Check out 2024 highlights from NYC and Montreal!
THANK YOU 2024 NYC & MONTREAL
Le Poisson Rouge (NYC) featuring Bea Lissima (Calgary), Broody Valentino (NYC), Celesta O'Lee (Montreal), Wild Tiger Woman (San Diego), Gogo Shibari (Norway), Pinay Grigio (Seattle), Crocodile Lightning (Chicago), Minx Arcana (Montreal), Mercy Masala (NYC), Andrea Flow (NYC), Silly Thanh (Switzerland), Calamity Chang, Persimmon Peaks, Sonny Moon, Joy Vicious, Filthy Mari Chino
MERCI MONTREAL!
The 2nd Montreal Edition was a great success at the beautiful historic Le National theatre! Thanks to Les Production Red Light (Ricky & Celesta O'Lee) and all of our Montreal allies and supporters. We can't do this without you! This night featured Bamboo (Japan), Bea Lissima (Calgary), Celesta O'lee (Montreal), Aza Lia (Toronto), Minx Arcana (Montreal), Broody Valentino (NYC), Elle Lixir (Halifax), Big Daddy (Montreal), Bellamie Beastly (Toronto), Kaylie Kreatrix (Montreal), Calamity Chang (NYC).
About
This annual event aims to bring visibility and exposure to performers of color who have traditionally been marginalized and erased in the history of theater, entertainment & burlesque. We focus on POC of Asian heritage to broaden the racial spectrum in modern burlesque.
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Contact us if you are interested sponsorship or collaboration opportunities.
The Producers
The NY Asian Burlesque Extravaganza is produced by Thirsty Girl Productions and Calamity Chang, both based in NYC.
Jen Gapay is the mastermind behind Thirsty Girl Productions, an alias that serves her well as the producer of hundreds of music, burlesque and variety shows. She was voted the #1 Most Influential Non-Performing Woman in Burlesque by 21st Century Burlesque in 2013 & 2014, and was a featured Guest of Honor at BurlyCon in 2014, and voted on to the BurlyCon Board of Directors in 2015. Gapay started The New York Burlesque Festival in 2003 (with Angie Pontani) and The New York Boylesque Festival in 2012 and The Seattle Boylesque Festival (with Daniel Nardicio) in 2015. All three festivals are multi-day, multi-venue events featuring a cavalcade of international performers showcasing for sold out crowds.
Calamity Chang "The Asian Sexsation" is one of the busiest burlesque performers and producer based in NYC with 2 of the longest running weekly shows in NYC. Her burlesque style is a unique blend of classic and fetish. Named by The Huffington Post as one of the "20 Burlesque Stars To Know", Calamity has performed for numerous esteemed events such as Inked Magazine (Pinup Issue Release Party 2015), Design Industries Foundation for Fighting Aids NYC), and celebrities such as Brooke Shields and the cast of The Addams Family, Corey Miller of LA Ink, and guest starred in Moby's metal band DiamondSnake ("Woman, Yea"). Calamity has also appeared in reality TV shows such as "Oddities" (Science Channel) and "My Big Redneck Vacation" (Country Music Television). You can also see her in the controversial NC-17 film of 2011 "Shame" by Steve McQueen starring Michael Fassbender as "Late Night Lover #1".
In her free time, Calamity is a NY School of Burlesque instructor where she regularly teaches the class "Producing Burlesque" and "Fan Dance with Calamity". Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Calamity grew up in Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Florida (Tampa), and various cities in Texas including Houston and Dallas. Though she has lived in NYC for 22 years then bought a house in the Poconos Mountains in eastern Pennsylvania in 2020 where she has started producing shows.
Producers :
• Present-2017 Calamity Chang & Thirsty Girl
• 2016-2013 Calamity Chang, Sukki Singapora & Thirsty Girl
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Video Highlights
Submit Your Act!
We are always on the look-out for talent to add to our annual event, and love to hear from performers of all Asian heritage! We encourage you to submit your act(s) be to considered for the event. Please include a video of the act(s) you are submitting.
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Please keep in mind when submitting:
• You act(s) does NOT have to be Asian in theme
• Currently our venue does not allow fire or aerial rigging
• Costume & overall presentation must be polished
• Please include a video link