Best burlesque shows in New York City
Where to see burlesque and other sexy after-dark shows.
Brown Girls Burlesque: Solid Soul
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
The Brown Girls Burlesque troupe pays tribute to two shows that provided the funk- and disco-fueled teenage soundtrack to those of us of a certain age: Soul Train and Solid Gold. Chicava HoneyChild, Miss Aurora Boobrealis, exHOTic Other, Jazabel Jade, Sister Selva, Bianca Dagga and DT UndaCova are among the performers; let's hope they reenact Soul Train's line-dance segment.
- Kraine Theater 85 E 4th St, between Bowery and Second Ave, 10003
- Sat May 25
Bawdy with Jesse Luttrell
- Price band: 2/4
Cabaret trollop Jesse Luttrell headlines this monthly gender-bent retro revue. Ever-changing guests include drag stars, comedians, burlesque hotties and various other nightlife creatures. For more information, go to bawdyshow.com.
Dead Sexy
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
The inimitable Jonny Porkpie joins forces with Jeremy X. Halpern to present this weekly neoburlesque-oriented show in the unlikely setting of Times Scare. (Given the venue, expect performances to skew a bit toward the eerie/creepy end of the burly-Q spectrum.) Tonight's show sees the likes of Calamity Chang, Darlinda Just Darlinda, Harvest Moon, Lil Miss Lixx, Peekaboo Pointe, Pinkie Special and Hula-Hoop specialist Ferro taking the stage; Baron Von Weirdo and Schäffer the Darklord are tonight's hosts.
- Times Scare 669 Eighth Ave, between 42nd and 43rd Sts
- Sat May 25
Floating Kabarette
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Galapagos hosts this long-running, crowd-pleasing cabaret night, featuring a rotating cast of amazing performers—expect burlesque, magic, trapeze and much more. Check the venue's website for each week's cast.
- Galapagos Art Space 16 Main St, at Water St
- Sat May 25
Le Scandal Cabaret
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Bonnie Dunn, the MC-chanteuse behind this burlesque-circuit stalwart, presides over a lively mix of stand-up, magic, acrobatics and high-concept strip. The city’s longest-running girlie revue, Le Scandal is still looking young, hot and ready to party.
- Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Café 407 W 42nd St, between Ninth and Tenth Aves, downstairs, 10036
- Sat May 25
Mr. Choade's Upstairs Downstairs
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
The Slipper Room presents this long-running night (since 1999!), with stars of the burlesque, vaudeville and sideshow scenes strutting their stuff. =
- Slipper Room 167 Orchard St, at Stanton St
- Sat May 25
The Tassel Room
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
Duane Park’s Saturday night show features classy burlesque and old-school jazz. Irrepressible downtown impresario Murray Hill hosts; performers Amber Ray, Gal Friday and their pals twirl the titular tassels; and swing quintet the Stiff Gimlets provides the soundtrack. The price also includes a three-course feast with your choice of dishes from the Southern-inspired menu, such as spicy Creole bouillabaisse.
- Duane Park 308 Bowery, between Bleecker and E Houston Sts, 10012
- Sat May 25
Kitty Nights Burlesque
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
This burlesque show has been purring along since 2006, featuring Fem Appeal and stars of the local scene titillating the crowd on a weekly basis with their bump-and-grind allure. Go to kittynights.com for more information.
- Mug Lounge 448 E 13th St, between First Ave and Ave A
- Sun May 26
Wasabassco Sundays at Bathtub Gin
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
- Free
Doc Wasabassco leads his parade of vaudevillians and burlesque beauties to this speakeasy-style boîte every Sunday. This evening of bump ’n’ grind action features lovely ladies Evelyn Vinyl, Hazel Honeysuckle, Medianoche and Nasty Canasta, along with their burly-Q buddies. Go to wasabassco.com for more info.
- Bathtub Gin 132 Ninth Ave, between 18th and 19th Sts
- Sun May 26
Empire Beats' Juke Joint Revue One-Year Anniversary
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Rhythm & blues combo Empire Beats, featuring vocalist Camille Atkinson, marks a full year of music, burlesque, comedy and more at the lovably divey Parkside Lounge. Burly-Q performers Lavinia Draper, Miss Poison Ivory, Genie Adagio, Plucky Charms and Wae Messed add to the celebration's hoopla.
- Parkside Lounge 317 E Houston St, at Attorney St, 10002
- Mon May 27
Monday Night Bingo
- Critics choice
- Free
Hosts Linda Simpson ("In the know and on the go!") and Murray Hill ("the hardest-working middle-aged man in show business") team up for a night of alt-bingo mirth every Monday on the Lower East Side. Admission is free, but a game card will cost you two clams.
- Hotel Chantelle 92 Ludlow St, between Broome and Delancey Sts, 10022
- Mon May 27
Strip Club
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Once a month, Kristen Lee and Veronica Vroom present their dreamland version of the strip-club world, with the Moth's Peter Aguero serving as host, Rosabelle Selavy adding her acrobatic skills to the onstage activities and DJ Stevie C spinning the bump-and-grind beats. This month's special guest is Mary Cyn.
Wasabassco Tuesdays at Bathtub Gin
- Critics choice
- Free
Doc Wasabassco returns to this speakeasy-style drinkery every Tuesday, with Evelyn Vinyl, Hazel Honeysuckle, Medianoche, Nasty Canasta and their burlesque pals strutting their salacious stuff.
- Bathtub Gin 132 Ninth Ave, between 18th and 19th Sts
- Tue May 28
Glitter Gutter
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
This evening of old-school downtown entertainment (burlesque, comedy, sideshow performances and more) is fast and loose–and sometimes messy. Each week brings a unique show. Go to slipperroom.com for more info.
- Slipper Room 167 Orchard St, at Stanton St
- Wed May 29
Nuit Blanche: Film Noir Burlesque
- Critics choice
- Free
Dances of Vice brings a glamorous collection of glittering showgirls and exotic performers to the Meatpacking District; the burlesque affair features three sets in an all-new production each week. Tonight's show salutes the stylishly shadowy world of film noir, with femmes fatale Cassandra Rosebeetle, Marlo Marquise, Jenny Rocha and Hazel Honeysuckle joined by Dandy Wellington; a dance party with DJ Eve Salvail follows the performances, keeping the action coming until 2am. For dinner reservations, call 212-675-2400 (or just imbibe a cocktail or three).
- Beaumarchais 409 W 13th St, between Ninth Ave and Washington St, 10014
- Wed May 29
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