In it’s 3rd year of “pepperminttasticness” Ricki Derek’s A Merry Little Christmas Show returns to the historic Lakewood Theater in Dallas on Saturday, December 17^th at 9:00 pm for one night. This show is designed to make you forget the stress of the holidays, get your feet tappin’, and your face smiling. It’s a tip of the hat to the great holiday TV specials the Sinatra, Bing, and Dino used to do. So come with bells on and Ring-A-Ding,Ding. This year’s Dallas show sponsored by Sfuzzi!

If having a swingin’ Christmas Show at the historic Lakewood Theater wasn’t enough, hows about….Ricki Derek and his Orchestra joined by special guests Melissa McMillan, Clate Bowen, Matt Tolentino, Louie The Elf (via satellite from the North Pole), The Velvet Kittens, and old St. Nick himself. Don’t miss it. Tickets on sale right now through the Lakewood Theater.

For more information about Ricki Derek’s A Merry Little Christmas Show, visit here.

The Goldsat National Nutcracker Award (aka the “Nutty”) is an annual contest of Nutcracker productions in the nation.  Each nominated Nutcracker is chosen “for being one of the most beloved Nutcrackers in the country.”

The “Burlesque Nutcracker” is written by Mark-Brian Sonna, and choreographed by the Velvet Kittens’ very own artistic director/choreographer Jana Edele and Mark-Brian Sonna of MBS Productions, and features it’s own Velvet Kittens cast!

To learn more about the annual “Burlesque Nutcracker” show and to reserve tickets, please visit here.

Visit the Velvet Kittens Sponsors:

Tickets now on sale!

November 25 – December 27, 2011

The Beulaville Baptist Book Club Presents: A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker!
By Mark-Brian Sonna

Are you tired of the typical Holiday shows? Come check ours out! The women of the Beulaville Baptist Book Club are in dire straits financially, and as a last ditch attempt to save their book club they decide to do a fundraiser and hire the Beaumont Ballet to perform Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”. Madge’s Piña Colada Casserole unfortunately sickens the entire cast with food poisoning and they are unable to perform. Luckily, there is another dance troop in town. It seems the Velvet Kittens Burlesque Dancers are stuck in Beulaville because their van broke down on their way to New Orleans. Madge has never heard of Burlesque, or as she pronounces it “Bur-less-Q”, and in an act of necessity hires the dance troupe to do “The Nutcracker”. The end result? The most original, unusual, and comical Nutcracker you have ever seen!

The show will be presented at the Stone Cottage Theatre, 15650 Addison Road, Addison TX 75001, 214-477-4942.

Directed by: Charles Ballinger

Choreography by: Mark-Brian Sonna (MBS Productions) and Jana Edele (The Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque)

Visit the Burlesque Nutcracker website here.

See what the critics are saying…

“The choreography by Mark-Brian Sonna and
Jana Edele, is ingenious, inspired and amusing. By turns graceful and bawdy, with just the right balance of edification and dance-hall shimmy.”
Christopher Soden – Edge Dallas

The Beulaville Baptist Book Club Presents: A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker is laugh out loud funny. The playwright/actor Sonna is insane, funny and smart.

A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker bumps and grinds its way to big laughs.”
Marilee Vergati – Examiner.com

“rollicking irreverent…
Once you’ve seen it, it will become a new (grown-up) tradition for your family every Christmas.”
Carol Anne Gordon, Associate Theatre Critic for John Garcia’s THE COLUMN

“Whoo-hoo!”
Gini Moscorro – KERA FM

“An unqualified hoot.
Highly recommended.”
Mike Orren – PegasusNews.com

“MBS Productions have shunned tradition and has delivered a new holiday favorite all wrapped up and tied up with a fishnet stocking.”
Lyle Huchton, Associate Theater Critic for John Garcia’s THE COLUMN

“MBS Productions lovingly spoofs ‘The Nutcracker,’ and the result is plum funny, sugar.”
-Mark Lowry, TheaterJones.com

“..is as ridiculously fun as its title suggests….
This is a ‘Nutcracker’ for anyone who always wanted to chuckle during the ballet but didn’t feel they could. Here, it’s encouraged.”
Arnold Wayne Jones – Dallas Voice

“MBS Productions’ A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker  transcends the conventional with gleeful delight and sends its audience out into the night with ho ho ho holiday hubba-hubba.”
Alexandra Bonifield – PegasusNews.com
 

“Nothing enlivens family holiday gatherings quite like a burlesque routine.”
Jessey Hughey - Dallas Observer

“See a naughty Nutcracker…The fictional Beaulaville is possibly the only place on earth not familiar with burlesque, and high comedy ensues when the characters (and the audience) get exposed to it.”
S. Anne Durham – Dallas Observer

Recipient of the 2008 Column Award Nomination as
BEST NEW PLAY OF THE YEAR

All students who attend the BBS “Don’t Tell Mama” workshop will have the opportunity to perform in the Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque’s annual holiday charity show Candyland! A Night of Sweets on Sunday, December 11^th at 7:00 pm in Dallas.

