Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway, celebrates the holiday season with steamy retrotainment in a cozy speakeasy environment. Perfect for date night, holiday party or out-of-town guests, Uptown Underground is home to The Kiss Kiss Cabaret and Chicago Magic Lounge as well as other regular performers from burlesque to drag, cabaret to circus.
New to this year's seasonal offering include Muffy Fishbasket's "Afternoon T with the Queen," Live Read Movie Mondays: The Princess Bride & National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The "Big Red" Holiday Show, Belmont Burlesque Revue's "Jingle Belles: The Naughty List", "Fa La Frickin La", "Songs from My Holiday Closet", "Molly's Follies" and more.Uptown Underground is closed December 24-28. Chicago Magic Lounge will perform on Thursday, December 29 at 8 p.m. Uptown Underground is closed December 24-28. Chicago Magic Lounge will perform its regular show on Thursday, December 29 at 8 p.m. Show tickets to Uptown Underground performances range from $10 to $46 and include a full evening of entertainment and stocked bar. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the first performance every night. Check the website for specific show times. Uptown Underground is a 21 and over venue. For advanced tickets or information visit www.UptownUnderground.net.
8 p.m., Tickets: $19 - $39
A "Time Out Chicago" Critic's Pick, Raks Geek returns with a brand-new theatrical production: Monsters + Marvels. Though based in Chicago, the bellydance, fire, and flow arts company has made waves internationally on MSN, The Daily Mail, WGN-TV, "The Chicago Tribune", and UK Channel 4 TV through their commitment to blend a high degree of artistic and technical mastery with creativity and themes from science fiction, technology, research science, and comics. The bellydancers and fire spinners of Raks Geek have performed everywhere from Spain to Argentina and dance for hundreds of people every week.
Nov. 5 and Dec. 3
4 p.m., Tickets: $15
Serving up the latest dish from Uptown Underground, Muffy Fishbasket hosts special guests and drag queens with Fancy Bandit Brown & Olive Ali Oxenfree for the social event of the season. Tickets include customary offering of nibbles from BRIX Catering. November guests include 2014 Mr. IML Miguel Torres and "Feast of Fun/Cooking with the Drag Queen"'s Marc Melon & Fausto Ferno, plus Coco Sho-Nell. December guests include Hell In a Handbag's David Cerda and King of Burlesque 2013/Vertical Sideshow's Ray Gunn, plus Vallery Dolls.
Nov. 6
The Heart(breakers)
8 p.m., Tickets: $17
A high energy and exciting live music performance that focuses on badass women breaking hearts and bouncing back. This genre-hopping band features everything from Pat Benatar to Fiona Apple and Poe, from No Doubt to Zz Ward.
Nov. 8
Satire is Dead: An Electoral Jazz Funeral
7:30 p.m., Tickets: $10
The International Bedlam Society presents an evening of jazz, sketch, stand-up, burlesque, and booze - all the things you need to drown your sorrows this Election Night. While the political theatre is stretched to its most grotesque proportions, join us for cocktails, games and live music! We'll be streaming the travesty live all night. Take a chance to throw a pie at the Orange Menace. Pick from our special selection of crafty Edible Alchemy cocktails. Commiserate with friends and family
Nov. 11 and Dec. 9
9:30 p.m., Tickets: $15
Strip Joker features a roster of stand-up comics who bare it all in the spirit of totally vulnerable, inclusive, and uncensored comedy. Backed by Chicago's own guerrilla art movement, the "You Are Beautiful Campaign," Strip Joker presents some of Chicago's finest stand-up comedians revealing their candid stories about nudity, and also stripping down themselves.
Nov. 15 and Dec. 20
Stone Soup Salon: Amusement & Conversation
8 p.m., Tickets: $10
Johnny Modern & The Astronomers present a Parisian-style salon with performances featuring storytelling, modern dance, short film, drag, comedy, musicians, fine artists, burlesque, and variety performers. The evening closes with a guided discussion between the audience and performers centered on the theme of the evening; Nov. 15 is TRUTH and Dec. 20 is LOVE.
Nov. 18 and Dec. 9
8 p.m., Tickets: $20 - $25
Acrobatica Infiniti Circus presents "After Dark," an intimate variety show that blends cosplay and jaw-dropping circus acrobatics showcasing new works and fan favorites, from silly to sensual: fire eating, trapeze, straps, juggling, hula hooping, aerial ring, comedy, acrobatics, and more! Hailed by Newcity as "funny, thrilling, and surprisingly touching."AI Circus presents "Battle of the Stars" on Friday December 9th, at 8pm at Uptown Underground. Our talented acrobats and entertainers use the Force, travel the galaxy, and Boldly take you where no man has gone before. Witness a high flying Princess Leia, a contorting Stormtrooper, Belly dancing BB8, Captain Kirk and Spock acrobatics, and more! Search your feelings, and stay on target to get tickets to this one-of-a-kind show.
