Legendary Circus Performer Announces Performance At Coney Island USA, Today

Hovey Burgess, the internationally celebrated juggler, clown and circus performer has announced his appearance at the Sideshow Theater (Coney Island USA) on Saturday July 14th in Bostock & Burgess' Arena of Exotic Beasts, a one-off theatrical event which pays homage to the Bostock circus menagerie resident in Coney Island during the early part of the 20th century.

Co-producing and headlining alongside his performance partner, the burlesque artist Lil' Miss Lixx, Burgess will appear as 'the Polar Bare', an act comprising the artforms of circus, burlesque and comedy.

Burgess is the recipient of the Red Skelton Award: Gifted Mentor to Clown Theatre Artists (1991), the International Jugglers Association's Excellence in Education Award (1997), the Downtown Clown Golden Nose - Lifetime Achievement Award (2009) and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Celebration of American Circus at Lincoln Center (2016). He also also created, directed and performed with the Circo Dell'Arte (1969-1970), in addition to a lengthy career - 1966 to 2017 - teaching circus arts at New York University. He also choreographed and appeared in the Robert Altman's motion picture Popeye, at the request of one of his former students, the late Robin Williams - who starred in the title role for Paramount Pictures in 1980.

In 2015, Burgess curated and produced The Hovey Burgess 75th Birthday Gala, a sell-out spectacular at New York's Dixon Place in association with the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.

Bostock & Burgess' Arena of Exotic Beasts marks a return to the circus and variety stage, with upcoming appearances already earmarked for Europe and Reykjavík, Iceland.

Lil' Miss Lixx first came to the attention of New Yorkers in the Off Broadway hit This Is Burlesque. A popular figure on the New York City variety scene, she is a regular at Joe's Pub, Abrons Arts Center, the Slipper Room and in Coney Island's Burlesque at the Beach. Recently seen in Taylor Mac's 24 Decade History of Popular Music, she is also the co-producer and star of Dumpster Dive, held annually at Coney Island.

Acts appearing alongside Burgess and Lixx in this animal-themed extravaganza include Bambi the Mermaid, Amy G (La Soiree), burlesque stars Bunny Love, Zoe Ziegfeld, Cheeky Lane and Mr. Gorgeous (Mister Exotic World winner), circus performer Chris McDaniel, and neo-burlesque legend Dirty Martini. The event will be hosted by Miss Astrid (creator of The VaVaVoom Room).

Bostock & Burgess' Arena of Exotic Beasts promises to be an evening of wild and wonderful creatures presented by the very best of burlesque and circus talent.
Bostock & Burgess' Arena of Exotic Beasts at Sideshows by the Seashore, Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn. 7/14 10pm. $15 tickets available at Coneyisland.com.

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