New York Boylesque Festival interview - Gilbert de moccos

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Gilbert de moccos

Hometown: Tokyo, JAPAN

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

I've performed for seven years (burlesque: as a member of MURASAKIBABYDOLL); five years (boylesque: soloist); two years (LIVE MC: soloist).

How would describe your burlesque style?

My burlesque style has a story. It's overflowing with happiness and impulse.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

I've performed at the New York Boylesque Festival since 2013 as the first performer for a Japanese person.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

All boylesque stars from all over the world.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

I wanna see, hug, kiss and talk with YOU. Thank you! Glittering LOVE!

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Rify Royalty

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Rify Royalty

Hometown: Jersey City, NJ

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

About a year and a half

How would describe your burlesque style?

Weird, sexy, conceptual 

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

No, this is my first time. Very excited! 

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

World Famous *Bob* for sure! 

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Don’t expect anything from me, I like to keep you on your toes, so sit back and enjoy the show. 

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Johnny Panic

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Johnny Panic

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Three years. I started out with Chris Harder's Boyleque 101 and haven't stopped since!

How would describe your burlesque style?

Gypsy Rose Lee with a beard.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Yes! I've had the honor of participating every year!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Luminous Pariah, the festival wasn't the same without him last year!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

I do it all for the sex.

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Ben Franklin

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Ben Franklin

Hometown: New York, NY

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Officially, 2-3 years.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Circus and variety act comedy

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Yes. 3 years.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

I’ve never seen Ray Gunn live. 

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Thank you for coming out and supporting our special brand of entertainment.  We can’t do it without you.

New York Boylesque Festival interview - El Toro

Photo by Drasko Bogdanovic

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: El Toro

Hometown: Toronto

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Four.

How would describe your burlesque style?

High energy, theatrical, acrobatical nonsense with a whole lotta spunk.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Every year.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Ray Gunn, I keep just missing him.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Te quiero, mi amores ;)

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Christopher J. Anderson of Rhythm Knights Dance Troupe

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Names: Rhythm Knights Dance Troupe - Christopher J. Anderson, Sam Benedict, Nick Deyo, Syville Padayo, Bill Siegfried

Hometowns: Detroit, MI, Wilsonville, OR, Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and Sugar Land, TX

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Dancing in particular, for over 25 years and burlesque has been intertwined all throughout since starting in Reno in 1992.  I enjoy being able to introduce and give the opportunity to newer members of my troupe.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Sexy Street Jazz Dance with a little bit of underground funk!

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

We are virgins!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

I am very looking forward to seeing all of the out of town (and out of country) performers and learn what types of things are happening around the world.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)? 

A big hello and thanks to our brothers-in-song of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus.

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Dew Lily

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Dew Lily
Home town: Toronto

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Seven years

How would describe your burlesque style? 

Slow and sexy, with the heart of a clown

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past? 

It's my 4th year!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Gilbert de Moccos! and always Waxie Moon.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)? 

Love yourself first, then spread it around.

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Waxie Moon

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Waxie Moon
Home town: Seattle, Washington

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Since the fall of 2006.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Waxie Moon is a gender-blending queer lady boylesque performance-art stripping sensation. That pretty much covers it.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Yes, 2 years ago. Can't wait for another full weekend of man meat magic!

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Manchego always cracks me the fuck up. Brewster makes me weak in the knees. And I live for the gender complexity of  Lou Henry Hoover.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Thanks for supporting this exciting and evolving art-form!

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Mike Monaco

Photo by Bill Wright

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Mike Monaco

Home town: Pittsfield, MA

How many years have you been doing burlesque? 

Five years. I’m a member of Gypsy Layne Cabaret & Co. (www.gypsylayne.com)  

How would describe your burlesque style?

Cheeky, mischievous, and fun-loving; I’m a bearded boy with a glamour girl twist.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

I performed last year with my troupe, Gypsy Layne. This year I’m performing solo!  

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

There are so many incredible performers that it’s hard to it narrow down, but I’m really excited to see Waxie Moon again—I was blown away by him at the 2013 festival, when I was in the audience, that he inspired be to apply for 2014…and here I am again!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)? 

Mike Monaco is going to woo you and wow you so hard, you’ll be seeing stars when I’m done.   

