Skill Focus Show to Feature Horror and Humor

Posted on by Thor

On Friday September 12, Skill Focus Burlesque will feature “Horror” at The Venue (511 Virginia Drive Orlando FL).
Halloween will kick off early this year with your favorite nerdy burlesque troupe! This Burlesque show will be a sexy celebration of all things horror! They plan to  summon classic characters from all over the horror genre. Your worst nightmares have never been so scintillating!

I went to a rehearsal on the East side of town. When I drove into the housing development, I realized I had been here for quite a few parties at a home just a block away from the rehearsal space. This town keeps shrinking. Inside, I heard loud laughter, so I knew the rehearsal had started. I walked past the seamstress who was working on refining costumes in the living room. On stage, the performer was covered in blood with a nasty open mouth where her stomach was. At the moment of the big unveiling,  comical googly eyes dangled from springs where her nipples would have been. It was a hilarious routine and I wish I had gotten there early enough to sketch it. Rosita Sparkles didn’t recognize me to I had to introduce myself.

From her, I discovered that the rehearsal was half over. Oh, Damn! I had to sketch a double speed just to get something on the page before the rehearsal was over. I quickly sketched Rosita’s witch routine when she first started dancing fully cloaked. The music was from Beetle Juice and she had on long black and white stockings that were removed with ample flourish to the beat of the music. I was in panic mode the whole time. The rehearsal flowed by a a breakneck pace.

The sound technician who was supposed to get the music mix ready had dropped the ball. Ruby Darling quickly ran through the music that would accompany the group dance numbers. These group dance numbers were quickly blocked out on the fly. One of the last numbers involved the whole cast downing jello shots and then the Horror vibe switched to a sultry 60s dance party. I was surprised that the sketch was done before the rehearsal wrapped up. Ruby Darling started addressing the Troupe about issues that came up at the last performances at Nerd Fest. This was all inside drama that doesn’t need to be aired in public. I politely excused myself and slipped away. Lightning flashed on the horizon as I drove home.

When:
Friday, September 12th
Doors open at 10 pm
Show starts at 11 pm.

Where:
The Venue Orlando
511 Virginia Drive
Orlando, FL 32803

Tickets:$10 General Admission
$15 VIP Seating
Tickets available at the door or in advance.

18+ only

Skill Focus Burlesque Presents: Computer Crash Course

Posted on by Thor

I went to a rehearsal for Skill Focus‘ Computer Crash Course. his nerdy burlesque show will be about memes, cats,  internet celebrities and everything else you need to know about computers. I was surprised that the rehearsal space was a suburban home only 5 minute drive from my home. Skill Focus: Burlesque, voted the Best Theater Company in the Orlando Weekly 2013 Best of pole,  is Orlando’s one and only Nerdy Burlesque troupe.
These ladies and gents combine their love of all things geeky with the
sass and comedy of old-school burlesque, all while aiming to put on the
most epic show you’ve ever seen.

The second I arrived, the full run through got started. An announcer began to describe exactly how burlesque should be done. Lita LaRoux acted out the poses described to comic effect. She interacted with her feather boa like she was wrestling a snake. She went through the entire routine like it was her first time which was charming and funny at the same time. She finally did disrobe to display a bright pink corset. That as well came off with a luxurious flourish.

Dahlia Ivory Paige performed as Carmin Sandieo in a long red trench coat and wide brim hat that made her look like a femme fatale from a Film nuor. She was the one performer who sang while she did her burlesque act. She actually had a really good singing voice which in itself is worth the price of admission. Her act was a bit darker and more mysterious that the others which are usually comical. A male performer, Fifi Latio, performed as a pirate. A bright red wig and eye patch completed his look. Come show day he will be covered in glitter. I discovered a new word at the rehearsal. “Derp” seems to refer to an
awkward charm that comes when things don’t work out as expected.


Rosita Sparkles nailed the funniest burlesque of the evening. She performed as a crazed cyber girlfriend who will stalk her man and never let him go. She had a maniacal wide eyed gaze that made her every move hilarious. She had an audience member help her remove a glove and then she clutched the glove refusing to let it go. She didn’t just disrobe, she literally ripped off her clothes in a crazed passion. Ruby Darling, Skill Focus’ fearless leader had bright blue hair. She took notes about every performance so that they could be tweaked and improved before the show. Every performer develops their own routine and the results are often inspired. Ruby’s routine was set in the wild west and she had a flourish of skirts worthy of the Moulin Rouge or a raw unbridled western stage show.

Post rehearsal notes included how to step out of a skirt which involves lowering the skirt all the way to the floor while showcasing plenty of leg and keeping the butt elevated. There was one technical difficulty when Rosita couldn’t undo her corset. Ruby demonstrated how these clasps can become tangled and locked. Any guy might identify with the dilemma of trying to unclasp a bra and discovering that is refuses to give way. There is a technique of pushing away in a scooping motion that will free the clasp every time. There were many more acts that I described, so expect to be surprised.

Mark your calenders! Skill Focus Presents: Computer Crash Course will be performed on July 19th at The Venue, 511 Virginia Drive, Orlando FL at 10pm. 18+ ONLY! The Venue has a full bar for those 21and older.

Tickets:
$15 VIP front row seating
$10 General admission
Tickets available in advance at sfbcomputercrashcourse.eventbrite.com. It is going to be a wild and hilarious ride!

Avengers ASSemble

Posted on by Thor

I went to a rehearsal for “Avengers ASSemble.” This will be a burlesque show put on by Skill Focus: Burlesque, themed after the recent blockbuster hit.” The cast, featuring, Ruby Darling , Rosita Sparkles, Cherry Bob-omb,, Syber Digit, Shy LaBuff , Nekkid RoboJoe and Stephen Focking were going to assemble at Theater Downtown (2113 North Orange Avenue.) When I arrived at 9pm, Ashley Small, the Skill Focus stage manager, was the only person in the theater’s lounge. She looked like she was in charge, so I asked her if I was in the right place. The room was a furnace, partly because I had just walked several blocks from Ethos Kitchen.  She informed me that the cast had a multilevel stage to work with and that tonight would be an undress rehearsal of sorts.

Cherry Bob-omb went into the theater, and I decided to follow and check out the stage. The theater itself was thankfully cool. I immediately found a seat and started sketching the complex set with it’s multitude of levels. The cast assembled all at once and they quickly got into costumes. Syber Digit was the first out of the dressing room and she had on an awesome Thor outfit, complete with a large hammer. She relaxed on the set and I was exited to sketch my namesake. Ruby came out in her black wig and a stunning red and gold, Iron Man themed outfit. She asked the cast at hand to pose with her and I sketched frantically. I was self conscious about how much time I was taking, so my hands flew.

Stephen Focking had a vintage WWII helmet painted blue with the letter A inscribed on it. He found a  large Tupperware lid in the dressing room and he used it as his Captain America shield. Each performer in turn went through their strip tease. Each item of clothing was telegraphed and the gyrations accentuated. This troupe has a wonderful way of taking an age old tradition and making it fun and playful. You will scream, holler and cheer as they shake it down Marvel style! The performance will be at Theater Downtown on Saturday May 12th. Doors open at 10pm and the show starts at 11pm. Tickets are $10 at the door or in advance.  There will be an after party in the lobby with the cast.