Don’t Call Me Baby

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Updated: Thursday, September 18, 2008

COURTESY PHOTO

No Shame Theater will be presenting “Don’t Call Me Baby” Burlesque and Drag show, but first organizers are looking for people to audition for the show.

“It’s open to anyone and everyone, community members and alumni included,” said Assistant Director of the show Amy Garretson. Auditions will be Sept. 20 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Sept. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Communications Arts Center room 108.

Garretson and the rest of the planning committee realize that most people don’t know what burlesque really is. 

“Essentially, it is a variety and comedy show made up of comic sketches and lots of dance numbers, including drag and traditional dance numbers,” she said.

Garretson said that while this show will not take on the normal view of what burlesque is the show will still not be for children. 

“As far as what burlesque is, it’s not nudity, we will not have nudity in the show, but there will be adult content,” she said. “Burlesque is very different from the strip club scene we see today.”

Director senior Christina Carr said the show is meant to open people’s eyes. 

“The show is based on breaking the barriers that are set up by society that label people as gay, straight, bisexual, so it’s about showing those people’s individuality and not their label,” Carr said. “Showing who people are and not what they are. Getting rid of initial judgments based on social labels.” 

According to Garretson, there are many opportunities available. 

“People may audition for acting or dancing in group numbers or we can also use your help in back stage, lighting, and costuming,” Garretson said. “It’s the perfect venue for you to get your feet wet without the pressure.”

Carr added that people can also be involved in costuming, makeup and a variety of other ways.

There are ways that people can prepare for the audition. 

“People that wish to act but don’t have any original material should bring a prepared monologue, people that want to submit material can audition with the material they have written,” Carr said. “There will be group dance auditions on both days. Any other additional information can be found on Facebook, just search ‘don’t call me baby auditions.’”  

Garretson added that the dance routines will be taught in groups so people don’t need to be shy.

Carr does warn people wanting to audition that the show will be crossing many barriers. 

“The show is mature content, if you don’t feel comfortable with that, it’s probably not the show for you,” she said. “There will be a lot of boundaries we will be crossing, hopefully for the better of society. We will be pointing out issues and poking fun at things people take too seriously, or are uneducated about, like assumed masculinity and feminism and other stereotypes that society sees in people will also be educating people, as well.”  

The show is currently very dance heavy, according to Carr, but that they are open to including more original material including skits and songs.

Performance dates will be Dec. 5 to 7, and rehearsals will start in the middle of October. 

This is the second year that No Shame Theatre has produced a burlesque show. 

“It was wildly popular last year,” Carr said. “We had to actually turn people away so this year we are looking for a bigger venue for a bigger show.”

According to their Facebook page, No Shame theatre is a non-profit community organization, where almost everything is open to be performed as long as it doesn’t physically hurt the space or the people in it and is original.

Senior Sarah Buelow was involved last year as a dancer and actress. 

“I had a lot of fun working with the people,” she said. “Last year opened up a lot of minds to what burlesque is, it’s a lot of dance and sketch numbers. I think we changed a lot of people’s minds about that, opening up peoples minds to sexuality and broadened their horizons.”

Carr described last year’s show as a jumping off point. 

“This year we are more focused on theme. We learned a lot from last year and we’re going to make this show even better,” she said.