Category Archives: Burlesque

Plaza Theatre fundraising festivities include “Valley Girl,” “Godzilla vs. Megalon” and more

Atlanta’s Plaza Theatre is the city’s only remaining independent movie theater. Despite celebrating the cinema of yesteryear with events such as Professor Morte’s Silver Scream SpookShow, Blast-Off Burlesque‘s Taboo-La-La and Gorehound Productions‘ Splatter Cinema (as well as current films), the Plaza is struggling now more than ever to keep its doors open. Now a a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Plaza celebrates a big weekend of events beginning with tonight’s Save the Plaza March.

Costumed supporters of this longstanding theater will begin gathering at 5 p.m. before heading down Ponce de Leon Ave. at 5:30 p.m. This parade of kooky Plaza performers and anyone else who wants to dress up and join the cause will turn left after a few blocks before heading back up North Ave. and returning at the Plaza around 7 p.m.

The fundraising festivities continue tomorrow night as the Plaza screens the totally rad ’80s romantic comedy Valley Girl at 8:30 p.m. But like most Plaza events, there will be more than just a movie screening with additional festivities beginning at 7:30 p.m. There will be silent auctions and prizes from local business such as Ria’s Bluebird, the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club, Fantasyland Records, Stratosphere Skateboards, Diamond*Star*Halo, Libertine, Monster Joe Coffee (who made the Wrestling with Pop Culture and ATLRetro T-shirts, which will also be included as prizes) and many more.

The event is hosted by Blast-Off Burlesque, whose members will be on hand to hand out auction prizes and provide other costumed entertainment. Prizes will also be awarded in the ’80s costume contest and Valley Girl accent contest. And the whole event will be emceed by The Pop Culture King himself, Jon Waterhouse. Tickets are $15 with all proceeds going to the Plaza Foundation.

Saturday sees the return of the Silver Scream SpookShow, this time with a screening of Godzilla vs. Megalon. Professor Morte and his creepy crew of characters, go-go dancers and other monstrous fun will introduce the movie with the vile variety show they’ve become known for. Kids ages 12 and younger get in free to the 1 p.m. matinee, with an additional show at 10 p.m. As one of the Plaza’s marquee events in recent years, the SpookShow is the perfect followup to the previous days’ philanthropic festivities.

For more information, go to www.plazaatlanta.com.

The Chameleon Queen changes her colors for Dragon*Con performance with the Last Dance

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By Jonathan Williams

When the Last Dance performed at Dragon*Con in 2007, the band was joined onstage by burlesque vixen Diamond Ice for an added visual presence thanks to her fan dance. Though that performance would indeed prove to be her final frolic with the Last Dance, this year she changes her exterior to join the goth rock favorite for a Friday night/Saturday morning performance as the Chameleon Queen. Having also performed in the first two Dragon*Con Cabaret’s as a member of Big City Burlesque, Diamond Ice graced Dragon*Con stages in various ways before her continued transformations. While finishing up her costume and painting her nails in preparation for Friday’s show, the enigmatic Queen takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture.

Diamond Ice performs with the Last Dance at Dragon*Con in 2007. Photo by Moonbird Design

Following Diamond Ice’s performance with the Last Dance at 2007’s Dragon*Con, how did the Chameleon Queen get invovled with this year’s show?

I saw that the boys were playing and I sent Jeff [Diehm], the singer, a text message that said, “Hey. I’m really excited you guys are playing. Can’t wait to see you.” The response back was, “So you’re dancing with us again, right?” It was that easy.

Have you danced with them anywhere outside of Dragon*Con?

No, not at all.

What do you have in store for this year’s show?

They asked me to do one song with them, so I have a costume that’s being worked on. It will be kind of a surprise and something a little different from what I usually do.

Which song will you be performing with the band?

Jeff told me to choose between two songs I picked “Distantly”. The other was about a girl losing it and that would have been a little more performance art and a little crazy. I figured the guys would like something a little prettier instead of something a little crazy. Essentially, I didn’t want to scare them.

The Chameleon Queen as Evangeline the Scream Queen at the recent Black Metal Burlesque show. Photo by Derek Jackson Photography

And you’ll be appearing at their table the rest of the weekend?

Yes, I will be booth babing it for them, hawking their merch.

You tend to stay busy with shows outside of Dragon*Con. What else do you have scheduled in the near future?

I’m doing Mon Cherie‘s Rockabilly Lounge on Sept. 10. That’s the outer space show. The next week, on Sept. 14, I’ll be singing a song with Spaceseed and dancing with Gunslinger at the Masquerade. That Friday, I’m doing Rockmageddon with Andrew Adler and Mon Cherie at Smith’s Olde Bar. On Saturday, early evening, several of us from Musée du Cœur will be on the Imperial Opa stage for the East Atlanta Strut. Then we’ll be winging it over to do a show at Trilogy Bookstore at 9 o’clock that night.

The Last Dance. $30-$120. 1:30 a.m. Sept. 4. Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Centennial II-III. 265 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 770-909-0115, www.dragoncon.org.

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