SPICING IT UP
Variety show includes burlesque, comedy, magic, burlesque, music
Keeping it local. That’s Kevin Kennedy’s goal each time he begins to book a new lineup for his Vagrant Variety Show. And he has plenty of genres to choose from — burlesque, comedy, magic, belly dancing, drag and music.
“What I like to do is switch it up,” he says. “If there’s a show that is too comedyheavy, you get numb to it at some point. I won’t really have more than two acts that are the same. I try to keep it diverse and include everybody. I cast who I want to see in the show.”
Tonight at the Aux Dog Theatre, the event stars Ann Gora and Kennedy. The night is hosted by Mary Byrd. And the headliner is Mayo Lua de Frenchie.
Kennedy says there will be burlesque by Lottie LaRouge, Morgan Mayhem and Lola Delirium.
Magic will be provided by Chris Zaccara, and belly dancers Ketura & Asha will perform.
“My friend Sarah Kennedy is coming in from New York to perform,” he says. “She used to live here and is branching out in New
York to grow her career.”
Kennedy says that in the eight years he’s produced the Vagrant Variety Show, he’s seen performers outgrow the scene — which is great.
“It’s really neat to watch,” he says. “With these events, I just want to get people from Albuquerque to perform. Before we started this series, we didn’t have too much of that here. There’s so much talent in Albuquerque, it’s the only way to get people seen. We’re trying to bridge the gap.”
Over the years, the series’ home has been at different venues. It started at Low Spirits Bar & Stage and then moved to Ned’s. Both have since closed, and Kennedy is working with the Aux Dog Theatre for the space.
Kennedy is also launching a weekly series at Rio Bravo Brewing Co. on Second Street.