Submitted

Le Cirque Rouge performers during a recent holiday performance.

By Christopher Koehler

Le Cirque Rouge
W Dec. 12, 8 p.m. $6 ($8 at the door)
First Avenue, 701 1st Ave. N.
332-1775, www.first-avenue.com
www.lecirquerouge.net


Amy Buchanan founded burlesque and cabaret troupe Le Cirque Rouge in 2003. This year, Buchanan decided to turn their fourth annual Christmas show into a charity event for children and put on "the best rock show of the year."

Le Cirque Rouge kicks things off (with a lot of leg) followed by sets from Kid Dakota, Gay Witch Abortion, A Whisper in the Noise and Kill the Vultures.

Here, Buchanan explains how cannibalism and charity are different, the logic of prom queens, and how to do the Minnesota Striptease.

What can you tell me about Le Cirque Rouge?
It's cabaret and burlesque based on entertainment from the '20s to the early '50s. We've got singers and dancers, jugglers, a full band.

Can you fine-tune that description a bit?
Ha … a drunken prom queen?

Aren't they all?
Yeah. Except for the sober ones.

I can't argue with your logic.
We try to do quirkier stuff. We don't do "Fever" or "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" or anything that's beaten to death.
We do a variety show. There's probably a cast of 13 people at every show: three dancers, three singers, and the band.

And you sing?
I sing and I emcee.

What else goes on?
Some of our dancers do more of a dancey skit than a classic striptease. Like Musette. She's really a great comedic actress. She's always got some scenario where her clothes must partially come off.  There's a big variety from singing and doing a skit to girls who sing and do a striptease.

And that variety will be on display, so to speak, at the Christmas show.
This is a really special show; all the dancers do Christmas skits, all the singers do Christmas songs. We've got an orchestra playing with us so it'll be really lovely.

Where do the proceeds go?
The Tubman Family Alliance and People Serving People.

People Serving People? Sounds like cannibals.
What?

Cannibals.
I thought that's what you said … uh … both of those charities work with children.

You have an all-star lineup for the show. How'd that come about?
I wanted it to be the best rock show of the year cause I'm really kind of a rocker. So, I asked all my favorite bands if they could play. It was pretty easy, even though the people in Gay Witch Abortion say they hate kids.

I'm not familiar with their work.
They're great. They're a two-piece. It's my friend Jesse Bottomley. I just love them. The drummer is like the greatest drummer in Minneapolis. What's his name? I can't remember.

Do you know West from A Whisper in the Noise?
Yeah, a few years ago they were going to do the music for [our production of] "The Nutcracker" but it didn't work out, so I wanted them to play. Oh, the drummer in Gay Witch Abortion is Shawn Walker. He's played with all kinds of people. I think he used to play with Kid Dakota …

And Kid Dakota is playing the benefit.
He always has a good drummer. He's got a new record out he's promoting.

What are some of the songs Le Cirque Rouge will be doing?
John Eric Theide plays Bad Santa. He does "Silver Bells" with really funny words. We're having a big group number with "Santa Baby."
And we do our Minnesota striptease.

Eh?
It's a girl in a lot of furry things that gets hot and she has to take her clothes off.

Earmuffs?
Several hats, scarves, several shirts, long underwear …

We can all relate to that.
And that's why it's called the Minnesota Striptease.

Reach Christopher Koehler at ckoehler@inbox.com