Huffington Post July 29, 2009
Jo Versus the Zombies: A Burlesque Fight for Healthcare by Karen Dalton-Beninato
This has a festive ending, so please bear with the lead. Four years ago New Orleans became a canary in the coal mine for common decency as stranded citizens waited five days in the Convention Center with no drinking water, let alone medical help, when our levees failed. My brilliant friend Barry Cowsill was last seen there, waiting for the help that came too late. Fast forward to this year and Charity Hospital still has not re-opened. Its existence could have prevented the way we lost the vibrant Cayne Miceli. Nationally, reform is long overdue as American life expectancy and infant mortality rates become an international disgrace. Katrina vanden Heuvel notes here on Huffington Post that 72 percent of Americans are in favor of universal health care, no matter how many billions of dollars are poured into the lobby against it. I joined the ranks of the uninsured post-Hurricane Katrina, and have dodged doctor's visits so far (knock on cypress). It's easy to feel powerless in times like these.
So when my friend Joannie Hughes called and asked for help with her medical expenses, it was a relief to do something for someone who has been a rock of support. If Wikipedia had an entry for Good Person, it would show a picture of Jo. Three years ago she and her Voodoo Vixen troupe, along with the New Wave Brass Band and Playing for Change's Grandpa Elliott Smalls (pictured at right), welcomed Liverpool's Joe Topping who walked across the country raising awareness for the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. Two years ago on the Hurricane Katrina Anniversary, Jo's son Jake wore a ReDefine 8/29 shirt and gave the most moving speech I've heard a 12-year-old come up with, right in front of Jackson Square. They both collect toys for Children's Hospital at Christmas, giving back because Jake was sick as a child. He's now a teen rocker sporting a "You Looked Better on MySpace" tee shirt, but shows the strength found in his generation of children who lost everything and keep going. Jake's mom is a special needs teacher, recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and they are handling it with grace.
Jo called to let me know she was rationing out desperately needed medication because her health insurance only covered half of the treatments she needs and she's in too much pain to work full time. I told her: "We're going to need dancing girls." Revisiting the go go dances of the '50s, burlesque is a major draw in New Orleans. Having seen Rev. Spooky LeStrange, Kitty Twist, Dorian Faust and Foxy Flambeaux on Saturday I can see what all the fuss is about. It's further evidence that as benefit producer, my husband leads a charmed life. Foxy (at left) was the co-chair, and thanks to a cancellation we had a week to pull off an event at the Howlin Wolf. DJ Bob French invited us to promote it on WWOZ, NOLA.com let me link to the benefit, and DC Harbold of Clockwork Elvis brought in his bands including Kitty Lyn for a beautiful duet. We kicked in some Eye Been Framed vintage eyeglasses, Snake & Jakes Christmas Club Lounge donated a baby tee and Eye Candy auctioned off a tattoo, but the original artwork by L. Steve Williams, Jr. stole the show.
When Steve got word from Jo Tuesday that a Retro a Go Go Benefit for Jo was on for the weekend, he stayed up all night creating Jo Versus the Zombies. At the benefit, Jo described the poster in full teacher mode explaining that, 'Multiple Sclerosis attacks your brain." Brain eating zombies in a coffin shaped piece of artwork -- bent but appropriate. There was another comedic element to the night -- DC runs More Fun Comics and comedian in residence, Spackle McCrackle hosted with Andrew Healan as dancers in badass tattoos sold raffle tickets. All of this accomplished one very important thing. A special needs teacher in America will not have to ration her medication this month.
The outward signs are good -- she's out of the wheelchair and walking with a cane. But for next month? The girls are ready and Jo Versus the Zombies will soon be posted online at 504WhatStyle.com. I realize that in most of America you can't call in burlesque, bands, comedians and artists with a week's turnaround -- New Orleans is blessed that way.
But in one of the last civilized nations to deny universal health care to its citizens, just because we can put on a show, does not mean we should have to.
University Of New Orleans
New Orleans, LOUISIANA
Graduated: N/A
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Drama/Communications
2000 to 2003
Douglas Byrd High
Fayetteville, NORTH CAROLINA
Graduated: 1997
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
Clubs: International Thespian Troupe ..3017
Marching Band
Wind Ensemble
Honors Band
"Academically Gifted"
1991 to 1997
The Most Dangerous Woman In Burlesque! is in your extended network view more
About me: I have been getting a lot of people asking me about the origins of the name of Rev. Spooky LeStrange & Her Billion Dollar Baby Dolls so I have decided to give the people what they want. Here it is......
