Ben Vereen is an American actor, dancer and singer whose accomplishments include numerous Emmy’s, Golden Globes and Broadway theatre shows, to name a few. Despite his successful career, Vereen was the subject of much controversy in 1981 when he performed in blackface at the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. The following article highlights some of [...]
The Richmond Institute of Burlesque recently hosted their Aim to Tease Student Showcase at the Canal Club in Richmond, Virgina. This venue has served the Richmond Varietease, one of Virginia’s premiere variety shows, for more than two years. On July 29, however, local authorities decided to put an abrupt end to the local burlesque tradition [...]
Everyone has their own way of celebrating victories for equal marriage rights, and Coney Island just wouldn’t be Coney Island if they didn’t deliver an appropriately eccentric night of entertainment in honor of such an event. In what promises to be one of the more innovative (and relevant) burlesque events of the year, Coney’s Burlesque [...]
When you take your seat at a circus and are confronted with death-defying stunts, as well as a spectacular array of sequins and glitter, union organization may be the last thing on your mind. Rest assured, however, that trade unions have influenced the development of the circus, just as they have with many major forms [...]
When President Obama derogatorily referred to Donal Trump as a “sideshow” and a “carnival barker” last week, many in the community were appalled. CNN was quick to jump on the publicity bandwagon, and promptly released the following video: While I do not condone Obama’s use of these words in such a manner, I also am [...]
Street performers don’t have it easy. Although some cities are better than others, most public entertainers can testify that it’s a tough business. In Austin, for example, despite the city’s glowing reputation as a haven for artists and musicians, it is perfectly normal to see a tarot reader or sword swallower reprimanded by police (often [...]
Circus Amok is a NYC-based political performance troupe that explores the boundaries of political progressivism, gender-bending and good old-fashioned circus fun. The troupe was founded by Jennifer Miller, who served as The Coney Island Sideshow by the Seashore’s Bearded Lady for seven years. Since 1989, Jennifer has been organizing to bring free outdoor entertainment to [...]