Tuscaloosa’s own local troupe of feathers, sparkles, costumes, song, dance and comedy is kicking off its fourth season this weekend. The Pink Box Burlesque will perform Saturday Feb. 5 at Little Willie’s. Doors open at 7 p.m., the band starts at 7:30 and the show begins at 8. The show costs $10 and attendees must be 21 and up.
According to Mama Dixie, madam of the Pink Box Burlesque, “This show is a review show—a celebration of previous acts and performances that are classic to the burlesque. You’ll see acts from our last three years and teases for our March 25 show at the Bama Theatre. It’s a taste of everything we do and what you can expect from our fourth season shows.”
There will be a special guest, Ham Bagby, at the show as well.
Dixie said Bagby is a former guest performer for the group and a local musician and singer from Tuscaloosa.
“Ham Bagby is an amazing musician and singer that’s been keeping Tuscaloosa cool for more years than I can count,” Dixie said. “He’s joined us as a guest musician before, and we’re thrilled that he’s stopping back in.”
According to Bagby’s Facebook page, he has previously performed at other local venues such as Copper Top, Innisfree, Egan’s, the Gray Lady, Rounders and more.
He will sing some of the performance songs as well as a couple of his own original tunes, Dixie said.
The Pink Box Burlesque band will begin the night at 7:30 p.m. before Bagby’s performance at 8.
“The PBB band is going to start us out with jazz, but that’s just the beginning,” Dixie said. “The show will include everything from sultry singing to Elvis to folk to comical. They got skills.”
The Pink Box Burlesque band includes Phat Daddy on bass, Colonel Booker on guitar and The Assassin on drums.
Dixie said the group has grown and changed over the past three seasons and is looking forward to the fourth.
“It’s amazing, exciting,” Dixie said. “I think the troupe has changed and grown a little each season—from content to performers to the kinds of stories we like to tell. And, of course, along the way we’ve scored some amazing band members.”
This season there will be new performers along with those that “you know and already love,” Dixie said.
The season currently includes seven large shows, and Dixie said the troupe is working on adding more.
“The spring semester is usually lighter than the fall, but the shows are big,” Dixie said. “We’re looking to travel more, too, so who knows what the future holds.”
Dixie said University students should come to the show because of the variety that it offers.
“The PBB offers a variety show in the vaudeville style,” Dixie said. “With live music, singing, dancing, comedy, serious social commentary and the parts that keep it all together, there’s something for everyone. Not to mention [it’s at] a bar.”
Dixie said last season was very successful and she looks forward to a similar season this spring.
“We all worked very hard last season and it paid off,” Dixie said. “We had a lot to celebrate when all was said and done. As a founding member of the troupe, I always have hopes for the upcoming season. We are the sum of our parts and the performers that I’ve come to love as a family always surprise me with the fantastic things they create.”
