Is That a Banana in Your Pocket or You Just Happy To See Me!

Come Monkey around with the award winning Primate himself, The Evil Hate Monkey! In this class you will be led through a series of theater type games that will help you break down your inhibitions, get out of your head and be free to discover new possibilities. There will be an emphasis on working with props, whether it’s a boa, a glove, a shoe or even a banana, there is always room to see that prop/costume piece in a different perspective.

Monkey is an award winning international burlesque/cabaret performer with fifteen plus years experience. He started in musical theatre, found burlesque, fell in love with the circus, then married the Cabaret nightlife. He is the Miss Exotic world King Of Burlesque 2010, Miss Exotic World Best Duo 2006 and Miss Exotic World Most Comedic 2010 winner.

Requirements for students? A willingness to play and explore new unexpected moments.

Instructor Bio:

Monkey is an award-winning primate who has been flipping and stripping for audiences since 2002. Based in New York City, Monkey has pioneered a niche in the international circus/cabaret scene. He has starred in a feature length documentary, “Us Naked: Trixie and Monkey”, which premiered at NYC DOC festival in 2014. He attended circus school, headlined festivals all over the world, staged 3 full-length theater shows including “All or Nothing” at Ars Nova , produced national tours, and won several awards including the Burlesque Hall of Fame King of Boylesque 2010, Most Comedic 2010 Best Duo 2006 and Most Innovative 2008. Additionally, Monkey is proud to say he was the first contestant “X’d” off America’s Got Talent Season 14!

In 2013, Monkey joined the cast of BRIEFS, an all male burlesque circus troupe from Australia. The company pays homage to the traditions of circus, the extremities of physical theatre, the artistry of drag, the guts of burlesque, the imagery of theatre, the debauchery of speakeasies and the showmanship of cabaret.

Monkey’s original mix of circus skills, absurd humor and over-the-top personality has earned him a cultish following developed over the course of two decades. He’s sure to turn heads and make you question your next banana eating experience!

Additional performance highlights include: Seven years of touring with BRIEFS. Seasons in Berlin, London, Paris, Brisbane, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Perth , Adelaide and Darwin. With Trixie Little, Monkey has been the opening act for John Waters Christmas Show, numerous Fringe Festivals (Perth, Adelaide, Philly, DC, Brighton), a residency at the Off-Broadway theater Ars Nova, Speigeltent shows, headlining burlesque festivals (Stockholm, Helsinki, Toronto, Colorado, Montreal, etc), four Virgin Mobile Music Festivals, and numerous appearances on American television. The MC “Dr Elixir” in Mr Swindles Traveling Peculiarium in Florida. At home in New York City, Monkey is a late-night fixture everywhere from exclusive nightclubs to underground variety shows, regularly appearing at his favorite Lower East Side haunts, The Box or The Slipper Room. This talented crackpot can do upscale or low-brow, refined or rowdy.

Wherever he goes, Monkey is always a crowd favorite.

This is An Official Workshop of the Charm City Burlesque & Variety Festival