Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker is the nation's first and only full-blown professional production of the holiday classic—rendered in 1930s burlesque cabaret style.

The production seamlessly marries traditional ballet, burlesque, and swing dance. An aerial acrobatic troupe astounds, while a sizzling hot jazz soundtrack of Tchaikovsky's original score gets jam-packed houses jumpin' like it's the swingin'est winter party since the end of prohibition.

Based  in Seattle, they open their  third season by adding last-minute extra shows to meet the ecstatic demands of Seattle audiences. Following two annual sold-out runs, Land of the Sweets is doubling the number of Seattle performances for the 2008 season.

AND  the highlight of this season is the production’s much anticipated premiere in Chicago, with special guest stars joining the original cast of the smash hit. This marks the first time ever that the “spectacle of ecdysiastic pageantry” goes on tour. Special guests from Chicago and New York will feature in four performances at Chicago's Park West, a former vaudeville theater from the 1920s, reborn mid-century as a stylish concert hall and cabaret venue.

Featuring the A-List of American burlesque stars, Land of the Sweets seamlessly marries traditional ballet, burlesque, and swing dance. A sizzling hot jazz soundtrack of Tchaikovsky's original score sets the tone for the swingin'est wintertime party since the end of prohibition. The show also features performances by two prominant queer performers, Waxie Moon and Miss Indigo Blue!

In Chicago, special guest stars Miss Dirty Martini from New York and  Chicago's own Michelle L'amour  join the cast!  Miss Dirty Martini was Miss Exotic World 2004,  and is one of the most recognized names in New Burlesque.

 

In her native Manhattan, she delights audiences with her Fan Dance, Balloon Striptease, Dance of Several Veils, Shadow Strip and other burlesque classics in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Knitting Factory.

She has performed internationally in Paris, London, and—most famously—to a shell-shocked crowd in Sarajevo immediately after the Peace Accord was signed in 1997.

Miss Exotic World 2005, Chicago's own Michelle L'amour (with the ass that goes POW!) is one of the premier names in modern burlesque. She's been seen by more than 50 million people on four continents, both on stage and screen.

Chicago Magazine calls her "The Reigning Queen of Bump and Grind". Miss L'Amour is the CEO of The L'Amour Group, which is responsible for producing critically acclaimed shows like "Big Sexy Show " and "Lipshtick ". She has her own successful book of photographs called "The Most Naked Woman " and she directs and stars in a fantastic series of instructional videos called "Tools of the Tease ". As an instructor, she's taught more than 2000 women, been featured in magazines like Woman's Health.

Racy but never raunchy, this show takes us to a fantastic, far-away locale where the characters of the Nutcracker live and play in their off-time.

While prim and proper on the music hall stage, these characters have quite a different demeanor in their private lives, and as the party unfolds, we see the famous Nutcracker
characters bare almost all with flair and glamour.


Chicago shows

 

 December 9 & 10      $30  in advance      
 Two shows nightly:

7pm / doors at 6pm / 18+            
10pm / doors at 9:30pm / 18+

@ Park West    322 West Armitage Avenue


BUY TICKETS ONLINE
FOR THE BURLESQUE NUTCRACKER




BUY TICKETS VIA PHONE:    312.553.1212     10am - 5pm Mon - Fri

BUY TICKETS AT THE BOX OFFICE:  322 W. Armitage Avenue    10am - 5pm   Mon-Fri

 
*All photos  by Chris Blakeley


The Best of Gay Chicago and the New Gay Travel Guide