Photo Flash: First Look at PRETENCION Off-Broadway at Elektra Theatre

Following sold out performances in LA and a critically acclaimed run at the undergroundzero festival in 2009, comes the Off-Broadway premiere of Pinchbottom's PRETENÇIÓN, UN CIRQUE DE BURLESQUE, UN BURLESQUE DE CIRQUE, a satiric new play that looks at the pomp and spectacle that is "Cirque" theatre. Pinchbottom's PRETENÇIÓN is written and directed by Jonathan Van Gieson, co-directed by Jeremy X. Halpern and began preview performances March 31 prior to an official press opening of April 14 at the Elektra Theatre (669 Eighth Avenue, btw 42nd and 43rd Streets) in Times Square. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below!

Pinchbottom's PRETENÇIÓN is, according to its creator, Jonny Porkpie, "the place where Mystery sits at a table with Elegance and Imagination orders a round of cocktails before dinner, a world where those drinks are served by a pompous clown. It is a sensual quest for an imaginary yet sexy element that turns burlesque performers from 'Jerkques' (ordinary people) into self-important 'Cirques': infuriatingly magical, unendurably spellbinding artistes who peel away the mundane with every layer of clothing."

Since 2004, Pinchbottom has been praised for its groundbreaking hybrid of legit theater and neo-burlesque, integrating striptease into a scripted narrative much in the same way a musical integrates songs. "New York's masters of theater/burlesque fusion" (Burlesque Magazine) have been named "Best Burlesque" by New York Magazine and dubbed "The Best Burlesque Show in Town" by The Village Voice.

The cast of PRETENÇIÓN will feature a host of luminaries from the burlesque and theatre worlds, including: Broadway Brassy, Jonny Porkpie, Tansy, Tigger!, with Ivory Fox, Marcello Padilla, Lilly Hayes, a rotating cast of burlesque superstars including Angie Pontani, Dirty Martini, Jo "Boobs" Weldon, Julie Atlas Muz, Kristina Nekyia, Lux La Croix, Trixie Little and The Evil Hate Monkey, plus special guest appearances by Mat "Sealboy" Fraser and Mr. Murray Hill.

Design team for PRETENÇIÓN is Yehuda Duenyas (set design), Ben Kato (lighting design) and Machine Dazzle (costume design).

With performances beginning March 31 for an open-end run at the Elektra Theatre (669 Eighth Avenue, btw 42nd and 43rd Streets) in Times Square, Pinchbottom's PRETENÇIÓN will play Thursdays at 10pm and Sundays at 8pm. Tickets range from $25, $35, $59, and $79 and can be purchased online at www.Pinchbottom.com/tickets or by calling 866-811-4111.

Photo Credit: Allen Lee

Tigger! (as Tiggo The Traumatized Clown), Mr. Murray Hill and Jonny Porkpie

Tansy and Jonny Porkpie

Jonny Porkpie and Tansy

Tigger! and Jonny Porkpie

Jonny Porkpie, Tansy, Broadway Brassy and Tigger!

Tansy, Tigger! and Broadway Brassy

Tigger! and Broadway Brassy

Tigger!, Tansy, Broadway Brassy and Julie Atlas Muz