Month: February 2014

Ronicka Tribal Fusion

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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Few artists have managed to make an impact on an audience like the Serpentine Dancer, Ronicka. Debuting at Nuevo early in 2014 she brought the house down with a heart stopping performance that was met with thunderous applause. 

As she prepares for her performance at Speakeasy Nuevo on March 8th, she is literally sharpening a sword (known as a safe) that she will be performing with!! 

We took the Serpentine Dancer aside and threw a bunch of questions at her in the name of all thing tribal fusion. 

If you could have a dream gig where and what would it be?

Any stage that I can perform a tribal dance on is a good stage. Though in the future I’m hoping to create a dance troup that will travel around Australia and maybe even overseas.

In a hundred years time what would you like to be remembered for?

I would like to be remembered as the serpentine dancer that brought a vibe or sense of a far far land onto the stage.

What rituals do you have to prepare for a big show?

1. Preparing a costume – For every performance I always make the costume myself. I’m using materials and decoration pieces from around the world.

2. Putting on make up – Tribal fusion make up is very dark and dramatic. It usually takes me about an hour or so to apply my make up.

3. Hours of muscle stretching . Stretching my muscles allows my body to move in more serpentine ways and also calms my mind as well.

What part of your performance are you proudest of and why?

I’m proud of my choreography. For my next performance at Speakeasy I’m going to use a sword. This new choreography will bring drama and danger onto the stage.

What are you most looking forward to when performing at Speakeasy Nuevo?

Performing at Speakeasy Nuevo is always exciting. The audience is very open minded and embracing. I’m looking forward to bringing danger and drama with my sword dance onto the stage and get the adrenalin pumping so to speak.

We can’t wait to see the Serpentine Dancer in action and to see what she can do with a sword!!!!

Get your tickets now at http://www.Speakeasy-HQ.Com

Jordy Doust – illusionist

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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At Speakeasy we are thrilled to have been able offer performances to a number of Magicians. But without question the amazing Jordy Doust comes to us on the 8th May with a fresh new approach that stands aside from the rest.

Discovered while dealing a three card monte in Melbourne on the streets. Jordy’s good looks, charm and charisma are a unique blend that puts his audience in the palm of his hand. But the proof, as they say, is in the pudding and his ability to make people say; ‘how’d he do that?’ Is that final mark if greatness that not many achieve.

We took Jordy aside to ask him a stack if questions as he shuffles his cards for his next performance at Speakeasy Nuevo.

If you could have your dream gig where and what would it be?

To live comfortably doing what I love (Magic), being with the person I love.

In a hundred years time what would you like to be remembered for?

Being a kind selfless person, willing to put other people before himself

What rituals do you have to prepare for a big show?

Getting changed, rehearsing the performance, and making sure i’m happy before I walk up on stage

What part of your performance are you proudest of and why?

When I can make people, laugh, cry, and aww in the show.

What are you most looking forward to when performing at Speakeasy Nuevo?

Seeing a great crowd there to enjoy the show…working on the street you rarely see people there to just have fun, but at Speakeasy Nuevo, everyone is just the best. I love all of you guys.

Don’t miss Jordy Doust at Speakeasy Nuevo. Tickets are strictly limited so get online now!!

http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=76473

The Frank Richards Experience

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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It’s not often someone comes along with so much talent that it can clog the drain in your shower. The Frank Richards Experience is, well, difficult to describe.

Combining the best parts of circus sideshow, male modeling and a general disregard for longevity, The Frank Richards Experience takes the stage to provide a creative interpretation of what it means to be an entertainer.

From his roots in youth theatre, through a keen interest in music production and performance, he discovered himself running away to join the circus at the tender age of 21. But without a highly trained circus skill, he found himself thrust out onto the stage in front of an expectant audience.

What happened that night was a beautiful thing. By the seat of his pants he brought down the house, and has since been commited to being the best at whatever it is that he does…

So we took the towering, hairy man aside and threw a stack of questions his way to get to know all things Frank Richards for our next Speakeasy Nuevo Experience on the 8th of March!

If you could have your dream gig where and what would it be?

A vast showcase of all the talented people I’ve met over the years,
all leading up to my headlining act.

In a hundred years time what would you like to be remembered for?