The Verandah Club is located at 2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, 75207.

Dance Audition is Sunday, October 30th at 5:00 pm.  All dancers are requested to RSVP for the audition (rsvp information listed at the end of the casting notice). Auditions will be at the Stone CottageTheatre, 15650 Addison Rd, Addison, TX 75001

We are looking for dancers for the upcoming events:

Theatre Production:

THE BEULAVILLE BAPTIST BOOK CLUB PRESENTS: A BUR-LESS-Q NUTCRACKER!

By Mark-Brian Sonna
Directed by Charles Ballinger
Choreography by Mark-Brian Sonna & Jana Edele
Dance auditions will commence at 5 PM, acting auditions will begin at 7 PM. Rehearsals begin November 1. The show runs November 25 through December 27 at the Stone CottageTheatre. To read more about this particular show, visit here.

Charity Show:

CANDYLAND! A NIGHT OF SWEETS

Choreographed/Directed by Jana Edele

Rehearsal schedule tbd to coordinate with cast availability.

Showdate Dec. 11, 2011

7:00 pm (Venue in Dallas, TX, tba)

On-going New Velvet Kitten Show:

VARIETY SHOW

Choreographed/Directed by Jana Edele

Rehearsal schedule tbd.  New show will feature a rotating cast of singers, dancers, comedians, and actors at a new venue in Dallas beginning in Jan. 2012.  Currently auditioning dancers only. Opening date: Jan. 2012

To attend Sunday’s auditions, please visit here, and at the bottom of the page please click on “Request an audition.”  Or email info@mark-briansonna.com or call 214-477-4942.

Special classes added to the October schedule! Available on Oct. 24 and 31, Intro to Tap Dance (tap shoes not required to attend…wear any type of shoes that you have and feel comfortable in dancing in!), Intro to Burlesque Body Sculpt ™, and learn a complete burlesque-cabaret style dance number in two classes to the new BBS workshop “Don’t Tell Mama!” 

NEW OCTOBER SCHEDULE

October 24/31

5:30 pm Intro to Tap (45 minutes)

6:15 pm Intro to Burlesque Body Sculpt ™ (30 minutes)

7:00 – 8:30 pm “Don’t Tell Mama” workshop Part I & II

NOVEMBER SCHEDULE 

NOVEMBER 7, 14, 21, 28

5:30 pm Intro to Tap (45 min)

6:15 pm “Don’t Tell Mama” Performance Prep class (45 min)

7:15 pm “Naughty and Nice Vixen” Workshop (60 min)

8:15 pm “Naughty and Nice Vixen” Performance Prep class (30 min)

RATES

PRE-REGISTRATION RATE IS FOR PAYMENT RECEIVED BY 6PM ON FRIDAY, OCT 21^st

Six-week inclusive price for all workshops

PRE-REGISTRATION $115.00 + tax (OR two installments of $57.50 + tax:  Oct 21/Nov 14)

Regular Registration $135.00 + tax (OR two installments of $67.50 + tax:  Oct 21/Nov 14)

Don’t Tell Mama Workshop only (not performing) (Oct. 24 & 31)

PRE-REGISTRATION $35

Regular Registration $50

Don’t Tell Mama Workshop & Performance Prep

PRE-REGISTRATION $65

Regular Registration $80

Naughty and Nice Workshop only (not performing)

PRE-REGISRATION $50

Regular Registration $65

Naughty and Nice Workshop & Performance Prep

PRE-REGISTRATION $75

Regular Registration $90

Intro to Tap/Intro to Burlesque Classes (included in all inclusive fee)

$10.00 drop-in for one; $15 for both in one night

Verandah Club members check with Cara for rates.

To register or questions, please call Cara Young at 214-761-7895; cara.young@hilton.com. Dallas BBS classes are at the Verandah Club (2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, 75207).

All students who attend a Burlesque Body Sculpt ™ workshop in September will have the option of continuing on to rehearsal classes and a performance opportunity in the Velvet Kittens of Le Cabaret Burlesque Variety Show on Oct. 22^nd, 9:00 pm at J. Gilligans (Arlington, Texas), benefiting the charity Save 2^nd Base (Breast Cancer).

