Burlesque To Broadway is Flying High from IA,SC and FL!
Hi Bumper Grinders,
We just flew in (and “Boy are our arms tired!”) from a fabulous tour of Iowa,South Carolina and Florida! It has been an exhilarating time,offering all of us a wonderful opportunity to perform on spectacular stages,play to thrilling audiences with incredible musicians and meet extraordinary people in the various communities! I believe a picture is worth a thousand words so here is our blog of our ADVENTURE!
"Can't you feel the energy in this theater?"
Our first stop was to fly into Des Moines,IA,where it had just snowed! It was stunning! Like a winter wonderland!
We rented a van,but soon realized our company and show has grown,so we had to split up into two vehicles! I guess,Wendall Goings,our amazing costume designer has expanded our feathers! 
We drove through cornfields and very straight roads in the middle of NOWHERE until we got to our destination,FAIRFIELD,IOWA! Fairfield is a remarkable town of 10,000 people. It is famous for it’s Maharishi University that specializes in transcendental meditation. Oprah just did a piece on it! After traveling since 4 am,we had a delicious lunch at Top of The Rock (who also did our catering- delish!- Food is soooo important when on the road! Thank you Top of the Rock!) then straight to the theatre!
The Stephen Sondheim Center is a jewel! A fantastic state of the art theater. Rustin Lippincott,our promoter and his team were amazing! We were sold out with standing ovations! Our friend Dee Dee came all the way to Iowa from Colorado with her boyfriend after seeing us in Seattle last Feb! That was INCREDIBLE! Touching!
A packed sold out house in a town of 10,000 to come out dressed up,ready for a good time is remarkable! We had a blast! We stayed at a gorgeous inn,The Seven Roses Inn,our hosts Bob and Connie made us feel special and welcome! We especially loved the Dynasty pink spa and hot tub and the incredible scones!
The Stephen Sondheim Center,Fairfield,IA
Here is a quote from the executive director,Rustin Lippencott
“BURLESQUE TO BROADWAY brought energy and excitement to the Sondheim Center! Quinn Lemley lit up the stage and her voice was purely amazing!!!! The sequins and feathers brought the glitz and glam of a Vegas production direct from Broadway. This is a celebration of our ladies that Southeast Iowa audiences will remember for years to come! Phenomenal!”
Sondheim Center for the Arts,Rustin Lippincott
Quinn Lemley in Burlesque To Broadway - "Here I am!!"
Then off to Columbia,SC to get to The Newberry Opera House in Newberry,South Carolina. We were delayed in Chicago,so it took a full day to get there!
The next morning I was back in Columbia doing the Morning Show on Fox with Tyler Ryan. He is FANTASTIC! Great interviewer! Here is a link to the interview:
Burlesque To Broadway with Tyler Ryan on Fox\’s Morning Show
It’s always a thrill to get to do a great interview! I was so excited because I had a great interview on Fox with Tyler on Monday and on Tuesday morning the executive director,Debra Smith of the Opera House,hosted me on her radio show in Newberry! Debra is a wonderful interviewer and knows EVERYTHING about theater,culture about everything! Especially how to run a fantastic theater!
W Brent Sawyer,our musical director and “Kitten on the Keys”and I got a tour of Carter and Holmes,the largest hybrid orchard growers in SC! We had a blast seeing all of these stunning orchids. Mr Holmes SR,who is on the board of the Opera House gave us a tour personally! When we do our fan dance we feel like those beautiful exquisite flowers! What amazes me,is that these theaters promote the economy and vitality of these communities from restaurants,shops to industry! They are all vital to the economy! Support the arts!
My Kitten on the Keys,Musical Director,W Brent Sawyer and Quinn Lemley
Finally off to the theater,another masterpiece! A turn of the century (1890′s) jewel! It was like stepping back in time,it is so intimate and exquisite! Debra presents almost 300 shows a year in a community of 10,000 people! Her staff and crew are incredible,a delight to work with!