Being The best looking 128 year old there has ever been.

What rituals do you have to prepare for a big show?

I had a few rituals, but the materials for them come from animals that
are now extinct, so now i generally just warm up my enormous muscles.

What part of your performance are you proudest of and why?

The part where people throw money at me. It’s happened before. I mean,
it was an old sock filled with $15 in silver coins, but money nonetheless.
I’ve still got the lump where it hit me.

What are you most looking forward to when performing at Speakeasy Nuevo?

The uplifting sound of the audience’s applause and hopefully I can
make a few people squeal in terror. That’s my favourite sound.

Don’t miss your chance to experience Frank Richards face, to hairy face at Speakeasy Nuevo. Seats are strictly limited so book online now.

http://www.trybooking.com/76473

New Speakeasy

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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So many of our loyal fans have been writing to us and commenting on our blog telling us how much they enjoy each Speakeasy event that we put on. We must admit, as a group of four of us, each committed to producing the various Speakeasy productions, it has been no easy fete. However, we hear what you’re all saying; so we thought we’d post this WordPress update to keep you all in the loop.

Speakeasy HQ is the brain child of four friends who have all committed various resources to make it the success it’s fast become. Amongst us are a business woman, a circus producer and performer, a burlesque and circus veteran and a bar, food and hospitality expert.

When we came together in mid 2013 it was at the request of Roy Maloy. His drive and determination was the key factor in bringing together all the necessary pieces to launch a project of this size. Over the following months we each invested as much as we could to buy, build and hire everything that would be needed to produce a kickass vaudeville show, run a bar and blow people away with our tapas.

After our first Speakeasy production, known as Speakeasy HQ, we were overwhelmed with positive feedback and offers of support by artists and others in various industries who could see what we were trying to achieve. The shows were huge in size, heaving violently over two different performance stages, including up to 23 acts per night and creating an electric atmosphere creating mayhem and pandemonium!

In mid January we launched a second production at an all new and entirely different venue, known as Speakeasy Nuevo. The venue is a smaller space, with polished brass, bevelled mirrors, beautiful woodwork and high fashion worn by artists and guests alike. The response to this new, refined and highly polished atmosphere, was even more encouraging, with our first show selling out a week before opening night, and our VIP tables for the upcoming show selling out within a week of the last performance! A lot of shows will say they sell out, and some actually do – but those who *actually* stop selling tickets entirely before the show, with no waiting-lists, no ‘extra tickets’ that had been forgotten about being found at the last minute and no ways to ‘squeeze in one more’ – are a very rare show to be at or see. We were fortunate enough to actually have one such show on our hands.

Now, as everything settles from our second Speakeasy Nuevo production, Valentine’s Vaudeville show, we are again looking forward to a Stella line up of stars; performing to an equally amorous audience for our next show on March 8th.

Into the future we are today able to say that we will be making two announcements at the next Nuevo! We will be telling our adoring audience what the next huge step is for Speakeasy HQ, as well as announcing the birth of our newest and next production, to be launched in March! As we experiment with various venues, road testing the myriad of foods, wines and performer types, we continue to learn who we are, what our audience want and what we need to be as we move toward finding our own permanent venue later in 2014.

The event & ticket information for the March 8th show, Vaudeville in the Extreme will be announced soon and we are extremely excited about seeing you all, once more, being a part of our future and speaking easy with us at the Home of the Stars.

Keep speaking easy,
Love Knuckles and the Gang.
http://www.Speakeasy-HQ.com

You can also Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/SpeakeasyHQ and follow us on Twitter @SpeakeasyHQ

Music Hall Vaudeville Veterans Sunny & Cloudy

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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Here in Australia we inherited an English music hall hybrid, American Stage show style of vaudeville. It had the echoes of our English past and all things found entertaining by the motherland and her people, along with the pop culture of the 1920’s as seen in publications brought here predominantly by American soldiers in WWI.

At its height, Australian burlesque programs would host a wide variety of acts including singers and dancers, jugglers and acrobats and a solid mix of novelties including a dancing penguin, the ‘World’s Fattest Boy’ and all manner of other amazing performance types. But there in their midst was a stock standard favourite that was loved by all ages, and popular all the way through to the bitter end of the vintage vaudeville genre. The song and patter comedy duos (usually male) would punctuate brilliant quizzical stand up and satire with comedy and novelty songs. Great examples of this genre include Bing and Bob, Gracie and George and follows even by the likes of Morrie Field and Auntie Jack who got about the Australian traps in their hey day.

