WITNESSING ALLURE is a one hour burlesque performance night in Dorothy, the basement cocktail lounge below Split-Rail & The Martin.

In celebration of Chicago photographer Erica McKeehen’s solo exhibition AUTHORING ALLURE on display at The Martin from March 4th – March 20th, Witnessing Allure is a one night only performance event bringing together burlesque performers from McKeehen’s portraits and community.

Entry is $20 in advance and $25 night-of. Proceeds are split between our venue and performers for the evening. Bring cash for tips! All tips are kept by the performers.

Our lineup includes Secret Mermaid, Lavender Vyxn, Miss NYXon, Shirley Blazen and Ramona Romance. Each artist will perform twice before and after a brief intermission!

Doors at 6pm and the show begins at 6:30pm. Attendees are welcome to stay after the show as we transition into regular service at Dorothy! All attendees must be 21+, fully vaccinated with proof and with ID.

Want to dine at Split-Rail before or after the performance? We recommend making a reservation.

ABOUT THE ARTIST + CURATOR

Erica McKeehen (she/her) (b. 1987) is an American photographer raised on Coca-Cola and rock and roll in rural Bucyrus, Ohio who currently lives and works in Chicago. She received her BS in Commercial Photography from Ohio University, her MA in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago while working as a curatorial assistant at the Museum of Contemporary Photography. @ericamckeehen

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Our catch of the day, Secret Mermaid (she/her), is a burlesque performer and professional model. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Loyola University Chicago and has always adored musical theater. Her favorite role was as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera. She has also sung at the Vatican and with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Secret Mermaid is a regular burlesque performer and choreographer and also teaches classes and workshops. You can book her for your next corporate event, cocktail bar, or pool party. A delight to multiple senses, she is a triple threat and uses her combination of vocal and body movements to dazzle audiences of all sizes. Whether she’s reimagining a classic from the Broadway stage or carefully designing one of her unique Nerdlesque routines, Secret Mermaid always makes a splash on stage. @secretmermaid13

Lavender Vyxn (she/they) has been prancing and peeling around Chicago’s stages and nightlife for eight years. Having graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Dance, they have been choreographing and performing their own burlesque routines ever since. They advocate for sex workers’ rights and beating the stigma sex workers face… with lots of glitter. @lavendervyxn

Miss NYXon(she/her) is a performer down to her witchy bones. Growing up in the professional wrestling industry, hailing from the iconic wrestling dynasty Los Guerreros, she has been in front of audiences of thousands since thirteen years old. She has been a professional wrestler, ring announcer, dancer and stunt woman. Currently she is a dancer and choreographer for The Vaudettes, an international touring rock n roll dance troupe. When she isn’t dancing on cruise ships or teaching dance with Dolls in Action, she actively performs in the Chicago burlesque scene and can be found at: Untitled, The Drifter, Bordel, The Darling, and more. She is The Wicked Nyx of the West and All of Burlesque, Latina Heat — Miss NYXon! @missnyxon

Chicago’s Screwiest Show-pony, Shirley Blazen (she/they), is downright loony and utterly endearing! Their antics garner acclaim at festivals and comicons, wherever zany shtick can be peddled. The founder of Chicago’s first Slapstick Burlesque troupe, The Screwbelles, Blazen’s passion for comedic performance is delightfully infectious. Serving up high energy hijinks from their clown nose to the tips of their toes, it’s the batty, brazen, and oh-so-amazin, Shirley Blazen! @shirleyblazen

“The Frantic Romantic,” Ramona Romance (she/her) is a burlesque dancer model based in Chicago. She ignited her love affair with burlesque in 2017, and has been hooked on glamour ever since. Ramona has performed in a number of shows, both live and virtual, in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Canada. Ramona is a member of burlesque troupe Burlesque & Chill and loves staying creatively engaged with performers across the country. @ramona.romance

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Tags: Chicago, Erica McKeehen, Lavender Vyxn, Miss NYXon, Ramona Romance., Secret Mermaid, Shirley Blazen, The Martin, West Town, Witnessing Allure: a night of burlesque