BILLION DOLLAR BABY DOLLS: ORIGINS
As a burlesque dancer, I am obsessed with researching the history of burlesque. Not just as it pertains to real life, but also in the form of movies & music from the 1930's on. In my extensive research, I began to notice a
pattern of strong,creative long names. Miss Adelaide & Her Hot Box Chickies, Mama Rose & Her Toreadors, Baby June & Her Hollywood Blondes, etc. (the list goes on and on!). I had also been performing in a group called the Storyville Starlettes, which had piqued my interest in the life & times of the Storyville Red Light District here in New Orleans. I purchased this really great book called "Storyville" by Al Rose. It is the only definitive history of our notorious red light district.
The story in this particular book is that the black prostitutes of Storyville, who called themselves the Million Dollar Baby Dolls, used to get together on Fat Tuesday dressed in all their finery, with garters stuffed full of money & armed with bottles of champagne, and would march in Zulu.
I loved that story so much and it aggravated me that these women have been all but forgotten in New Orleans' effort to clean up the history of our fair city. So I decided I was going to call my new group the Million Dollar Baby Dolls to pay tribute to these forgotten women. When discussing my decision with my husband (the fabulous Clockwork Elvis, himself!), he thought about it for a minute, then he said maybe I should take inflation into account and change it to the BILLION Dollar Baby Dolls. So I added "Rev. Spooky LeStrange & Her" to the title to pay tribute to Gypsy's roots & "Billion Dollar Baby Dolls" to pay tribute to the "Million Dollar Baby Dolls". And the rest, as they say, is history!
New Orleans Burlesque Monthly At The Hi Ho Lounge!
Who I'd like to meet:
Which Marilyn Monroe are YOU?
You are sophisticated Marilyn. You enjoy reading, or at least act like you do, and always have something witty at the tip of your tongue. You're refined and dignified. Friends catagorize you as a "classy doll" and respect your self-respect and diligence. lucky number- 5 ::: lucky color- navy ::: something to look forward to this week-you'll win a debate ::: advice-take a vacation. Take this quiz!
Thank you for connecting with Shinto Records Visit Shinto Records Now New Albums Available Weekly Sample Songs From Every Album & Join The Mailing List
Thanks so much for being one of my MySpace friends!
I wanted to offer something to all of my friends for the holidays. From now until December 31st, I have a special going on where if you buy a hat at regular price, you can receive a second hat for 1/2 off! That's a fabulous deal on my designs! All of my work is a little piece of art that you can wear that no one else on earth has. :) Let me know if you are interested in ordering.
Hey MySpace people, vampires, zombies, bellydancers and robots, thanks for the adding thing. If you didn't get a chance to checkout the store at http://brooksbot75.etsy.com
here is a small sample of what you will find there. If you like something and want it made to any size just let
me know. I make most all of them one at a time now so it helps if you visit my fitting page at
Held from August 18-22 in the heart of Chicago, and with Chicago's own Michelle L'amour at the helm, ‘The Chicago International BURLESQUE FRINGE FESTIVAL’ will set itself apart from other festivals around the world by inviting topnotch producers to bring their entire productions, instead of hosting a series of events featuring solo performers alone. BurlesqueCommunity.com is also pleased to sponsors a series of international conference calls relating to the launch of 2010 Burlesque Fringe Festival and other industry developments on Tuesday, December 8th 2009. For more information, please visit BurlesqueCommunity.com
Hey Yule a Go-Go friends and fans, your hot and sexy Yule log is here to tell you to get your own copy of Yule a Go-Go as that one last amazing gift you've been looking for!
If you don't already know, Yule a Go-Go features big names in the New York burlesque scene including Angie Pontani, Gal Friday, Little Brooklyn and more dancing to groovy go-go-tastic versions of such holiday classics as "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," "Good King Wenceslas," and "Jingle Bells." Just imagine your big flatscreen TV filled these gorgeous dancers and that sexy hunk of a Yule log (yours truly) all the while igniting your holidays!!
Hi The Most Dangerous Woman In Burlesque!-- Latin Night this Saturday! Party all night with DJ Ronnie as he spins the best Salsa...Merengue...Reggaeton...Hip Hop... live performances by MuG and Infamous Los! There's also a birthday in the house! It goes down @ Marlene's Place (3715 Tchoupitoulas St.) This Saturday Night, November 21st doors open @ 10pm! Hope to see you there...bring your friends. --MuG
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