But now, in a day of full throttle appreciation of variety, brilliance and all things rare and exotic, we at Speakeasy HQ are thrilled to be able to bring to Nuevo one of the only veteran, music hall, funny men musicians in the entire country!

Appearing at Speakeasy Nuevo on February 15th in our Valentine’s Vaudeville show we will be presenting Sunny and Cloudy. This amazingly gifted and timelessly talented duo will be performing their comedy songs, hilarious patter and slapstick madness for our well deserving audiences.

So we took both of our timeless funny men aside and threw them a stack of questions as they polished their array of weird and wonderful, home made instruments.

Responses from Sunny:

What’s the most important thing that you try to achieve when you’re performing?

We hope people will take from the Sunny and Cloudy experience a deeper appreciation of the tragedy of being a Bluesman from the wrong river. Being from the Maribyrnong Delta gives one a certain ‘hue’ on life.

What has the highlight of your career been so far and why?

Our World Tour of Rivers gave us the opportunity to see that the so-called “great” rivers of the world. It was eye opening. However, we came home with a clearer understanding that nothing compares to the Mighty Maribyrnong!

What other performer have you drawn your greatest inspiration from as an artist?

When I was growing up out West there was this harmonica player we called T. B. Harpman. That wasn’t his name – he was just a man who played the harp. Those weren’t his initials, either – he actually had TB! The most important lesson he taught me was – never share your harps with anybody, especially if you’ve had TB!

What will you be performing at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15?

We will be performing out majestic theme song The Mighty, Dirty, Muddy, Murky Maribyrnong and a couple of numbers from our short-lived incarnation as a bush band – “The Sunnydowners”.

Responses from Cloudy:

What’s the most important thing that you try to achieve when you’re performing?

That’s a tough question.
Obviously we firstly attempt to achieve world peace. Some people think we are aiming too high, but I think Sunny and Cloudy have single-handedly almost achieved this.
Our second objective is to achieve a breathtaking level of entertainment excellence. This will set an enormously high standard for the hordes of Maribyrnong delta bluesmen who will follow in our footsteps.
Perhaps we might just stick with trying to achieve world peace.
For the information of your south of the Yarra readers the Maribyrnong River is a very big river in the western part of Melbourne….and yes there is a western part of Melbourne, and no we do not have a chip on our shoulders.

What has been the highlight of your career been so far and why?

There have been so many it is hard to choose. If I had to select one it would be our longevity in the often fickle world of show biz.
Admittedly we have shamelessly jumped on every band wagon that came along but hey who hasn’t, and I’m looking at you Roy when I say this.

That reminds of another highlight …..we never went disco and never will, except if there is a tasteful disco comeback. (Apologies to music lovers for even mentioning the possibility of such a cataclysmic event)

What other performer have you drawn your greatest inspiration from as an artist?

Following a fairly ugly plagiarism trial our legal advisers have particularly asked us not to answer this question. However, we can say that when we steal, we steal only from the best. Sorry, I’ll put that another way…. we never steal from anybody but if we did decide to steal for other artists we would steal from the best.
No, that’s not right either, we have never been influenced by anybody…particularly those people we sound like.

What will you be performing at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15?

As Sunny said we will be performing our ever popular anthem the Mighty Dirty Muddy Murky Maribyrnong (our fans demand this, and we are nothing if not shameless panderers to popular taste, also see previous note about what is a Maribyrnong River)

We have also chosen a couple of items from our “iconic” Bush Band period (yes, it was another bandwagon, but we really were fairly good at this one…and at least it wasn’t disco.)

We thank the amazing Sunny and Cloudy for their clear demonstration of what we can expect. Our hands will no doubt ache from clapping too hard and our sides will split, but we just… Can’t… Look… Away!!!

