Canadian Burlesque Star, Rosie Bitts, makes her New York City debut in her new solo-show, Stories of Love and Passion which is being presented by the Untied Solo Theatre Festival. Stories of Love and Passion is written and performed by Rosie Bitts, directed and dramaturged by Suzanne Bachner and accompanied by Jeff Poynter. Rosie will be donating 5% of all profits from her solo work, Stories of Love and Passion, to local organizations that advocate for sex workers.
The Fabulous Miss Rosie Bitts mixes jazz and burlesque with raw seduction in these heart-breaking, hilarious and taboo tales of sex work, unplanned pregnancy, loss of virginity and more. With live accompaniment by Jeff Poynter, Rosie creates a night of entertainment that is a luscious pleasure to the senses while also being subtly subversive, perfectly frank and completely titillating.
Stories of Love and Passion had its first view as a workshop in Best Bitts' Sexy Factory Fest, then its official World Premiere in the UNO Festival in Victoria, BC which is run by Intrepid Theatre (which also runs the Victoria Fringe). Stories of Love and Passion just finished a successful run at theCome Inside, the first Sex-Positive Theatre Festival in the US in Portland, Oregon.
The creative team includes lighting design by Theodore R. Sherman, costume design by Kerri Derksen and technical direction by Chasmin Hallyburton.
Performances take place at Theatre Row/Studio Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10thAvenues) New York, NY 10036. Subways: A/C/E to 42nd Street. Tickets are $19.25 (including a $1.25 theatre restoration charge) and are available at the Theatre Row box office, or at 212-239-6200 – www.telecharge.com
Show Date:
Tuesday, October 21st @ 7:30 pm
Running time: 60 minutes
Rosie Bitts (Writer/Performer) is a performer, producer, author, and educator, and one of the pioneers who brought the art-form of burlesque to Vancouver Island. Rosie's first solo show, The Fabulous Miss Rosie Bitts, garnered her critical acclaim and was a multi-award winner across Canada. Her newest work, Stories of Love and Passion, which premiered at the end of May at the prestigious Canadian Solo show Festival UNO Fest, has opened to critical acclaim, adoring crowds, and standing ovations. She is looking forward to touring with it across the United States in the fall of 2014. She was a co-founder of the award-winning Cheesecake Burlesque Revue and the first burlesque teacher on Vancouver Island, having since taught hundreds of women—and now men—how to release their inner Diva and connect with their Sexy! As well as teaching locally, Rosie has also been a guest teacher at BurlyCon Seattle many times (North America’s only burlesque education convention). Rosie is a keynote speaker and speaks on subjects from “Releasing Your Inner Diva” to “Getting Your Sexy Back after Kids”. In 2013, Rosie turned her talents to writing and, in collaboration with indie author Bruce Blake, has created the historical-pirate-erotica-adventure serial The Lady Corsairs. Rosie started her production company, Best Bitts Productions (co-owned with Bruce Blake), in 2008, and has since toured Western Canada with her popular shows as well as bringing headliners from all over North America to further titillate and educate her audience. She runs Canada's only Sex Positive Theatre Festival: “The Sexy Factory,” which will be looking forward to its 3rd year in 2015. An active fundraiser, Rosie also advocates in the community for local and international causes. In this spirit, Rosie will be donating 5% of all profits from her solo work Stories of Love and Passion to local organizations that advocate for sex workers.
Suzanne Bachner (Director/Dramaturge) is an award-winning playwright and director. She is the director and developer of Bob Brader’s acclaimed solo shows including the award-winning Spitting In The Face Of The Devil. Her play, CIRCLE, ran for five months Off Broadway, was performed nationally and called “ingenious” by The New York Times. Her new 2-actor production of CIRCLE is currently optioned for production in Australia following a 4-month 7-City Sold-Out International Tour during which it was awarded Most Daring Show of the London Fringe. Playwriting and directing: a six month NYC run of her cult hit, Icons & Outcasts; a five month NYC run and international tour of BITE; her epic new play, Brilliant Mistake, a San Diego commission, which the Coast News called "A work of pure genius!" and her celebrated kaleidoscopic memoir play, We Call Her Benny, which Broadway World called “the future of theatre”. Her plays have been seen at PS NBC@HERE, the Duplex, the National Arts Club, the Michael Weller Theatre, the Samuel French Short Play Festival, Pulse Ensemble Theatre and 20th Century Fox at the Coronet Theater in LA, among others. Directing: Frank D. Gilroy's The Subject Was Roses at the Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles and the short film, Jennifer Monroe, P.I., a finalist in Flicks on 66. Suzanne studied playwriting with Romulus Linney and Adrienne Kennedy and holds an MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School at the New School University. Suzanne’s plays are published on Indie Theater Now. She is a four-time OOBR Award winner, a Madeline Sadin award winner, Resident Playwright Emeritus at the Actors Institute and a member of the United Solo Academy and the Dramatists Guild. www.jmtcinc.com
Jeff Poynter (Accompanist) is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, and artist manager based in Victoria, BC, Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria, with a major in Saxophone Performance. He is also the Chairperson of Music For Youth Works Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music lessons to children who could not otherwise afford them. Jeff performs regularly with the popular indie-folk group West My Friend as well as with burlesque performer Rosie Bitts. As an experienced pianist, accordionist, and guitarist, Jeff was the music director at Pilgrim United Church in Colwood BC for five years, was the Assistant Music Minister at Oak Bay United Church in Victoria, and now leads music at Cadboro Bay United Church with Louise Rose. He regularly tours Canada and the US, and plays many styles of music, from classical to funk, latin to celtic, and jazz to folk.
About Best Bitts Productions
Best Bitts Productions is an entertainment production company headed by Rosie Bitts and Bruce Blake. We are dedicated to producing top quality cabaret, burlesque and theatrical shows that mix the best talent of Vancouver Island with international performers to create a truly unique entertainment experience.
About the United Solo Theatre Festival
United Solo, the world’s largest solo theatre festival, celebrates its 5th anniversary season and its dynamic expansion in scope and popularity. Over 130 shows from six continents are staged at Theatre Row: 410 West 42nd Street, New York City.
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