Our History
Vaudezilla was born in 2008 when solo Chicago burlesque performer Red Hot Annie teamed up with Keith Emroll (aka Dick Dijon) to put their more than 20 years of combined theatrical production experience to work producing burlesque shows. In the intervening four years, they have injected a consistent display of vitality and originality that has helped raised Chicago's visibility on the national burlesque map.
With well over 300 shows produced since their inception, Vaudezilla's creative output is unparalleled and has become synonymous with top-quality live entertainment. They have built a loyal following with their long-running bar shows at Lincoln Tap Room and Holiday Club, while establishing themselves as the top producer of theater-based burlesque. Their critically-acclaimed, nationally recognized, box office smash hit "Rollin' Outta Here Naked: A Big Lebowski Burlesque" blazed a new trail in 2009 by originating the burlesque parody show, and their revivals in 2010 and 2012 continued to play to packed houses and generate rave reviews from local critics.
Vaudezilla has spent the majority of 2012 developing its monthly production at Stage 773, which features brand new shows every month that set the standard for burlesque theater. From live band shows to original burlesque-inspired stage plays, Vaudezilla continues to challenge itself and its audiences with shows that constantly raise the bar for Chicago burlesque.
In addition to staged productions, Vaudezilla has also become the go-to source for burlesque instruction and custom-made shows. Vaudezilla Studios offers numerous classes and workshops in the art of performance and body-positive disciplines, and they can build a show of any size for any audience or occasion. Thanks to the contributions of the entire team, Vaudezilla has become the premiere source for Chicago-based live entertainment production.
