Burlesque relies heavily on the art of the tease. Drag, the gender-bending art form, requires charisma and nerve. Combine them both, and the result is a splendid, sultry, and bold night out filled with salacious comedy known as The Stardust Revue.
This Saturday, they headline Duffy’s Tavern for their Halloween-themed extravaganza. Doors open at 9 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m.
"It's cultivating creativity in our local community, as well as bringing in folks from out of town and new acts from out of town to come and see what Chico has to offer."- Producer and performer of The Stardust Revue, Kasandra Partain
The new burlesque and drag group in Chico came together this past December after the closing of a local favorite LGBTQ+ friendly bar with a primary goal of providing an inclusive and safe space, where self-expression is accepted.
"It's cultivating creativity in our local community, as well as bringing in folks from out of town and new acts from out of town to come and see what Chico has to offer," producer and performer Kasandra Partain said.
Partain, along with Jessica Patterson, Ariel Santos, and Ryan Littlefield, all met while performing at The Maltese. They are performers as well as producers of The Stardust Revue.
The Maltese was one of the only venues in town that openly celebrated the queer community — its closure was a massive loss for both the group and its patrons.
The bar closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic after 12 years of serving the community.
"I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear the last time we performed," Patterson said. "It was the first bar that I really went to by myself because I knew my community was there, and I felt safe."
The team of the Stardust Revue all met while performing at The Maltese. When it closed its doors, Patterson said it was important to the group that they carried on its legacy.
"I think we just wanted to carry on and make sure that there was a safe place for people to do whatever art they want," Partain said. "Because we're not limiting it to burlesque and drag."
But the newly formed collaboration was without a home amid a pandemic. The group had to reimagine ways to connect with their audience.
"It was definitely hard, and I had just started burlesque. My first show was in July of 2019." Patterson said. "I was just figuring things out, hitting my groove, and exploring who my character was."
Lockdowns made it difficult for burlesque artists to perform — especially via Zoom.
"I did some online shows with my troupe back in Humboldt County," Santos said. "I didn't like doing the virtual shows, it didn't feel the same, and it actually kind of made me feel more sad."
Shaken up by the perils and tribulations surrounding them, the group decided to begin production on a new show. Luckily, they would find a new home.
This past February, they made their debut back on stage to a packed house at Duffy’s Tavern in downtown Chico.
"We were able to see a whole other community of Chico come out that we haven't seen at the Maltese before, (it) is a bit of a different demographic," Partain said.
The group works extra hard to balance different styles to foster an environment of safety and inclusivity. Making sure every show isn’t like the other, they hope they can bring not only variety but a sense of belonging.
"We cast a wide variety of people and performers; we try to get cast a lot of BIPOC performers as well," Patterson said. "We don't want to go with what seems to be the standard at some different reviews or shows that we see."
The group discussed different ways to be more inclusive, including making it a primary goal to ensure the show is representative of that.
"You're not going to see the same performer in the same act, one right after the other, everyone's got their own different flavor, their own interpretation of it, and that's really special to see on the stage," Patterson said.
By creating an open environment, the group hopes those lurking in the audience will take the dive and garner the courage to join them on stage. The group welcomes those seeking to explore their talents and encourages them to try out for the show.
Ultimately, Hurricane Fran, Starlett Eve, Lulu Fatale, and Ryan Rulet want to ensure that as they pour their hearts and share these erotic, tantalizing performances on stage, you leave with a smile, an understanding and the feeling of belonging.
“I think what's so important about continuing to do these shows and producing them is we’re in control, this is our baby, and we're so passionate about it.” Santos said. “And we're, you know, we're the ones that make or break this.”
