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Burlesque profile: Little Brooklyn
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Little Brooklyn
Little Brooklyn's acts are as varied as the landscape of her namesake city. A true chameleon, she's barely recognizable from one disguise to the next. Unafraid, adventurous, she's been a mechanic, housewife, athlete, cavewoman, clown and The Thing from Fantastic Four, in a bikini.
JNU: How long have you been in Burlesque?
LB: I had been a fan of burlesque, vaudeville, circus arts and "low brow" live performance in general for a long time. When I was five years old, I would put on puppet shows in the backyard and charge the neighborhood kids a nickel to come see the puppets dance and take off their clothes. My first "real" gig, however, was go-going for DJ Jack Fetterman. Jack introduced me to Starshine Burlesque at Rififi, where I transitioned from front room go-go girl, to back room performer and eventually co-producer, a title I shared with the talented and lovely Creamy Stevens for a number of years.
JNU: What or who are your biggest inspirations and how do they translate into your act?
LB: The original inspirations that piqued my interested in burlesque and vaudeville started when I was a kid. I would watch The Muppet Show and envy Kermit for having his own theater. I’d sit entranced by those episodes of the Little Rascals where the gang decides to "put on a show!” Tex Avery had me titillated early Saturday mornings, with strip teasing shoes, a-peeling lizards and other blatant burlesque references. Benny Hill, Lucille Ball, Pee Wee Herman, MGM, the list goes on.
There is also Little Egypt: the original "hoochie-coochie" legend and my namesake. And everyone I've ever worked with: the backstage camaraderie is a major draw. It's like being in a band, only with a different sorta g-string.
JNU: Do you travel for work?
LB: Fortunately I am based out of my favorite town for catching burlesque, but I have had the wonderful fortune of visiting some beautiful people and places. Recent travels include headlining the 2009 Helsinki Burlesque festival in Finland, flying to Stockholm to join The Hootchy Kootchy Club at Sodra Teatern, teaming up with the cast at the Pink Door and the Heavens, both in Seattle, touring Vancouver with Chaz Royal and popping over to Connecticut to perform in New Haven's first burlesque show. Next up I am hitting the road with Clams Casino and heading south till we hit Florida for the Key West Holiday Extravaganza.
JNU: And if so, which show in which city was the most memorable?
LB: Helsinki sticks out because neo burlesque is still quite new there. There is a fresh and curious energy in the air.
JNU: How do you stay fit?
LB: Pizza and bagels.
When's your upcoming schedule in New York?
Next week, I am off to the glorious Two Boots Of Bridgeport for Filthy Gorgeous Burlesque.
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