My friend Trina would have loved the second annual Based on a True Titty variety show, especially when the burlesque dancer Missmagnolia’s purple pasty landed on my mother.
Aside from the all-in-good-fun atmosphere, which combined poetry, music, dancing, and humor, the event once again raised both breast cancer awareness and money for the Trina Fund.
Fending off a perfect storm of an historic sporting event, unprecedented parking restrictions and the plague, the lively event drew a great crowd, including a number of breast cancer survivors.
With the Cubs playing in their first World Series since 1945 just down the road, and, consequently, street parking prohibited in a range around the theatre, drawing a crowd might have been challenging. But, on bikes, Ubers, and their own two feet, audience members made their way to the Annoyance Theatre.
That, in itself, was inspiring. Then came the tributes, from standup comic Mike Gifford (in honor of his grandma Sarah Jane Kelly), singer Evan Mills (in honor of his Aunt Elizabeth), comedienne Maddie Murphy (in honor of her friend Dodie Lovejoy), poet/actor Terrence Carey (in honor of his Auntie Alison), sketch comics Fully Functional (in honor of Guiseppina Geloso and Jean Simpson), comediennes and sisters Jillian and Jessye Meyer (in honor of their Aunt Deborah), burlesque dancer Missmagnolia Rouge (in honor of her Aunt Carrie), and comic duo Bevvy (in honor of Dame Maggie Smith).
Illness knocked two other performers out just before curtain, but our intrepid hosts Pure & Weary rallied and the show rolled on.
It’s not easy to produce a joyous breast cancer benefit, but, as this clip of the wrap up song indicates, Katherine and Leah pulled it off.
Brava!
Fabulous show with talented performers! The pasty was hilarious – I think Traveain is still a bit stunned by it. Thank you Katherine and Leah for pulling this all together.