Belly dance meets burlesque at Martyrs'
Arabesque Dance Studio, a Chicago center for Middle Eastern dance forms, presents a Vaudevillian Variety Show this weekend. With a slate of top-tier performers in the arts of belly dance and burlesque, it's bound to be more exotic than your typical parade of random acts.
The event's headliner is Princess Farhana, a belly dance star from Hollywood. Although the Princess, a 16-year Oriental dance veteran, trained in the classical Egyptian style of raqs sharqi, she's known for adventurous, high-concept fusion performances. Joining her on stage, among others, are Arabesque founder Sonya Hohmann and ever-scintillating burlesque bombshell Michelle L'amour of "Femme TV" fame.
Arabesque's Vaudevillian Variety Show begins at 7 p.m. Sunday at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Admission is $15. Call Martyrs at (773) 404-9494 or visit www.arabesquechicago.com/princess.html.
'Darko' director's return: Fans of the cult favorite "Donnie Darko" are waiting as patiently as possible for director Richard Kelly's follow-up, "Southland Tales." The film finally opens in Chicago Nov. 16, and you can celebrate with other Kelly fans at 7 p.m. today at the Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted St., Chicago.
Kit Kat will show the film's trailer on jumbo screens and offer a number of themed martinis priced at $11.50. The real reason to go, though, is to score promo items and free passes to a Tuesday night preview screening of "Southland Tales." If you need further convincing, the film stars Duane "The Rock" Johnson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore and Justin Timberlake. There's no cover. Call (773) 525-1111 or visit www.kitkatchicago.com.
Folkie knows funny: Jamie Swise was a friend of improvisational comedy legend Del Close, became a fixture of the 1970s' Old Town folk scene, created the mystery parlor game "Who Killed Roger Ellington?" and tended bar at iO Theater until his recent semiretirement. After such a rich assortment of roles, he's just the man to helm "The Shock and Awe Review and Hootenanny."
At 9 p.m. Thursdays, Swise and his hand-picked cast of improvisers use his music, monologues and stories to generate an evening of long-form improvisation. It's in an open run at iO, 3541 N. Clark St., Chicago. Tickets cost $8. For reservations, call (773) 880-0199 or visit www.iochicago.net.
-- Jeff Pizek