Please check the links below for complete schedule of burlesque classes & workshops, additional adult dance classes & workshops, rates, and registration information.

For Dallas BBS Schedule & Info visit here.

For Fort Worth BBS Schedule & Info visit here.

For Additional Adult Dance Classes visit here.

Matthew Rubel/Rubel Photography

Recommended attire:  dance, yoga, or fitness wear.  Shoes not required. Wear tights or pants that cover the knee. Kneepads are also acceptable, as well as working on a yoga mat.

You can engage in Floorplay in Dallas at the Verandah Club (2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas 75207) on August 22 and 29, 7:00 – 7:30 pm.  Contact Cara to rsvp or for more information:  214-761-7895; cara.young@hilton.com.  $10.00 per class.

You can engage in Floorplay in Fort Worth at the Bombshell Dance Studio (1545 N. Main St, Fort Worth 76164) on all Saturdays in August at 10:30 – 11:00 am; on all Sundays in August at 2:00 – 2:30pm; & all Wednesdays at 8:00 – 8:30pm.  Pay for a month session of Floorplay for $30.00 (includes 4 Floorplay classes), or $10.00 per class. RSVP or for more info, bombshelldancestudio@yahoo.com, or 682-300-9150.

(Visit the Bombshell Dance Studio site for additional classes before or following Floorplay, including burlesque dance class, pole dance, lap dance basics, and hoop.)

This BBS workshop combines fun and flirty dance movement set to the song “School Boy Crush.”  BBS’s “Back to School” workshop is available Monday nights in Dallas, 7:30 – 8:30 pm, August 8, 15, 22, 29.

Floorplay is a 30-minute sexy fitness class with sassy dance moves on the floor, working abs, arms, and legs using flirtatious and slow dance movement.

To register or questions, please call Cara Young at 214-761-7895; cara.young@hilton.com. Dallas BBS classes are at the Verandah Club (2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, 75207).

August 8 & 15 schedules:

6:30 – 7:00 pm – Rehearsal Workshop for the Hot Seat I

7:00 – 7:30 pm – Rehearsal Workshop for Fedora Fever

7:30 – 8:30 pm – BBS workshop “Back to School” (Level I & II)

8:30 – 9:00 pm – Rehearsal Workshop for the Hot Seat II

9:00 – 9:30 pm – Rehearsal Workshop for Fedora Fab

August 22 & 29 schedules:

7:00 – 7:30 pm – Floorplay

7:30 – 8:30 pm – BBS workshop “Back to School” (Level I & II)

Rates if PAID ON pre-registration date of Aug 1^st:

Back To School! BBS Workshop (4 class series) $50

Any 1 Rehearsal Workshop (30 mins each; 2 class series) $30

Discounted packages (must be paid for ON Aug 1 for these rates):

Any 2 rehearsal workshops (4 classes): $50

Any 3 rehearsal workshops (6 classes): $60

All 4 rehearsal workshops (8 classes): $75

Back to School + 2 rehearsal workshops – $85

Back to School + 3 rehearsal workshops – $100

Back to School + 4 rehearsal workshops – $110

RATES AFTER AUGUST 1^st:

Back To School! BBS Workshop $65

Rehearsal Workshops: $20 PER 30 minute rehearsal

Floorplay* class = $10 each; no pre-registration required

*All students who attend one rehearsal workshop in August can attend Floorplay class for free in August!

Dress rehearsal at the Verandah Club for Aug. 21 show TBD either Friday night, Aug. 19 or Sat. Aug. 20 based on students’ schedules. In order to perform any of the dances, you MUST be able to attend all scheduled rehearsals! Dress rehearsal is optional.

Dancing, games, contests, and fun await you at the Bombshell Dance Party!  July’s Bombshell Dance Party includes the Bombshell Babe’s intro classes, Diva Dance Off, Pole Dance Performance, food/beverages, and more!

The Bombshell Babe’s Intro classes include:

~  Floorplay

~  Lap Dancing

~  Pole Dancing

~  Burlesque

The Diva Dance off is a freestyle contest to win the Bombshell’s ultimate prize!  No experience necessary to enter; a daring sense of adventure required!

To be a part of this Bombshell experience, all students must RSVP in advance. Cost:  $25.00 per person, all current Burlesque Body Sculpt ™ and Bombshell Dance Studio students receives the discounted rate of $10.00 per person. There are a limited number of students allowed on this guest list. RSVP ASAP!

How to RSVP:  Contact the Bombshell Dance Studio at 682-300-9150. Email at bombshell dance studio at yahoo dot com.  Visit the Bombshell Dance Studio here.

The Bombshell Dance Studio is located at 1545 N. Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76154.