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Lou Henry Hoover

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name:  Lou Henry Hoover
Home town:  NYC/Seattle

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

It must be seven years now!

How would describe your burlesque style?

I'm a boylesqueing drag king.  I came into burlesque out of a professional dance career, so I approach burlesque with a choreographer's perspective combined with a deep love of camp theater and a tendency to play the clown.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

This is my second year.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

There's so many great performers at the festival!  I am particularly excited to see Waxie Moon this year - he had a big hand in getting me started both as a drag king and in boylesque, and he and I have worked together in a lot of different capacities over the years.  He's a brilliant weirdo and seeing him onstage is always a treat.  This June we will both be competing for King of Burlesque at The Burlesque Hall of Fame so I'm hoping to get a sneak peak at his act!  I'm honored to be the first drag king to compete in this category.  Of course I'm also excited to see the reigning King of Burlesque and fellow Atomic Bombshell, Mr. Gorgeous!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Get ready for a full weekend of tit…er…cockillation!

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Serge Violland

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name:  Serge Violland

Home town:  Anneçy, France

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Twelve years in cabaret, one year in burlesque.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Cabaret New Burlesque.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

Never.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

They seems all very interesting, and I am curious by nature!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Forget everything you've seen so far.

New York Boylesque Festival interview - The Luminous Pariah

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: The Luminous Pariah
Home town: Originally from Juneau, Alaska; currently based in Seattle, WA

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Six and a half years.

How would describe your burlesque style?

I'd describe my style as an interdisciplinary blend of performance art, theatre, and dance  - leaning heavily on the gender-bending side. 

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

I participated in the very first NY Boylesque Festival and had a blast. I performed in the second, but am just now returning to the most distracting dressing room in the world.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

I'm looking forward to seeing my friends perform, obviously. However, I'm super excited to see some boys who I've not seen before! I love this festival because it's the one place in the US that male identified performers and personas can come together to inspire one another. 

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

If I had a chance to speak to my New York viewers and fans en mass; I'd want them to know that I'd like to meet them! Also, that I appreciate the support. They're welcome to interact with me on any of the many social media outlets: @LuminousPariah

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Bobby Barnaby

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Bobby Barnaby
Home town: San Francisco

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Seven years.

How would describe your burlesque style?

Classic Americana Striptease meets Vaudeville.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

In 2013, I performed my award winning fan dance.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Who am I not looking forward to seeing! But seriously, Brewster McCall.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

See more live theater, on every scale and medium!

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Jack n' Thacox

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Jack n' Thacox
Home town: Savannah, GA

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

Two and a half years now and I'm just getting the hang of it.

How would describe your burlesque style?

A high-school theater production gone horribly awry.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

This is my first time ever performing in the big city! I am exhilarated.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

I can't wait to see all the boys backstage!

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

If you're my boyfriend once, you're my boyfriend forever ;]

New York Boylesque Festival interview - Geegee Louise

The New York Boylesque Festival weekend kicks off tonight with a teaser party at the Knitting Factory and is followed by tomorrow's main event at B.B. King's.

Here's your chance to meet some of the performers before they hit the stage.

Name: Geegee Louise
Home town: Bridgeport CT

How many years have you been doing burlesque?

This past month is a mark of 5 years in the industry! I started the moment I turned 18 and I always get that same nervous feeling every time I am about to walk on stage.

How would describe your burlesque style?

I used to study with Alvin Ailey dance company, so I incorporate a lot of ballet and African inspired movement. I like to pull from Caribbean and African movements and combine that with American jazz. It's an interesting combination! But it keeps me on my toes.

Have you participated in the New York Boylesque Festival in the past?

This is going to be my first boylesque festival. I am excited! I don't usually describe my pieces as boylesque. Being a female impersonator, I don't like to lie to my audience, so my character is almost gender neutral. I let the audience develop my gender as the piece goes on.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform this weekend?

Ray Gunn and Bazuka Joe!! My family, by that I mean my sisters, mother, sister in law, grandmother, were drooling over Ray when we danced together in the New York Burlesque Festival in 2011. Since then it's been a tradition to catch them when we can.

What would you like to say to your New York fans (and future fans)?

Honestly. Thank you. This journey hasn't been easy and the support that I have been given is incredible. Thank you for helping me do what I love!!!