Get your tickets to Speakeasy Nuevo’s Valentine’s Vaudeville show for Feb 15th online while tickets last at http://www.Speakeasy-HQ.com

Sarah Jones Ventriloquist Extraordinaire

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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It’s often thought that the smooth running of an amazing vaudeville show is dependant on its MC and host. At Speakeasy Nuevo we’re thrilled to have the presentation and masterful control of Puppeteer Extraordinaire Sarah Jones.

As one of the world’s most acclaimed ventriloquists and comedians Sarah specialises in a line of comedy unparalleled at any point throughout history. Now as the Master of Ceremonies at Speakeasy Nuevo’s Valentine’s Vaudeville show we can not only announce with excitement that she will also be performing her unique and world classed act for our adoring audience!

So we took Ms Jones aside and threw a bunch of questions at her as she polishes up her voice throwing and dusts off her sock puppets.

What’s the most important thing that you try to achieve when you’re performing?

The most important thing is to have fun. If you’re genuine and enjoy what you do the audience will be able to relax and a have a good time too.

What has the highlight of your career been so far and why?

Last year I went and did a show in Afghanistan. While there I visited a circus school and gave the kids a little lesson in ventriloquism.

What other performer have you drawn your greatest inspiration from as an artist?

I draw a lot of inspiration from performers of our past but my favourite living performer is magician and ventriloquist Ray Crowe. He’s an absolute genius.

What will you be performing at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15?

I’ll be hosting the night, creating a fun a friendly atmosphere. A couple of puppet friends will probably make an appearance also.

Don’t miss your opportunity to see the amazing Sarah Jones in person at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15th! Tickets are strictly limited so log onto http://www.Speakeasy-HQ.com

Timothy Christopher Ryan Boylesque Superstar

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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We feel lucky to have in our midsts a man of exceptional and breathtaking talent at Speakeasy Nuevo. Much to the delight and roar of our audience TCR has had back to back smash hits in his repeat performances at Nuevo with his Boylesque striptease followed in January by his amazing half man half woman duet.

So we took the superstar aside and asked him a bunch of questions as we prepare for his next big hit!!

What’s the most important thing that you try to achieve when you’re performing?

My performances are created from the past with an aim towards the future. I attempt to create a visceral experience that documents a slice of our culture.

What has the highlight of your career been so far and why?

As an artist my highlight has been a sellout performance that I co-created for melb fringe. A vaudeville show strung together by the story of Alice in Wonderland.

What other performer have you drawn your greatest inspiration from as an artist?

My influences are many and varied but those who stand out are Marina Abramovic, Punchdrunk theatre company and Finucane and Smith.

What will you be performing at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15?

The audiences at the Valentine’s Speakeasy will be entertained by my physical lyrical poetry. Be prepared for some skin, an apple and some fast paced delicious words.

With just so many teasing descriptives all in the same place, we can’t wait to see what TCR does with the apple…

For your tickets to see the Boylesque Superstar in action log onto http://www.Speakeasy-HQ.com – seating is limited.

Rubi Shall Croon

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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At Speakeasy HQ we have been blessed with some huge names in all facets of singing, with artists from all walks of the tuneful art forms passing through our stages to belt or croon out the odd tune of two.

This February 15th we are excited to be hosting the beautiful and bubbly Rubi, who will be singing some of the classics for our adoring audience. But this young talent isn’t just one of the many. Beginning our program at the Valentine’s Vaudeville performance her dulcet tones will sweep us off our feet!

We took Rubi aside to ask her a mountain of question and to get to know her a bit better!

What’s the most important thing that you try to achieve when you’re performing?

I usually like to make sure I’m making contact with the audience somehow, whether it by eye contact, speaking to them or even serenading them.

What has the highlight of your career been so far and why?

Definitely singing and performing for Ruccis circus.

What other performer have you drawn your greatest inspiration from as an artist?

One of the first artists that inspired me to sing was probably Lisa Mitchell. She was such a pure and innocent voice and I pretty much wanted to be her.

What will you be performing
at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15?

