Pin-Up Party quite a show
A night of jazz, blues and more.
An evening of throwback entertainment will take place during the Palm Beach Pin-Up Party tonight at Voltaire nightclub in downtown West Palm Beach.
The night will begin at 8 p.m. with a photo session featuring guests and entertainers along with sushi and a DJ spinning electroswing-lounge music. Then, a nightclub performance will include vintage standards and jazz, blues and R&B songs.
That set will be followed by a multimedia concert version of stage musical “Art of the Pin-Up Girl” by Jupiter-based playwright Heather Storm and her composer husband, Gregory “Popeye” Alexander. The show, which got an off-Broadway staged reading in 2016, recalls pinup icons such as Bettie Page, Anna Mae Clift, Rosie the Riveter and Lena Horne.
Storm recently answered questions about the event via email.
What is the history of this event?
We began staging the Palm Beach Pin-Up Party in 2016, after a string of theatrical productions at Manalapan Theatre, the Crest Theatre in Delray Beach and, finally, the Eissey Campus Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens (where we were banned for partial nudity). We are and have always been an independently produced show, and it became necessary to cease incurring the high cost of the theater rentals and try to get our artists paid. That combined with the hope of reaching a wider audience, we revamped the show to be more accessible to a mainstream audience in a nightclub format. Surprisingly, the transition to the original show in a concert format flows together beautifully.
Can you describe how it was more of a “theater” show before and now is more of a “nightclub” show?
We have maintained the glamour of the golden era of show business that defines the “Art of the Pin-Up Girl” show and embraced the ensemble that performs so well in the theatrical format. But we curated unique sets of songs people know and love, as well. So it’s a full night of entertainment with showstopping, vintage-feeling numbers like “Proud Mary,” “Love on the Brain” and “Hit ‘Em Up Style,” as well as some classic Great American Songbook numbers.
So exactly what happens Friday night?
We present a unique glimpse into an original musical. This one-hour set of the songs from “Art of the Pin-Up Girl” is woven together with multimedia clips that share the stories from the theatrical text. It paints our show with a broad brush so that the audience leaves wanting to see the entire show and with exposure to the incredible live music that defines our piece.
Why do you feel now is the right time to bring the Pin-Up Party back?
Venues that are right for us, frankly, are rare. We simply don’t fit in a boomboom room nightclub setting. The first time I walked into Voltaire, I knew it was the perfect space for our show. It’s beautiful, known for great live music, and we knew our audience would love attending a show there. We also have revamped our band and core cast, and there is a new, vibrant energy to this new incarnation.”
Palm Beach Pin-Up Party will begin 8 tonight at Voltaire, 526 Clematis St., in West Palm Beach. Tickets cost $10. Call 561-408-5603 or go to Sub-culture.org/Voltaire.