Nov. 21 and Dec. 19
Live Read Movie Mondays
Nov. 21: The Princess Bride
Dec. 19: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
8 p.m., Tickets: $15
Monday nights feature movie classics acted out LIVE, on stage and stripped down, with minimal props. The audience is invited to join in on memorable lines, famous songs, scenes and quirks.
Costumes welcome. Wear your favorite onesie on Nov. 21 or ugly holiday sweater on Dec. 19 and receive $5 off your first drink.
Nov. 25
The Black Friday Ball (An official Barlesque event)
8 p.m., Tickets: $25 - $30
From the inventive minds of The Vertical Sideshow comes a brand new creation: an immersive, unpredictable dance party - a neo-spectacle with live burlesque, dance, pole, drag, and acrobatics raging on throughout the night (with a few surprises thrown in for good measure!) The inaugural Black Friday Ball is a celebration of The Vertical Sideshow's two-year anniversary. The Black Friday Ball is also an official Barlesque event, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN). Creative attire HIGHLY encourage - Black & White Couture.
Dec. 2
The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque
8 p.m., Tickets: $20 - $50
A twist on the original ballet, this combination fairy tale and exotic trip highlights the world of burlesque, boylesque, drag, magic, sword balancing, fire, lyra, ballet and more. The audience follows Clara and her Buttcracker from a boring Christmas party on a wild hallucinogenic trip to the Land of Sweets, all orchestrated by the Magician Drosselmeyer.
Directed and choreographed by Foxie La Fleur, featuring EV Velour as Clara, Ron Burch as Drosselmeyer, Bo'Dasia DeViant as The Buttcracker, and Otter Chaos as The Sugar Plum Fairy. With solo acts devised and created by Miss Claira Bell, Eva La Feva, Gaea Lady, Emma Glitterbomb, and Evelyn Tensions. Ensemble includes Stevie Knickers, Kamani Eshita, and Cyn Cat. Costumes by Greta von Tapp. Sound by Gail Gallagher.
Co-produced by Tom Boi Theatricals and The Cuckoo's Theater Project.
Dec. 5
No Big Deal Cabaret
8 p.m., Tickets: $20
Celebrate the Holidays with the boys of No Big Deal as they bring their unique acapella style and fun loving energy to Christmas tunes both old and new.
Dec. 10
Holidays with Chris & Mags
4 p.m., Tickets: $15
Music with Mags and Chris is an acoustic duo that loves to sing, harmonize, and creatively piece songs together to create "mash-ups" and medleys, and THIS is our Holiday show. You'll laugh, maybe cry and definitely wonder how does the time fly so fast "when you're having so much fun!" Join us for an afternoon of classic tunes, new spins on old loves, a few surprises and probably a sing-a-long... or two. This is a family friendly show and we welcome any attire that puts you in the Holiday Spirit!
Dec. 11 and Dec. 12
8 p.m., Tickets: $20 - $30
Songstress powerhouse Meghan "Big Red" Murphy presents an evening of holiday-themed songs, stories, sexiness and sass. Known for her a razor-sharp wit, and stage presence reminiscent of Old Hollywood glamour, Hedy Weiss of the "Chicago Sun -Times" calls Murphy, "A sparkling redhead with a dynamite voice." From pop to jazz, blues to folk, soul to showtunes, Big Red will have you laughing, crying, and begging her for more.
Dec. 16
Belmont Burlesque Revue presents "Jingle Belles: The Naughty List"
8 p.m., Tickets: $20
Chicago's spiciest sugar-plums return to the stage with their fan-favorite holiday revue including The Fan-Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies, The Carol of the Boobs sung by Chicago's Largest Topless Choir, The Mostly Naked Horah and more. The evening is hosted by Ms. Pixy with Giant Martini and featuring the Belmont Bombshells with special guest vocalists and striptease artists.
Dec. 18
Fa La Frickin La
7 p.m., Tickets: $20
"Fa La Frickin La" is a one-of-a kind holiday review featuring original lyrics, old favorites and little known holiday gems. Cabaret artist Kevin Wood, presents this irreverent look at the holidays as he searches to find the joy of the season and the message that's buried beneath all the trimming, gift wrap and commercial hype.
Dec. 21
Songs from My Holiday Closet
8 p.m., $15 - $25
Back by popular demand, "Songs from My Holiday Closet" is a night of heartwarming and hilarious "HoliGay" music featuring the original songs of Larry Todd Cousineau. This festive revue, created by the award-winning lyricist, stars LT Cousineau, Ashlee Hardgrave, and musical director (and multiple Jeff Award nominee) Jimmy Morehead. The clever tunes feature the music of composers Jake Anthony, Russ Coutinho, Bill Johnson, James Morehead, Cindy O'Connor, Mike O'Mara, and Patrick Sinozich.
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