography, and character development. Another act of mine went through a few changes as well. It's another older one that actually hasn't been performed that often. I never felt right about one of the costume components, so I found myself avoiding performing it altogether... Too much fidgeting with an awkward and hurried skirt removal... It's a pretty skirt, but was it really adding anything of value to my act? I ditched that piece, spiced up the choreography, and voila - it's now an act I'm happy and excited to do! I'll bring both of these fun acts to the stage this Friday for two shows, 8 and 10 pm at the Surly Wench Pub on 4th Avenue. VIP seating at www.blackcherryburlesque.com, or general admission at the door.

I better rest my feet 'cause this Saturday night I'll be go-go dancing with The Furys at Club Congress for "Bikini Island"! It's a late night show, so the temps will be perfect for an evening of shimmy-shaking to high-energy surf music! Since this show is bikini themed, my outfit for the evening consists of a ... Well, you guessed it - a bikini! A fringe-y bikini!!! And go-go boots, of course. I'm absolutely thrilled to be dancing for The Furys at this event!  Their talented lineup consists of:  Jacob Jakerson on guitar, Randy Bowler on guitar (yes, two kick-ass guitarists!), Hank Norush on bass, and Robbie Colvin on drums. They'll be playing your favorite surf tunes along with an impressive catalogue of original songs for your listening and dancing enjoyment. This evening of bikini and island-themed events begins at 9 pm, more details at http://hotelcongress.com/music/bikini-island-party/