Telluride Theatre presents: BURLESQUE

Live at the Historic Sheridan Opera House

8 p.m. Nightly

Two totally different shows. Four nights of fun!

MARCH 23 & 24 – CHEAP THRILLS

$35, $40, $100 VIP TABLE SEAT

MARCH 25 & 26 – THE VEGAS STRIP

$45, $55, $150 VIP TABLE SEAT

TICKETS

www.telluridetheatre.org

AGES: 21+ only

Starting out as a class 12 years ago for 11 women, Telluride Theatre’s annual fundraiser has grown into a winter of education, creation and rehearsals, culminating in home-grown performances. Burlesque resurrects the raucous and raunchy variety shows of Telluride’s vaudeville era, featuring dancing, comedy, and talented local women. 30+ ladies are participating in Burlesque this year (and a few brave men). The Beginning Class has 13 women of all ages learning the art of Burlesque throughout the

winter. Over 6 weeks of classes, taught in collaboration with the Ah Haa School, the ladies learned to shimmy, shake, strut, strip and tease. Their graduation show is the CHEAP THRILLS performances Wednesday March 23 and 24. Sasha Cucciniello & Melissa Harris have taught the class together since its

inception. “Burlesque has become its own family in Telluride. It’s a rite of passage for many, a way to explore our fierce feminine sensual power. Burlesque is a celebration, women coming together to honor who we are, our bodies and femininity,” states the class founder and show director Sasha Cucciniello. “The women who take this class all take it for different reasons. But everyone comes out changed. We all do.” CHEAP THRILLS is a showcase of their work; each student comes up with a character, creates their own piece and even makes their own pasties as part of the class.

On Friday March 25 & Saturday March 26, THE HOUSE OF SHIMMY SHAKE—the “advanced” women of Burlesque—present a new original Burlesque show, THE VEGAS STRIP, a romp through sin city. All things Vegas... strip! “After a few years of performing Burlesque we had many women who wanted to move to the next level; start performing at a higher level. That is when the “advanced” show was started. We came up with the troupe name The House of Shimmy Shake and have continued to grow. The women in the HOUSE OF SHIMMY SHAKE are serious Burlesque performers who dedicate their lives to the art form,” Cucciniello says. “Every year there is a small steering committee who comes up with the theme of the show. Vegas has been on the table for a few years now and we just thought everyone needed an over-the-top celebration as we are getting back to inside. This feels like a totally different, slick, sexy show. We have changed our format a bit and are adding some extra sexy surprises for the audience.”

To purchase tickets, please visit TellurideTheatre.org

Telluride Theatre is dedicated to creating a thriving theatrical presence in the Telluride region by producing original company-driven professional work, culturally relevant community theatre, and year-round education programs. We create theatre that lives in moments of truthful human connection, promotes joyful celebration and is an open dialogue, accessible to all audiences.