Presenting show concepts and ideas prepared by a Chicago contingent of burlesque dancers, aerialists, variety entertainers, and musicians. Hot Tawdry Presents, Feva Pitch Productions, and solo entertainers Dahlia Fatale and Shimmy LaRoux have created a series of visual spectacles that pull from the same pool of talented entertainers for multiple show concepts. Each concept offers strong, distinct visual element and opportunities for audience participation.
Show Pitches
Hot Britches Cafe (Hangar Stage)
Come for the jazz, stay for the drama! Peek into the scandalous lives of the patrons and staff of Hot Britches Cafe and watch their stories unfold to the sounds of live jazz. Inspired by a 1940s jazz club, VIP patrons will be seated onstage and interact with the performers themselves in this scripted show. Each performer will have their own storyline and relationships in this ensemble-driven show featuring solos, duets, and group numbers from burlesque, aerial, and variety performers featuring a 4-5 piece jazz/ blues ensemble.
RUN TIME: 90 Minutes, 2 acts with intermission (DJ in between sets)
COLOR PALATE: Black and white with splashes of red
Inspiration Board
Psychadelic Baptism (Chapel Stage)
Grab your fan and get ready to worship at the church of sequins, fringe, glitter and nudity in this anything-goes, down-and-dirty late night variety show. Our heavenly host will lead sinners and saints through a debaucherous mix of burlesque, sideshow, and circus acts, culminating in a dance party baptism for attendees and performers (either be a glitter makeup cross or a dip into the bathtub). Catch the spirit of the horny ghost during a 60s-70s funk rock dance party DJ before and after the show in this brightly colored, over-the-top spectacle.
RUN TIME: 60 minutes, 2 acts with intermission (DJ in between sets and after)
COLOR PALATE: Bright colors, over the top, 60s-70s attire
Inspiration Board
ENT-ter-tainment: A Lord of the Rings Cabaret (Chapel Stage)
Speak friend and enter into the Chapel (or Prancing Pony) when Electric Forest turns into Middle Earth for an evening of nerdy burlesque and Variety inspired by Lord of the Rings. Join our host Gandalf the Naked as she takes you through the unwritten pages of Frodo’s treacherous journey. Show will begin with a Lord of the Rings trivia or audience contest, with the winner receiving a small part in the show. Photo backdrops available.
RUN TIME: 60 minutes, 2 acts with intermission
COLOR PALATE: Inspired by the bright psychadelic LoTR fan art and Alan Lee sketches, 70’s/80’s cartoon, movies, books and films
Inspiration Board
The Production Team
Click on an artist's image to learn more.
Other Productions
Hot Tawdry Presents and Eva la Feva (Feva Pitch Productions) produce other events in Chicagoland and beyond. In addition, they have cultivates relationships with Hendricks Gin, Jaegermeister, and Suerte Tequila.
Options available to adapt a show concept from the list below and create a custom production for Electric Forest.
SIP After Dark: Live BAnd Burlesque
An intimate evening of live jazz music, pop-up classic burlesque performance, with specialty curated cocktails provided by liquor sponsor Suerte Tequila. Mixologist Lindsay Betland designs specialty cocktails inspired by the performers themselves. Featuring pop-up burlesque/variety performances curated by Feva Pitch Productions and live music featuring Brooklyn Britches and The Whispers.
Foundation Cabaret
Hosted by the Chicago House of Blues Foundation Room, this weekly intimate variety show features live-band burlesque from award-winning dancers, with a dash of dangerous sideshow, hooping, juggling, drag and more. Scored by a rotating cast of musicians including Anthony Moser & The Fat Tone Blues Band, Ivy Ford, and Diego Sol and the Metronomes.
Clipper Cabaret
The Clipper Cabaret is a monthly immersive burlesque and variety show featuring drag, aerial, pole, burlesque, and musicians, produced by Feva Pitch Productions. Zeroing in on the theatrical, ridiculous, and the spectacle, Clipper Cabaret always features a different special focus each month, All acts are introduced by a silent-theater style vaudeville skit that results in the performer being introduced via chalkboard sign, often incorporating audience participation.
More about the Clipper Cabaret
House of Burlesque
Hot Tawdry presents Chicago's most intimate monthly burlesque and variety show at the House of Blues Foundation Room, featuring a rotating cast of local favorites and traveling guest artists. A classic burlesque variety show in an intimate, highly curated space.