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Gorilla Tango's $500 GTT BURLESQUE THING Begins Tonight, Sept 12

By: Sep. 12, 2012
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Sequins sparkle and the feathers will fly at Gorilla Tango Theatre this September as a host of local burly-q queens face off in the second ever $500 GTT BURLESQUE THING performing Wednesdays at 9pm, tonight, September 12-26, 2012. Tickets are $15; to purchase tickets visit www.gorillatango.com or 773-598-4549. 18 and over only. 

The latest in a long line of Gorilla Tango arts-based competitions, the $500 GTT BURLESQUE THING follows on annual traditions such as the $1000 Improv Thing and the $500 Stand-Up Thing, to name a few. In each competition the audience votes and the winner takes home the titular cash prize. Runners up receive... giant hot dogs. No joke. (http://www.bighotdog.com/)

"Given the success of these past competitions," says producer Kelly Williams, "and the recent explosion of Gorilla Tango Burlesque, it just made sense to offer an opportunity like this to Chicago's outstanding Burlesque community."

And the community is certainly represented, with established Chicago performers such as Donna Touch and Tila Von Twirl (of The Amazing Bendable Posable Dolls of Doom), competing along-side relative newcomers to the scene such as Phaedra Black-- a Vaudezilla Vixen-- and a variety of independant performers including  Vivi Valens, Ray Ray Sunshine, Lucy Flawless, Bella Bathory, James Lean, Boobs Radley and many more!

Continuing the Gorilla Tango Burlesque tradition of audience involvement, each audience member will be given 3 beads they can use to vote for their three favorite performers in each Round 1 performance.

"We've found this keeps things fair but still lets fans support their favorite performer," says Executive Producer Katie Johnson-Smith, who has overseen previous Gorilla Tango $$$ Things.

The top 3 vote-getters in each Round 1 performance (held on September 12 and 19 at 9pm) will advance to the Round 2 Finale on Wed, September 26 at 9pm.

"Competitors will be doing everything from comedic to classic to neo-burlesque numbers," says MsPixy, "It's a really fun group, and we're delighted to be hosting such a diverse mix of talent from across the city's burlesque scene.  Regardless of who takes home the prize we all know that it's the audience who really wins in this situation (she claps her hands with delight).  I can't wait!"

Co-hosted by non-competing GTB Geek Girls Juicy Luicy and Hazel Hellbender, each performance will also include a tip break so audiences can show their appreciation by sending every performer home with a little beer money (tipping is voluntary and does not affect the vote outcome).  

Tickets are $15 at www.gorillatango.com

Since October 2010, Gorilla Tango Burlesque has gone from the debut of the surprise hit “Boobs & Goombas: A Super Mario Burlesque” to a Chicago burlesque/comedy powerhouse with tens of thousands of audience members through the door to see unique burlesque parodies of everything from Star Wars (“A Nude Hope: A Star Wars Burlesque”) to Indiana Jones (“Temple of Boobs: An Indiana Jones Burlesque”) to fantasy films and RPGs (“Fellowship of the Boobs: an LOTR, WoW, D&D, RPG Burlesque”)-- and that's just a small selection of what they have available for-- as their slogan states-- "the Discerning Nerd." GTB was recently distinguished as the “Best Burlesque Troupe” in the Chicago Reader’s 2012 poll, and has recently begun residencies of its popular burlesque parodies in other towns throughout the USA, including “Boobs & Goombas: A Super Mario Burlesque” in New Orleans in Fall 2012!

Gorilla Tango Theatre (GTT) provides year-round theatrical venues where audiences of all ages can consistently go to see a wide variety of talented artists. GTT exists to provide artists with an opportunity to produce their work in professional environment. GTT was created by Dan Abbate and boasts two venues: an 80-seat performance space in Bucktown and a 150-seat performance space in Skokie. GTT Bucktown is conveniently located at the intersection of Western and Milwaukee in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. Easily accessible by public transportation, GTT is steps away from the Western Blue Line stop and the #49 Western, #73 Armitage and #56 Milwaukee buses. Street parking is readily available.  Gorilla Tango’s Skokie Theatre is located in the heart of Downtown Skokie; street and lot parking available. With shows for all ages, all GTT performances are on a rating system, similar to the one used in movie theatres. GTT offers a variety of affordable beer and wine for purchase. Consult the website for show details, rating information, tickets, and more.



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