As both a professional performer and writer, I find I have increasingly been dealing with the idea of what is expected of female performers in terms of both appearance and content. Particularly the classic trappings of women's appearance - such as makeup, cleavage and perceived femininity - seem to be up for debate and wildly varied from discipline to discipline. Within the comedy and burlesque communities in particular these debates continue to raise the issues of the male gaze, reclaiming power and sexuality with very little consensus within or across art forms.  - The Lady Aye

 

She-larious: Femininity, Feminism and Funny in Performance is designed to foster a cross-pollination of ideas and techniques among women in these two burgeoning scenes. A panel of women from comedy, variety and burlesque will participate in open workshops and curated panel that will encourage sharing of their experience, methodology and thinking on a wide range of issues surrounding women performing in the current atmosphere of pop culture.

 

The public is invited to observe this process, however, we ask you to respect performers' space and keep conversation to a quiet minimum.

 

If you wish to hear more from the performers ind individually and become part of the conversation, please be here at 4:30pm for our panel discussion and Q&A. 

 

Schedule

 

1pm - Opening Remarks by The Lady Aye

 

1:15pm- Carolyn Castiglia presentation

Carolyn Castiglia is a stand-up comedian, singer, actor, "rapper," blogger, mother and feminist. 

 

2:00pm - Legs Malone presentation

Legs Malone is the Girl with the Thirty-Four and a Half Inch Inseam. Regularly seen on stages throughout NYC and both East and West Coasts, Legs is a proud fixture on the NYC burlesque and cabaret circuit.

 

2:45pm - Kaytlin Bailey presentation

Kaytlin Bailey is the founder of the Pink Collar Comedy Tour and performs regularly at the famous Vagabond Cafe in the West Village of Manhattan. 

 

3:30pm - Kate Valentine presentation

 

4:30 -5:30 Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A