From the stage of the Newberry Opera House,SC - What a thrill!
We had a great rehearsal Tuesday night and Wednesday geared up for two shows! I tell ya,the South does not miss a beat! People came from all over! We sold out our evening show,standing ovations,the crowd didn’t miss a beat with the jokes! Again sold out for two shows in a community of 10,000 people is incredible! Some people that came to the matinee returned for the evening show! The chairman of the board came to the matinee and told everyone they had to come to the show! –We only had a few seats left,then sold out!
There was a woman who used to be a Burlesquer,formally known at “Lili Marlene”who had a history book of Burlesque where she was featured! She had the girls and I sign her chapter! She was STUNNING in her prime! We were so honored that she would want US to sign HER photo!
In Between Shows at the Newberry Opera House,SC - Natalie Loftin Bell,Quinn Lemley and McClain Kitchens
Tech-ing the show in SC –Miss Mary on lights ROCKED the house!
Miss Mary on Lights at Newberry Opera House ROCKS! How can I not feel fab?
Like I said,this was a testament that the theaters bring together a community,because of the theater,they had first class gourmet restaurants like Steven W’s (he sent us the most amazing desert sampling and stayed open late so we could dine after the rehearsal! We felt so welcome,and well fed! And Delewaters! Did you know that grits and lobster are popular in the South? Mmmm! They were packed because of our show! Food and Music is the spice of life!
The girls and I had to do the excessive bumping grinding and shimmey-ing to enjoy all of the Southern Hospitality!!! Thank God,our choreographer,Merete Muenter whipped us into shape in rehearsals! Her choreography is so much fun!
MY GIRLS!
The fabulous McClain Kitchens as Raz
The Sexy and Vivacious Natalie Loftin Bell as Gracie
We were on a high as we packed our sequins,feathers and fans for a 3:30 am departure for West Palm Beach,Florida where we had a series of private performances in Southern,Florida. Thank you Abbey Kofler and her crew! They DO know how to Bump n Grind in FL!
After having performed in so many wonderful venues in Florida and with extraordinary musicians it was like old home week. It was a thrill to play with bassist,Irv Goldberg again and to meet other great musicians!
It meant so much to me,that so many people came who have seen me at the Kravis Center over the years,attended these concerts! Even Steve the manager of my FAVORITE hotel,The Chesterfield in Palm Beach came with his family.
McClain Kitchens as Raz
What’s not to love about Palm Beach? Again standing ovations and wonderful venues and Palm Beach and Bocca sold out!
It was wonderful to be in the sun and on the beach and strolling Worth Avenue on our days off,the highlight was celebrating our producer,Paul Horton’s birthday together Al Fresco next to the ocean under the stars at Testa’s,one of Palm Beach’s oldest restaurants. Paul made this all happen for all of us! He is amazing!
My girls backstage,Natalie Loftin Bell and McClain Kitchens
Just a quick thank you to MY GIRLS,Natalie Loftin Bell and McClain Kitchens who bump and grind,shimmey and make it seem effortless! They are a DELIGHT to be on stage with! We have such a blast!
Joe Hardy,our director,Tom Pollard,the King of the Badumdums,rock star on drums,W Brent Sawyer our musical director extraordinaire,Merete Muenter our amazing and talented choreographer,Wendall Goings our costume designer who makes us girls SPARKLE,the incredible musicians in Iowa,South Carolina and Florida,our wonderful presenters and their staff &crews,Rustin,Debra and Abby for presenting us on their magnificent stages,the enthusiastic and wonderful audiences in the Midwest and South and to Paul Horton for putting it all together,being “Charlie”to his angels! Thank you!
SEE YOU IN BROOKLYN MAY 18 &19th!
More to come!!!! SOON!!!!!!!
Burlesque To Broadway at the Millennium Theater,Brooklyn,NY May 18 &19!
This was THE most fun shoot ever!