When St. Louis-born burlesque artist Jeez Loueez staged her first annual variety show here several years ago, she had to recruit performers of color from other cities. There weren’t enough locals.
But this Friday, she says, about half the acts in her show, “Jeezy’s Juke Joint,” will be homegrown. With the Saint Boogie Brass Band blasting out the tunes, the stage at 2720 will be graced by pole dancers (Dark Angel and Horchata Dentana), old-school veterans (Foxy LaFeelion), drag queens (Maxi Glamour), relative newcomers (Rose Whip and Sailem) and of course Jeezy herself, who is recovering from an ACL injury but won’t let that stop her.
She bills her show as a “jumping, jiving, foot-stomping revue that pays homage to black burlesque and variety,” adding that the audience grows every year. That audience includes her own grandmother, who sits in the front row and reportedly loves the male dancers.
Says Jeezy of her annual event: “There’s always something crazy happening.”
“Jeezy’s Juke Joint: A Black Burly-Q Revue,” general admission $15 advance/$20 door, VIP seating $25 advance/$30 door, doors 8 p.m./show 9 p.m., Fri., March 30, 2720 Cherokee, 314-282-8017, 2720cherokee.com.
Sailem will perform at Jeezy’s Juke Joint on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Jeez Loueez/Amanda Trumbull Photography)