I will be performing an opening set of romantic tunes to ease the punters into the Speakeasy

To see Rubi Huybers performing in person make sure you get your tickets to Speakeasy Nuevo by visiting http://www.Speakeasy-HQ.com

Take Cover for the Bombshell!!! Miss Bettie Bombshell & Folies

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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In any industry certain individuals will cut away from the pack, as they demonstrate what they have come to be known for. In the case of Miss Bettie Bombshell it’s what she isn’t that has made her one of the most popular artists to ever hit the Speakeasy Nuevo stage!! A classically trained dancer, Bettie doesn’t ‘just’ shimmy. Neither does she ‘just’ shake. No. That would be the stuff of many. After her last outrageous performance at Speakeasy Nuevo where the audience roared in appreciation for her, there seemed to be no two people cheering for the same reason. One reviewer stated, ‘she was just so FUNNY!’ While another said, ‘without taking off her actual cloths she was more sexy that any woman I’ve ever seen!’

This February 15th, Miss Bettie Bombshell will again be drawn to the vaudeville stage of Speakeasy Nuevo, where she will demonstrate without question why she has come to be so known and sought after as one of Melbourne’s leading Burlesque artists. Along with her supporting dancers, Bettie will be presenting a whole new choreography that includes new burlesque and tease along with the added glamour and beauty of her dancers and accompanying follies!

We took Miss Bettie Bombshell aside to talk us through what her newest explosion will be like.

What’s the most important thing that you try to achieve when you’re performing?

The most important thing I try to achieve when performing is, entertaining the masses! Making sure that my audience is interested, excited, and always having a great time whilst watching my shows. I also like to throw in some cheeky bits as a a surprise! (Pun intended)

What has the highlight of your career been so far and why?

My highlight so far has been performing along side my favourite and most respected Australian performer. I have drawn a lot of inspiration from this little lady, and it was something special to be in the same show.

What other performer have you drawn your greatest inspiration from as an artist?

The people I draw inspiration from are largely my friends. I am amazed at the sheer talent of these performers and continue to feel Inspired by their art. And I’m not just talking about the burlesque industry, I draw inspiration from dancers, artists, intellectuals, musicians etc.

What will you be performing at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15?

This performance is going to be amazing! I have gathered two of the most charismatic, incredibly talented, fantastic performers and created a comedic, cheeky, acrobatic, entertaining new act for the Speakeasy Valentines event.

See Miss Bettie Bombshell at Speakeasy Nuevo on February 15th. Seating is strictly limited so log into www.Speakeasy-HQ.com to reserve your seat.

The Go To Man for Laughs, Michael Connell

Posted on by RoyMaloy

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Throughout history most of the greatest names to have ever emerged in comedy began with vaudeville. Only in the past 60 years with the rise of television and venues that specialised in stand up comedy have we seen a departure from the exclusivity of comedians beginning their professional careers in vaudeville theatres.

Much to the huge delight of the Speakeasy Nuevo audience at our January show we were able to introduce stand up comedy as a now standard feature to our programmes.

This February 15th Nuevo will send onto its stage an artist who has been cutting up comedy rooms around the country for over a decade and now boasts one of the most substantial reputations in the industry as Melbourne’s Go To Man for Laughs.

Michael Connell is his name and his ability to not only present his own material, but to also work a room brilliantly into a crescendo of laughter has delivered him with a following of all ages. When listening to his Schtick any audience will laugh at his jokes. They’re funny. However, his unique ability to ‘long distance throw’ jokes from the beginning of a set to the very end of his performance, tying jokes together from all parts of his show, makes him one in a million!

This February 15th The Go To Man for Laughs will be bringing it to Speakeasy Nuevo, so we took Mr Connell aside and threw him into a stack of questions to learn more about him.

What’s the most important thing that you try to achieve when you’re performing?

I’d probably say it’s “to make the audience laugh”, if I didn’t achieve that I wouldn’t be much of a comedian would I?

What has the highlight of your career been so far and why?

This will sound ridiculous, but I once got to perform at the World Scout Jamboree. There were over 12,000 scouts at this thing, and the stage we performed on had previously been used by Green Day. It’s the closest I’ve ever been to being a rock star.

What other performers have you drawn your greatest inspiration from as an artist?

Probably The Goodies. Watching their show after school as a kid made me want to be a comedian.

What will you be performing at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15?

My best stand up comedy and maybe playing a little harmonica.

Don’t miss your opportunity to see The Go To Man for Laughs, Michael Connell, at Speakeasy Nuevo on Feb 15th Valentine’s Vaudeville. Ticketing information is available at www.Speakeasy-HQ.com