Vincent Holiday
Vincent Holiday
presented by J.T. Ryder & Vincent Holiday
A while back, while at the DMM contributor holiday party, J.T. Ryder mentioned to me that he was putting together a new kind of show. Now, J.T. Ryder has quite a backstory – he’s a mysterious, intellectual, no-nonsense kind of guy…used to work in the circus (no joke), used to guard diamonds (no joke), seriously loves the Dew (addiction) and passionate about what he does (whatever that is) – I was more than a little bit intrigued about what kind of show this guy might be developing, especially when words like vaudeville and burlesque started creeping into the conversation. A little over a month later, that show is a reality. J.T. Ryder and Vincent Holiday will be presenting A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET next Wednesday night in the Oregon District’s Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub and they’ve got an interesting line-up.
I had a few more questions for J.T. about what exactly this secret is:
onStageDayton: When we first spoke about this new show happening, it was being billed as a burlesque or vaudeville-style show. What exactly are we talking about here?
Geborah
J.T. Ryder: I originally began describing Dirty Little Secret as a burlesque style event, but that was a bit of a misnomer. Although it has elements of burlesque and vaudeville, it has evolved into more of a variety show. I would like to have some true burlesque in the show, but most of what I am seeing is more like plain old stripping. It would be great if I could find something local that was more in the realm of skit comedy, kitsch or a classy portrayal rather than just pasties and panties. I think that the show has evolved into the realm that it needs to be in: a wide ranging variety show of divergent acts that an audience would never really see all in one place.
OSD: When I think “variety show” I think of Rowan & Martin, Sonny & Cher , The Gong Show and all the Late Night programs. Images of stupid human tricks, chimps on tricycles and ukelele-wielding musicians come to mind. What genres of entertainment can audiences expect?
Patricia Berg
J.T.: Well, there is Henrique Couto, who is a comedic musician, and he will be opening the show with songs and banter. Geborah will then take the stage and she is a jazz hip-hop dancer, and I’m even intrigued to see what she is going to come up with. Patricia Berg is next up. She is an absolutely phenomenal vocalist. She has performed in such elegant venues that I finally had to ask her what she expected from this show and it came down to the vibe and the creativity that this show offered. Rounding out the show will be Underbelly, which is a comedy/improve troupe out of Cincinnati. Holding the whole thing together will be our emcee, Vincent Holiday, who will introduce and interview the acts as well as doing some of his own monologues. It’s kind of like a Tarantino soundtrack: it is all from different genres and different eras, but it all seems to blend well together.
OSD: This event is taking place in Wiley’s Comedy Club in the Oregon District. Is there anything planned to give the experience a different vibe than a night at the comedy club?
Underbelly
J.T.: Yes, there is also going to be a special wait staff in place. I want the whole evening to be an immersive experience from the moment the customer walks through the door. The waitresses will be decked out in their favorite retro/pin-up style outfit and will be a prominent part of the evening. I know one girl has a little 1940’s style outfit prepared, with black fishnet stockings and all the accouterments. I have not been really specific as far as era or anything…I think it will be fun just to see what everyone shows up in.
OSD: J.T. I have a question that you don’t want to answer. It’s regarding teh fishnet stockings that you mentioned in the above answer and Henrico. ((Publishers Note: this question has been removed for public decency reasons. It involved J.T. Ryder’s Dirty Little Secret and fishnet stockings. -B. Pote)
J.T.: My God, Shane! I can’t believe that you would ask me such a question! You should be ashamed! Ashamed I say!
OSD: The show sounds really intriguing and I’m sure other performers in the area might be interested in getting involved in future editions. Will there be more “Dirty Little Secrets” down the road? What other types of acts would you be interested in including?
Henrique Couto
J.T.: We are kind of waiting to see what the outcome of this show is before cementing the next show in place. There has been a lot of interest from various performers and artists that want to be involved. Some of the elements that will be added to future shows will be theatrical groups, storytellers and music from different genres like boogie-woogie and surf music. I am also looking for people with skills for short sets like jugglers, magicians and entertainers such as that. The one thing we do have set in stone is a show coming up on March 23rd which will feature The Invisible Man Corporation, which is a true sideshow out of Austin, Texas.
OSD: Austin, Texas? The city has a motto of “Keep Austin Weird.” I imagine The Invisible Man Corp. Sideshow is pretty entertaining. I’ll have to google them.
J.T.: They have the whole freakshow thing in place. There is a sword swallower, a fire-eater, a glass eater, a glass walker, a human blockhead…they have it all. It should be a very, very interesting evening.
Tickets & Performance Information:
J.T. Ryder and Vincent Holiday Presents A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
When: Wednesday, February 16th at 8:00 pm.
Where: Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub at 101 Pine St. in the Oregon District.
Who: Vincent Holiday, Henrique Couto, Geborah, Patricia Berg and Underbelly.
How: Admission is $10.00 – Reservations can be made by calling (937) 224-5653.
Booze: Cash Bar with drink specials (credit cards will be accepted, but no tabs will be run).
-SA
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