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San Antonio Burlesque Festival
Gone are the days when the image of burlesque is a pale vixen with a very large feather. From bearded drag to sideshow, today’s burlesque stars look beyond the birdcage for routines with an empowering punch and for two nights, only those stars will make San Antonio their playground. Now in its fourth year, the San Antonio Burlesque Festival has gained momentum since its early days as a mostly local and regional showcase. Today’s iteration of SABF packs a wild wallop, offering more than 60 performances of classic and neo-burlesque acts with renowned headliners from across the country. The Friday Night Showcase features performances from a bevy of local performers, as well as Ruby Rage, a New Orleans performer that sent shockwaves through the burlesque community after she lost her regular gig over her weight. The evening concludes with a number from burlesque legend Judith Stein. Things heat up for the Saturday Night Spectacular as dozens of local and national acts stretch the boundaries of burlesque and vie for titles such as Best Duo, Best Costume and Most Creative. Headlining the evening is Miss Indigo Blue (Miss Exotic World 2011). The famous headmistress of Seattle’s Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque also teaches a Saturday workshop in the art of tassel twirling. $20-$50, doors at 7pm, show at 8pm Fri-Sat, Woodlawn Theatre, 1920 Fredericksburg, (210) 267-8388, sanantonioburlesquefest.com. — Murphi Cook
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