Burlesque 'Queen' Preaches Risque Art for Berkshires
LENOX, Mass. — Nothing, not even a blizzard, can stop Karen Lee.Over the last year, the Pilates dynamo and proprietor of Karendipity at 30 Church St. has been chipping away at stereotype and scandal in the hopes of bringing the art of burlesque to the Berkshires. To that end, Lee is hosting a private party complete with bawdy poets and bustiered performers to help ring in the New Year. Of course, Lee said, encouraging the art of sequins and pasties has not been without its challenges, especially in rural Massachusetts.
"My mission was and is to teach the audience about why burlesque was 'forbidden' in Berkshire County," said Lee, described by Rural Intelligence as "the Lady Gaga of Lenox." "There are all of these possibilities; we had a debut in Pittsfield at Jae's Spice and we're coming back to that, and making our way south. There are connections in Boston and New York. I want to be the Berkshire queen of burlesque pinpoint."
Lee's foray into the risqué, so to speak, began initially as a good deed for the Lenox Library Association that raised a lot of eyebrows. Last March, Lee said she was asked to be the chairman for "Burlesque for Books," a fundraising event that included live performances by the Manhattan-based Sugar Shack Burlesque.
"Everything was in place and scheduled before I was even asked to chair the event," she said. "I called myself an impresario and I created a show with the girls that was completely literature-based.
"We sold all of the high-end tickets. It was all positive and there was no backlash until The Eagle published a story saying that Lenox was in violation of the blue laws. Then, suddenly it became all about girls stripping. I definitely got caught in the crossfire."
According to Brian Alberg, executive chef and director of food and beverage at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Burlesque for Books opened the door, albeit slowly, for other shows in the Berkshires. Alberg was a chef at the event, and plans to do the cooking for Lee's private party as well.
"I think it's controversial because of some of the old stereotypes; people were a little too uptight about it," he said. "Berkshire County is a center for the arts and burlesque is definitely an art; it's high-energy, comedic and theatrical."
Lee is not the only one heralding in the art of burlesque to the area. Great Barrington and Pittsfield Bra & Girl have hosted several salon prives that have highlighted lingerie and performances by the ladies of the Sugar Shack. Additionally, the Williamstown-based Gypsy Layne performers (with whom Lee now performs) have made late-night appearances at Jae’s Spice in Pittsfield, and are scheduled to appear again next month.
“When Gypsy Layne opened in Williamstown, it was standing room only; such an amazing show," Lee said. "That was retribution for what happened in Lenox. We played for almost three months this summer, each time to a packed house."
After performing at the Red Herring, the troupe appeared this past fall at Main Street Stage in North Adams.
Lee said she hopes her New Year's Eve party will garner the same response.
"This marks a new beginning. We are integrating the concept of poetry, burlesque and music," she said. "A lot of local celebrities are coming to share their work; it's basically underground. No laws are going to be broken, I think."
For more information on Karen Lee and upcoming burlesque shows visit www.karenleecentral.com or www.gypsylayne.com.
