TisF Finds Fun with The Flaming Dames.
Chicago's original "Dames" have been around since 2002; and since then, the Dames have been rocking audiences out of their own skin with all of our one-of-a-kind shows, from the raunchy fun of 1980's hair-band inspired, "Talk Dirty To Me" to the gritty sexuality of B-horror movies, "Bump & Grindhouse" to the sultry sass of holiday-themed, "Naughty & Nice." Their shows and style is contemporary burlesque, solidly based in pop-culture parody and good ole fashioned Rock & Roll!!
The Flaming Dames perform all over the Chicago land area but their main location for debuting new shows is The Spot, a three-story bar and performance venue located in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Tickets are typically $15 a piece and they offer student and group discounts; they offer a select number of tickets on www.goldstar.com; which is half off their normal ticket fee. So, you can easily get a Dames ticket for $7.50 for their main stage shows at The Spot; but they also do one off gigs all over Chicago that are quite often free shows.
What is your idea of Fabulous?
LK: My idea of Fabulous is a woman with hard core, to-be-reckoned-with confidence who also knows how to handle herself with grace and humility. She is someone who is a mentor to those younger than her and encourages rather than discourages other women in achieving success in their lives, whatever that may be. A fabulous, confident, intelligent woman who isn't afraid of her sexuality who can on one hand take your breath away with her beauty, and then just kill you with her fabulous sense of humor...There is nothing like a confident gal that just knocks you to your knees with her brains and her beauty.
Who is the most Fabulous person you know?
LK: Well, I'm a burlesque director so I meet fabulous people on a daily basis so it's extremely difficult to say who the most fabulous person I know is. I do have 1 gal in my troupe, Miss Sista Stiletto who has a reputation for always being covered in fabulous jewelry, the highest heels you can imagine, full make up and hair...and we're talking about what she looks like when she's just running out to the post office. Then again, many of my dames are currently starting families of their own and are first time mothers, (which includes Sista Stiletto) so there's a very big part of me that wants to say how fabulous mothers are...especially mothers that do burlesque.
Which Fabulous word do you use most?
LK: Wow, how I wish The Dames could answer this one for me. I do say "that's seven kinds of awesome" a lot.
What is your greatest (most Fabulous) extravagance?
LK: I won't spend a bunch of money on shoes or bags, but if left unsupervised, I could easily spend insane amounts of money on really expensive makeup and girlie hair stuff at like Sephora. I am admitted lip gloss fanatic too, and would be embarrassed to tell you how much I've spent on it in the past. I'd pay huge dollars for the perfect shade of red lipstick any day.
Where would you like or prefer to live your Fabulous life?
LK: I chose Chicago for a reason. We get the best of all the worlds of art, entertainment, culture and cuisine here and yet we still have that down-to-earth, Midwestern way. You really can't beat that.
What do you consider your greatest (most Fabulous) achievement?
LK: The Flaming Dames Burlesque Troupe, to date, is most certainly my most fabulous achievement.
What is your (Fabulous) motto?
LK: The best way to predict the future is to get off your fabulous ass and create it yourself.
For more information about the Dames please visit: www.myspace.com/flamingdames
Photography courtesy of the Dames.
Leslie Kerrigan, Founder & Artistic Director
Holly Sanford, Managing Director
Ellen Domonkos, Choreography Manager
Meagan Piccochi, Music Manager
Ky Rankin, Costume Manager
