There are many different approaches to burlesque within Chicago, ranging from classic "wink & a smile" acts to savage performance art. Although many may argue about what the term "burlesque" means, there's no doubt that when an artist is successful at their art, they have the power to influence the artists around them. When we take responsibility for the quality of the acts we present on stage - regardless of the style - we show that we respect our fellow artists and our audience. In addition to building a sense of community and encouraging a dialogue of honest feedback, I would like to challenge the artists in our community to up their game. To that end, every Friday, I will introduce you to a performer within the Chicago burlesque community that I admire. Enjoy!

Find Out More about Other Chicago Burlesque Performers

Chicago Burlesque: Spotlight on Paris Green
by Red Hot Annie

What I admire about Paris Green is her amazing longevity and approach to teamwork. Not only is she a great performer, but as one of the founding members of Belmont Burlesque (or BBR), she's been in the burlesque scene longer than anyone else I've featured thus far. A voluptuous performer with a knack for bringing polished new acts into the scene, Paris Green is also known as the "Pleasure Chest of the Midwest" - which is also one of my favorite taglines!



RHA - Where are you from?
I am originally from Chicago, Illinois, but spent my formative years growing up in Overland Park, Kansas (a suburb of Kansas City, KS).

RHA - When and how did you find out about burlesque?
My first taste of burlesque came when I was 13 years old - I got a gig playing in the pit orchestra for a summer rep theater production of "Gypsy." It planted the notion that taking off your clothes was fun, glamorous and sometimes involved gladiator helmets. I started performing burlesque regularly here in Chicago in 2002.

RHA - What instrument(s) do you play?
I play the piano, guitar, clarinet and bass clarinet. For pit orchestras, I generally played the clarinet/bass clarinet book. I've played some really fun shows (like "Fiddler on the Roof!") and some really awful ones (*cough* "Meet Me in the St. Louis" *cough*)

RHA - What is "burlesque" to you?
Burlesque is old school showbiz. It's the wink and the nod we share with the audience. It's the slow, teasing journey we take, whether it be sensual or silly, to celebrate the human form. It is the effortless beauty that as performers we work so very hard to create.

RHA - How would you describe your approach to burlesque?
In addition to performing, I'm a director and producer, so my approach to burlesque is very group oriented. Belmont Burlesque operates as a troupe - we plan our shows together, we try and share both the work and the fun of putting on the Revue. We have a traditional flavor, so our shows tend to be a balance of comedy, novelty and striptease acts which means we're involving a larger community than just the Bombshells and Jack Midnight.

Aesthetically speaking, I think burlesque is something that you share with the audience. I'm personally not out to shock them - for me, I'm sharing a joke or an intimate moment with everyone. I want them on my side and in my corner. I want that time I spend on stage to be joyful and silly, both for me as a performer and them as a viewer. It's a wink and a nod we share. If it ever comes to a point where it's me versus the audience, then in my mind, I'm doing wrong. Now, there are exceptions to this - like Hot & Heavy's Tribute to The Wall, which I am a cast member of - but in general, that's how I approach burlesque.

RHA - What's your favorite act to perform?
It depends on my mood, honestly. I just revamped my Beijing opera act with new music and I really like dancing it. I'm also quite fond of my gun number because blowing up a confetti cannon onstage is always a good time.

RHA - Who are some of your favorite local performers and why?
First off, I love our scene here in Chicago. There is a ton of really great and diverse stuff to see in our community.

I am always delighted to watch the Stage Door Johnnies , both as a group and individually. They're incredibly talented and really lovely people to work with. I'm really glad we have such an excellent representation of boylesque here in Chicago.

I adore Viva La Muerte, both as a performer and a producer. She's responsible for one of my all-time favorite shows, Hot & Heavy Burlesque's Tribute to The Wall, which I'm really excited to be a part of again this January. She is incredibly driven, while at the same time easy and wonderful to work with. I love that she has carved out a specific niche and continues to elevate and polish herself as a performer. She's a great example of how to do things right for the community and in the community. Also, she can drink you under the table in a heartbeat, so never, under any circumstances, attempt to best her in a drinking contest.

Lastly, I heart Tomas Medina aka The Amazing Tomas. He's been with Belmont Burlesque practically since our inception. Audiences adore him. Performers adore him. Ladies adore him. He's old school showbiz in a modern package.

RHA - Most embarrassing moment on stage?
Definitely falling on stage. It happens - but recovering from it is always kind of a bruise to the ego (and your knees). I did a gig for a charity a few years back and the chair that was provided for me was not sturdy. I went to do a stocking peel and it collapsed underneath me, so I landed on my butt with my leg up in the air. I took the opportunity to do a little impromptu floor work. The worst part of it was that I got asked back by the charity for the same fundraiser the next year and everyone remembered me as the one that fell off the chair.

RHA - What are your goals in performing?
Above all, entertaining people - both onstage and off. If there is no joy in what you do, why do it?

The Windy City Burlesque Fest was a long -time goal of mine and my Belmont Burlesque cast mates. Being able to get the festival up and running with Vaudezilla this year was definitely a big deal for me and Jack Midnight, as well as the rest of the troupe. I'm very much looking forward to WCBF 2011 and the plans we've made so far are very exciting.

RHA - What are some of your hobbies outside of burlesque?
My other all-encompassing love is gaming of all kinds, but mainly role-playing games. Yes, I'm a D&D and Magic: The Gathering nerd, among other things. I host a weekly podcast called The Jank Cast with several other members of our local gaming community here in Chicago and I've written two playsets (both theatrically inspired) for use with the popular indie RPG, Fiasco, which can also be found over on the Jank Cast website. I'm currently working on a third playset, set during the Salem witch trials in 1692.

I'm also an avid knitter; I make a lot of sweaters and blankets, especially during the winter months.

RHA - Is it true that you've recently done a roleplaying burlesque act? If so, when can we expect to see that one again?
For our last installment of BBR Presents, we did a nerd themed show and I performed a Random Encounter striptease. Our emcee played the role of Dungeon Master and rolled dice to see what awful things happened to me as the striptease was performed. I got devoured by Cthulu at the end of it. Random Encounter tables are a big component of Dungeons & Dragons, especially the earlier versions of the game. It was super fun to perform, but it's a little obscure for non-gamers. I'd be happy to bring it back for the right kind of show, so nerdy burlesque show people, give me a call and I'll dust off the ninja ambush and minimally trained grizzly bear for you.

RHA - How would you describe your family's reaction to your performing?
My family is generally very supportive of what I do. It took a bit of explaining at first with my Dad before he really understood what burlesque was and why I would want to do it, but I went through the same thing with him when I used to perform improv comedy here in town. My step-mother, who is Chinese, is fascinated by burlesque. There's not really an equivalent in China, at least not out in the open like there is here in the States. She has been known to show her friends and colleagues in Beijing videos of Dita von Teese as a way of indoctrinating them to burlesque.

The only family member that has ever seen me perform live is my uncle who lives here in Chicago. He's a musician and has also performed with BBR and other shows I've done here in town.

RHA - Where's the best place for fans to find out more about you?
BelmontBurlesque.com and ParisGreenBurlesque.com. Gaming geeks can subscribe to the Jank Cast via iTunes or listen to episodes at our website at JankCast.com.

Photo Credits
Jason Ernst, K Leo, Greg Inda, David Beverly



Find Out More about Other Chicago Burlesque Performers