Speakeasy Mississippi Burlesque Premieres in Winona

Speakeasy Mississippi Burlesque is a production by Annika Gunderson, premiering in Winona on Saturday, October 26, 9 pm to midnight, at Dibs Café. The show will feature five prominent Minneapolis burlesque artists: Queenie Von Curves, Musette the Mistress Of Mischief, Sheila Rouse, Sweetpea, and Paulie Graff. Attendees will also find local artists featured: live music performances by Whiskey B*tch (Adja Gildersleve and Amber Fletcher), paintings by Third Eye Tatu’s Eric Schandelmeier and McKnight Foundation grantee Maggie Sather, burly fashion merchandise by Rochester-based SC Scott, as well as tabling by Seven Rivers LGBT Resource Center and Winona State University’s student organization Full Spectrum.

Known in the Minneapolis burlesque community as Anni Leigh, Annika returned to her hometown of Winona in May, after living in Minneapolis since 2007. Prior to her move, Annika was introduced to burlesque through the mentorship of Sweetpea, nationally renowned burlesque artist and founder of the burlesque trio, Sapphique, in which Annika is a member. Physically separated from the Twin Cities burlesque community, Annika brings burlesque home to Winona in a sultry opportunity to spice up the river valley and expand opportunities for artist collaboration, support, and increased knowledge of vaudevillian burlesque as an invigorating, empowering, sensually-clever, and even humorous art form. Annika’s hope is that people will expand their perceptions of burlesque, opening to it as an embodied form of storytelling, a form of consciously and boldly inhabiting one’s body, while honing the power within one’s sensuality and sexuality.

As a sneak-peak to the performers, here is a look into their bios:

Queenie von Curves, the cheeky gal with curves in all the right places, is a cast member of Le Cirque Rouge Cabaret and Burlesque of Minneapolis and guest performs throughout the Twin Cities. She is also co-curator of the Twin Cities Burlesque Festival, a regular columnist with MN-Ups Pin Up Girl Magazine, dance instructor with Playful Peacock Showgirl Academy, producer of Naked Girls Reading-Minneapolis, dancer with Ballet of the Dolls, plus-size model and actress. She enjoys dying her hair outrageous colors, getting into mischief, and eating vegan chocolate chip cookies.

Minneapolis burlesque darling “Musette the Mistress of Mischief” is part sideshow sweetie of daring, danger acts and part vintage, vaudeville vixen who has performed in hundreds of shows from the sparkly streets of NYC to the greater Midwest. With flamboyant costuming and dramatic flair Musette aims to slay the unaware as well as the initiated with her bountiful burlesque charms and cheeky humor. As a local producer Musette has brought burlesque to southern Minnesota producing shows under “The Midnight Muse Presents” showcasing acts of national acclaim.

Paulie Graff is a Minnesota gal who can be found singing in her car and in burlesque, drag, and cabaret shows throughout the Twin Cities. She’s tackled the work of artists from Nina Simone, Etta James and Adele, to David Bowie, Pink, Bon Jovi, and Florence and the Machine. Paulie performs regularly with her Dykes Do Drag family and has belted out tunes for Grown and Sexy Productions, Black Hearts Burlesque, Toil and Trouble Productions, Nadine DuBois, Sweetpea, Sweet Lillybee, Esme Rodriguez, and Musette. She studied musical theatre in the BFA program at Carnegie Mellon University and has performed on stages across the US. Paulie is also the proud draglesque-daughter of Mistress Victoria DeVille.

Sweetpea has been pleasing the palate of burlesque for nearly a decade. She’s a producer of the Best of Midwest Burlesk Festival, Grown & Sexy Productions, her signature Soirée series, and in 2012 joined the production team for the Burlesque Hall of Fame.  “The First Lady of Sweet” pioneered the Twin Cities’ neo-Burlesque movement, helping to create and direct Lili’s Burlesque Revue as well as starring in revues, cabarets, and variety shows across town. Audiences across the country have been seduced, charmed, and made giddy by her sincere smile, shake-dance, and chameleon prowess. Known for her fierce physique, high-energy choreography, hoop-tease and for her patented move, “The Paint-Shaker,” this dancing powerhouse has been given such taglines as, “The Seismic Shake from the Land of 10,000 Lakes” and, “The Fastest Ass in the U.S.” Also, named “Most Dazzling Dancer” Burlesque Hall of Fame 2013 and One of 2013’s “100 Women We Love” –GO Magazine.

Sheila Rouse found her tribe in burlesque after viewing Sweetpea’s Dancing Machine at BoMB 2010. She began taking burlesque classes for a year before debuting as a giant banana! Forging on, Sheila began her production career with EqualiTease, a burlesque show-fundraiser for marriage equality. Sheila created Striptember, and later collaborated with the Vagine Regime and the Minnesota RollerGirls to create Jam Out With Your Clam Out, a fundraiser for a LGBT roller derby group. Currently, Sheila is pursuing a PhD program.  Originally from Long Island, Sheila made it to Minnesota via Philadelphia and then Seattle. Raised Catholic, Ms. Rouse intertwines her personal history with saucy, smart humor to please and shake crowds.

Prepare to be tantalized! Speakeasy Mississippi Burlesque will highlight Minnesota’s top burlesque artists, showcasing their talents with sultry dance and song, classy, fun tease, and humor, in an exciting collaboration with local creativity. Bring your energy, your class, your character (or any characters yearning for expression from within), and enthusiasm for the expansion of the Winona arts community! Doors open at 8:30 pm. Attendees must be at least 18 years of age to enter. Dibs Café will provide food for purchase, and Jefferson Pub & Grill will provide beer and wine for purchase.  Advance tickets available for $8 cash purchase at Dibs Cafe (77 W. 3rd St.) and Inside The Vault (109 E. 3rd St.) or online here. Tickets will be available for $10 at the door on show night.

Annika extends a huge THANK YOU to Speakeasy Mississippi Burlesque sponsors: Inside The Vault, Third Eye Tatu, and Warehouse Liquors. Thank you to Affinity Plus Credit Union for supplying a generous door prize for Speakeasy, as well!