Burlesque for Books’ Marc Zegans and Miss Karen Lee have gathered together a coterie of exceptional talent for an evening of music, poetry, dance, laughter and intimacy.

Music

Sure to turn on your mind, body and soul “Burlesque, Books and Bascom Lodge” will feature music of an all star band with Kristen Gray and Michael Raye of SoulRaye and Kali Babba McConnell. Between them they have worked with some of the most famous and talented singer songwriters of the 20th and 21st century including Iggy Pop, Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, Gloria Gaynor Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, and The Allman Brothers to name but a few.

Poetry

Alternating the stillness of poetry will be the bawdy, burly, lusty burlesque performances of four talented dancers; the evening will be an intimate journey into your senses in a beautiful and unique setting. Narragansett Beer’s Poet Laureate Marc Zegans and Lenox based poet, Nichole C Dupont will seduce you with words that delve deep into your soul, taking you to your most intimate places and exposing your inner world.

Berkshire Burlesque

The luscious burlesque troupe starring the Karendipitous Madame K, and Miss Cody Dallaire and Miss Scarlett Deville of Gypsy Layne, as well as the delectable Ms B Haviour, will tease and please as they bring new meaning to “falling leaves”.

These brave Burlesque dancers will chance the chill airs atop Mount Greylock in an evening of peak poetic and musical experiences mixed with their own sultry gyrations and entwined with the music and movement of our trio of musicians, and the spinning discs of DJ Alan Wrench.

Marc Zegans says: “the evening is designed to be fun and seductive, an adventure beneath the skin, exploring and exposing our most secret parts in a exceptionally beautiful setting – what better way to spend a fall evening”.

Karen Lee says, “Purrrrfect poetry, in the most pleasing place, and sprites who delight, all for your pleasure this magic fall night.”

Schedule, Reservations

The overall event will run from 6PM-9:30 PM on October 2, 2011, with continuous performance in the Lodge Room. There is a 7PM Prixe Fixe Dinner in the Dining Room Reservations Required. Call 413-743-1591 To Reserve.
Schedule of Performances:
6PM Burlesque, Books, Music and More
7PM Live music, wine and beer in the Living Room
8:30 PM Sultry After Dinner Show

The Line Up

Hosted by Burlesque for Books’ Own Madame K (Miss Karen Lee) & Narragansett Beer Poet Laureate, Marc Zegans. Dance Performances by Miss B Havior, Gypsy Layne’s: Miss Cody Dallaire and Miss Scarlett DeVille, and the fabulous, Karendipitous, Madame K.

Readings by poets Nichole DuPont and Marc Zegans. Music By Soul Raye’s Michael Raye and Kristen Gray, Legendary drummer Kali Baba McConnell, and DJ Alan Wrench.

Musicians -SoulRaye

Kristen and Michael Raye, who together created the fusion band Soul Raye have both been performing since childhood. An immensely talented duo they have sung, acted, danced and performed with some of the world’s leading singers, dancers and actors and now perform together as SoulRaye.

Musicians – Kali Baba McConnell

Kali Baba McConnell describes himself as a Professional Sidekick. As one of the world’s leading drummers he’s travelled the world touring & recording with amazing artists, including Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, The Allman Brothers Band, Little Feat, Sean Hurley (John Mayer, Vertical Horizon), Matt Beck (Matchbox Twenty, Rod Stewart), Gordon Titcomb (Paul Simon, Shawn Colvin), Pete Seeger, The Weavers, John Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonfull), Sha-na-na, to name but a few of the talented singer/songwriters performers that he’s worked with over the years.

Musicians – Michael Raye

Michael Raye impressively played his first piano recital at Carnegie Hall at age 14, and works as a musician, a musical director and conductor and has recorded and toured extensively both nationally and internationally working with some of the world’s finest artistes including Daryl Hall, Will Downing, Michael Bolton Richie Havens, Gloria Gaynor, Deniece Williams, Suzette Charles, Bessye Scott, Keith David and Little Anthony and the Imperials amongst a so many others. Michael has performed on Broadway and has composed for film, television, industrials and corporate exhibits in the United States, Europe and Canada and has performed in numerous prime time television shows.

Kristen Gray aka Miss B Havior .

Kristen Gray is lead singer of SoulRaye. She has toured and recorded and performed with some of the world’s most famous singer/songwriters including Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Iggy Pop, Bootsy Collins. Originally from from Lenox, she began performing at age ten and made her NY Broadway debut at 18 when cast by Tom O’Horgan in the Broadway show “Senator Joe and appeared in many off-broadway shows as a singer, actress and dancer. Kristen has featured in several music videos on VH1, MTV, BET and the CBS series “Big Apple”. Kristen made her Burlesque debut several years ago in New York and now performs under the name Ms. B. Haviour.

The Burlesque Line Up

Burlesque for Book's own Karen Lee aka Mme. K.

Madame K, aka Karen Lee has become the Gypsy Rose Lee of the Berkshires. Beginning with” Burlesque for Books” at the Lenox Library in March 2010 where she was chairwoman of the gala, to Mistress of Ceromonies for Gypsy Layne (the Berkshires first home grown burlesque troupe). Ms. Lee has taken the opportunity to educate and titillate her local audiences. After much scandal and controversy, she now has become a leading force in the burlesque scene, performing throughout the county, as well as in NYC with the Poetry Brothel at “The Back Room” (Meyer Lansky’s original Speakeasy) as well as guest starring with the Sugar Shack Girls (New York’s premierer troupe). Ms Lee has studied/performed as a Broadway dancer and holds a degree in Dance and Sociology from Hunter College. She began her performance career at Jacobs Pillow and continues to choreograph, and is owner of Pilates Central. Karen is also an actor and has been performing on the many stages all over the Berkshires for 20 years.

Gypsy Layne's Nicole Rizzo aka Miss Cody Dallaire.

Nicole Rizzo aka Miss Cody Dallaire

Nicole Rizzo has been involved in the arts since childhood, working with the renowned Shakespeare & Co she then studied theater at the Circle in the Square Theatre Conservatory in New York City. Nicole has acted in off-Broadway plays, danced in various shows and modeled for MUDD jeans and has appeared in TV shows, and independent movies including “Kenmore Ave” which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival. She fell in love with burlesque when asked to choreograph a video for The Pointer Sisters and has been enthralled with the art, the glamour, and the mystique of Burlesque, ever since. Her Cabaret/Burlesque troupe, Gypsy Layne has taken the Berkshires by storm selling out crowds in North and South Country as well as performing at the Wanderlust yoga festival this past summer.

Katie Lovett aka Miss Scarlett DeVille

Miss Scarlett Deville

This is a girl you want to watch your step around. Scarlet was born with a witty mouth and was always tickled pink by a bit of trouble. Sent to a convent by her parents after she was arrested for swinging at a local speak easy, Scarlet tried to be good but the power of jazz and liquor was far too tempting. One night she packed her bags and hit the road! She shook her way into Gypsy Layne after they found her dancing in a hotel bar. Some like to say she’s a victim of bad habits, but for Scarlet, she likes the she IS the bad habit.

Poets – Nichole C. Dupont

Nichole Dupont is a writer and editor living and working in Berkshire County. She is the assistant editor for a weekly arts and culture magazine as well as a poetess and writer of fiction. Her love for words (especially inappropriate ones) has led her to contemplate endlessly on the foibles of love, hate and everything in between. In between stanzas, she can be found foraging in the woods with her two children, judging at local pie contests and swimming in questionable waters.

Burlesque for Book's, and Narragansett Beer's Poet Laureate, Marc Zegans.