Shows

Experience spectacular performances from Chicago’s Asian American Pacific Islander community! It’s a jam-packed month of burlesque, bellydance, circus arts, drag, traditional music, cultural dance, and more from nationally- and internationally-touring performers.

Friday, May 10 at 7pm

Raks Inferno: An Intimate Circus Speakeasy

Raks Inferno: An Intimate Circus Speakeasy

Experience an intimate speakeasy featuring modern cirque, bellydance, flow arts, and pole artists who have performed around the world, dazzling and inspiring audiences from Germany to Morocco, Argentina to the Czech Republic. These shows often sell out!

    Featuring:
  • Dawn Xiana Moon, who has sung the National Anthem for the Chicago Bulls and bellydanced on Britain's Got Talent
  • Caity, award-winning pole artist and contortionist who blends circus skills with ballet and contemporary dance
  • Lee Na-Moo, winner of the Chicago Oriental Dance Competition and touring cast with Bellydance Evolution and Joel Hall Dancers
  • Shalaka Kulkarni, who merges classical Indian dance forms Bharatnatyam and Kathak with contemporary dance
  • Camille Leon, nationally-headlining burlesque performer who brings contemporary flow arts

This performance will include collaborations between live musicians and physical performers.

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Friday, May 24 at 7pm

Fire + Dragons

Fire + Dragons

Join an all-star cast of nationally-touring Asian and Pacific Islander performers!

Fire + Dragons brings together drag, traditional music, comedy, and burlesque from some of Chicago's best performers for an explosion of forces rarely seen on the same stage.

    Featuring:
  • Switch the Boi Wonder, veteran drag king and producer of the drag show Notes on Masculinity
  • Prateek Srivastava, who’s appeared on NBC and was a #1 bestseller on both Amazon and iTunes for comedy
  • Dawn Xiana Moon, who has sung the National Anthem for the Chicago Bulls and bellydanced on Britain's Got Talent
  • Yin He Dance, classical Chinese dancers bridging the east and west
  • Jin Kim, artistic director and host of the comedy game show Batsu! Chicago
  • Tzu Tsen Wu, Chinese classical musician and ruan player who’s performed throughout Asia and the US
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Saturday, May 25 at 7pm

Newport Peek Easy

Newport Peek-Easy

This AAPI takeover of the Newport Theater’s weekly burlesque-focused variety show features both new and veteran performers!

Specialty cocktails, intimate tables, and a true speakeasy feel make this a memorable experience - bring your tipping dollars for an interactive night you'll never forget.

    Featuring:
  • Ms. B LaRose, international burlesque headliner, "The Biggest Tease" at the 2018 International Latin & Hispanic Burlesque Festival
  • Bazuka Joe, co-producer of the Burlesque Hall of Fame’s "Movers Shakers and Innovators"
  • Mae the Bellydancer, producer of the Glint and Varietease Cabaret
    • and more!
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Performers: Hawaiian dancer, mixed Filipina Latina burlesquer, Indian dancer, South Asian comedian Performers: Hawaiian dancer, mixed Filipina Latina burlesquer, Indian dancer, South Asian comedian
Dawn Xiana Moon, Bazuka Joe, Crocodile Lightning

About

Nominated "Best Performing Arts Festival 2023" by the Chicago Reader!

In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, The Newport Theater hosts its second annual festival of fringe arts from Chicago’s Asian American Pacific Islander community. It’s a jam-packed month of burlesque, bellydance, circus arts, drag, music, cultural dance, and more!

Producer

Dawn Xiana Moon

Dawn Xiana Moon is the Founder/Director of Raks Geek / Raks Inferno, a bellydance and fire performance company that's been featured on MSN, UK Channel 4 TV, WGN-TV, and more. She herself was named "Best Stage Performer" (twice), "Best Dancer" (twice), and "Best Choreographer" by the Chicago Reader. She's taught and performed in London; Toronto; Austin, TX; Washington, DC, and more; she appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2020.

Dawn is also a musician who's performed in 10 states, released 2 albums, and sung the national anthem for the Chicago Bulls; her music is a blend of folk/pop with influences from jazz and traditional Chinese music. She was named runner up for "Best Singer-Songwriter" and "Best International/World Music Act" by the Chicago Reader.

Social Media Manager

Ms. B LaRose

Known as the Glittering Goddess with the Heart of Gold, Ms. B LaRose is an electric, fun loving burlesque entertainer, producer, and motivator based in Chicago. This fiery Filipina-Latina brings a raw sultry, mischievous side smile that has been captivating audiences worldwide including stops in Germany, Netherlands, England, & Scotland, was dubbed "The Biggest Tease" for the International Latin & Hispanic Burlesque Festival and made her Burlesque Hall of Fame Debut in Vegas June 2023.

A Chicago Powerhouse performing professionally for nine years, at the start of 2021 she opened up an opportunity to build equity for our artists with Honey Hive Productions LLC, is Producer of the infamous traveling showcase STRIPPED bringing world class entertainment highlighting diversity, inclusivity for our BIPOC trans families pollinating her love for the art of burlesque one stage at a time. And in 2023, The Gaggy Nightlife awards recognized Ms. LaRose as Chicago’s Best Burlesque Entertainer! Raw, honest, and beautifully bare, Ms. B LaRose is looking to pollinate her love one stage at a time.

Bazuka Joe, Crocodile Lightning

Producers Emeritus

Bazuka Joe

Bazuka Joe is an international burlesque and cabaret performer with over 20 years experience touring professionally. He also produces shows for the Burlesque Hall of Fame, Newport Theater, Links Hall, and is the director of Newport Theater Camp.

Originally trained as a jazz and contemporary dancer, he also is skilled in vault staff and puppeteering. Major highlights in his career include performing with Sublime Boudoir, Alan Cumming, and Liza Minelli.

Crocodile Lightning

Crocodile Lightning has twirled her signature ribbons and performed across the USA and in New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, and Canada.

Crocodile Lightning was crowned the 2019 Queen Ambassador of the Noire Pageant. She was the headliner at the 7th Fierce! Queer Performing Arts Festival in Columbus, OH in May, 2019 and the featured performer and the winner of the Biggest Tease award at the 7th Oklahoma City Burlesque Festival in June, 2019. She was also the 2019 1st runner up of the Grand Master Funk at the What The Funk All PoC Burlesque Festival.

Venue

The Newport Theater: 956 W. Newport Ave., Chicago

The Newport Theater is Chicago's home for fringe theater. This 125-seat theater features an innovative mix of artist-produced burlesque, drag, comedy, and variety shows, with a bar featuring a selection of craft beers, cheap beers, wine, soft drinks, and mixed drinks (no food/no minimum).

The Newport features a diversity of voices, perspectives, and attitudes while steadfastly providing exceptional entertainment.

Accessibility

Our theater is up a flight of 21 stairs (plus a step up off the street) with railings on both sides of the staircase. We do have a separate entrance with dual railings if you prefer a private entrance that is less trafficked. We can also plan seating to accommodate your preferences (i.e. seating you near an exit with close access to a single stall, wheelchair-accessible gender-neutral restroom).

We believe everyone should have access to the theater, so we're happy to work with you to ensure the best experience. Email newporttheater@gmail.com so we can help you have the best night possible.

Newport Theater interior

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