Suicide Girl’s Blackheart Burlesque Tour
Body Positive, Raucous, and Sexy: Blackheart Burlesque Takes Over The Neighborhood Theatre
As they are now in full swing on their Spring Tour, the Blackheart Burlesque team made a stop in Charlotte, NC at the Neighborhood Theatre. They kicked off their three month, 60 city tour on the West coast at the beginning of March, pushed across the midwest, took the southbound route into Florida, and now they are making their way up the east coast. I will give you a piece of advice: if you want to see them this go around, you better go ahead and grab some tickets as soon as you can. The tickets are going fast and they are packing houses everywhere they go.
As the vision of Missy Suicide in 2001, the Suicide Girls have developed into a worldwide phenomenon. I had a chance to speak to Missy this week out in LA to get some thoughts from her about her original vision, current state and the future of Suicide Girls.
Time with Missy Suicide:
Shutter 16: What was your original vision when the idea of Suicide Girls came to you?
Missy Suicide: I wanted to create a space where women could come together, sharing their unique beauty, their minds, and their bodies. It was important to me to have a place where they could share their thoughts and feelings, get real with each other, and have somewhere that they could find one another.
S16: 2001 was different time than we are in now; did you run into any challenges starting out?
Missy: Well, there wasn’t really any social media at the time like there is now. No smart phones. Phones were really big bricks back then. People then had the feeling that when you put something online, that it might be used against you, so there was a lot of concerns the girls had back then. They were really pioneers in the real of social media. Once they started sharing, the members became more comfortable over time, and they really broke the early barrier and were really brave in doing so.
S16: I have heard there have been some special moments already on the tour this year. Can you share one of those special moments with us?
Missy: I can share two with you. On our Oklahoma City stop, we had a couple join us that night. They had met at one of our shows two years earlier. They wanted to come back and join us again, but this time they wanted to make it even more special of an evening. They actually ended up getting engaged at our show. The other special moment for me personally was that I, for the first time ever, got to spend a few days on the bus with the girls. The bus had always scared me a little bit. I am claustrophobic. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. It was actually like a big slumber party. I spent two days on the bus. I thought I would ease into it.
S16: It has been 17 years since your original vision. How do you feel about where that vision has taken Suicide Girls?
Missy: I have been really feeling good especially in the last six months. We have been getting so much positive feedback about what we have been doing. We are having a lot of repeat attendees because they are enjoying the shows so much. It is empowering women to accept themselves and not be ashamed or embarrassed of their bodies. They see our girls dancing and expressing themselves, and they feel confident and beautiful as well.
S16: Why do you think you have been getting so much positive feedback lately?
Missy: Like-minded people are coming together more these days. People are taking stock of what they used to take for granted and are appreciative of things more so. They are more comfortable in standing up for what they believe in. Other people are pushing the boundaries these days and society has caught up with what I had originally envisioned for Suicide Girls.
S16: What does the future hold for Suicide Girls and Blackheart Burlesque?
Missy: Who knows? We have started the completion of plans for our Fall Tour. It will probably be another 60 city tour. We will have different girls and so new routines to keep things fresh. After that, video games, reality tv, a permanent club space for the girls, there is really no limit.
S16: Is there anything that you would like to tell the fans out there?
Missy: I would thank everyone for all their support, and if they have a chance to come out and see a show, to please come out. If you miss us this time, be on the lookout for us for the Fall Tour.
A few years ago, I saw some videos of girls dancing with Stormtrooper Helmets in a Star Wars theme. Being a huge Star Wars fans, I had to look more into this. I found out that it was the Suicide Girls Blackheart Burlesque team. I looked them up and saw they were going to come to Charlotte on Halloween and few years ago. I figured I would give it a shot. After seeing their show, the Force was with me, and I quickly became a fan.
I was really excited to hear they asked Shutter 16 to come out to see them. The word came down, and I jumped at the opportunity, especially since I knew my favorite international Suicide Girl of all time, Peneloppe Suicide, was back on tour with the troupe.
One could only hope that I might get the opportunity to say hello. As we got prepared for the show, I found out I would get that chance. I was able to get in to the VIP meet and greet. So, if you want a chance to meet your favorite Suicide Girl, go ahead and spring for the package. It is well worth it, and you will get early access and a chance to chat with the girls and get a nice photo with the entire group.
My lucky night, as an early birthday present, I got to meet, get a hug, and a photo with Peneloppe. I could tell if you got to spend more time with them, it would be a guaranteed great time. They seemed to have good chemistry together, and they seemed to really enjoy talking with the fans.
Miss Sunny Holiday was the host for the evening, and she introduced Lindsey Jenningz to get the crowd warmed up with her stand up routine. I am convinced that to be able to stand up in front of a crowd of people, and do comedy must be the most terrifying thing anyone could do. I also think we are losing our sense of humor in the age of PC. Well, Lindsey came out pushing the limits right from the start. Talking about taboo fantasies. Her sex life, and a touchy subject for a lot of people, abortion. After she completed that section, she wiped her brow and let our a deep sigh and said, “I survived the abortion jokes.” Her style may not be for the faint of heart, but we all have to lighten up and laugh, especially at things that are dark. She did a great job, and the crowd responded to her.
One thing you can count on with a Blackheart show is you will have a good time. Their routines are set around pop culture icons. Star Wars, Star Trek, Michael Jackson, a little light domination and submission thrown in for good measure, and of course strip tease. The girls leave it all on the stage as they dance and interact with the crowd, their articles of clothing being hurled up 15 feet in the air as they theatrically disrobe.
The crowd seemed to really enjoy the disrobing part, as they let their pleasure show with screams and whistles. Crowd participation is mandatory at a Blackheart show. You might even get lucky enough to get called onto the stage for some real up close and personal attention.
I don’t want to give too much away and ruin the surprise for those who are going to see upcoming shows, but they had three different sections of the show where they brought audience members on stage. I will say it this way, if they call for volunteers, you might want to forget about your inhibitions and go for it. You will not regret it.
Do you like great music, cool costumes, beautiful tattooed women, and naughtiness?
If you don’t, well, I am not sure what to say about that. If you do, then you have to get out and see the girls on tour with Blackheart Burlesque. The Spring Tour will run until mid May. You still have a number of dates to get out and see the ladies as they work the east, weave their way back across the midwest, and finish up this tour back home in LA. Miss Sunny Holiday let it slip that they will be coming back to Charlotte on their Fall Tour, so I am already looking forward to see what they bring us next.Get your babysitters lined up, open your mind, and make plans to come out and see them the next time they come back to visit us.
