Les Cougars
James Pederson
A group of people on stage.
The finale of a past Les Cougars showcase.
It's been three years since the last Valentine's Day variety show hosted by Les Cougars, a local collective featuring burlesque and fetish artists, musicians and comedians. Those intervening years have proven the world could use more of their brand of joyfully risque fun. The Les Cougars cast will be joined by drag superstar Cass Marie Domino, stand-up comedian Vickie Lynn, and other special guests.
media release: Tickets available at high-noon.com or The Sylvee box office during their business hours listed here: https://www.thesylvee.com/
Join us for Les Cougars Annual Valentine's Day Show. This V-Day we have some of your favorite cougars along with special guests who will be performing their best! The show offers a variety of burlesque, live music, comedy, drag, circus, fetish, and more!!
If you haven't been to a Les Cougars show yet, you do not want to miss out! This is the PERFECT date night, girls' night out, and everything in between. Our last show was in 2020, just weeks before the world changed. We've missed you, and can't wait to celebrate all that is love!
In January 2014, Les Cougars hosted their first event, and it was the beginning of some fantastic friendships and sensational shows. February 14, 2020, was the last time these cats took the stage as a troupe. A lot has happened between then and now, and they are excited to bring back their annual Valentine’s Day showcase to the High Noon Saloon in Madison, Wisconsin. It’s been a few years since they were seen out in the wild, so here’s an introduction to their enigmatic ensemble.
First, let’s address the animal in the room, the rather risqué name. A cougar is defined as a “middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger person.” While some of their members have taken that title to heart, the driving force behind their connection seems to be camaraderie. “Our name is very tongue in cheek, but we wear it like a badge of honor. There is an indefinable connection between people of “a certain age,” and we relish the opportunity to take a step back from our lives and just have some fun,” said Lili Luxe, producer.
According to their definition, a cougar is a local performer over the age of thirty-five. “As you get older, it gets harder to get out there; so we come together to celebrate our community, our bodies and spirit. We’re loud women; we’re queer and absurd; and we believe that you should love yourself and praise others. We have so much gratitude and joy about the whole experience, whether we’re starring in the show or cheering from the sidelines as heartfelt fans.”
So what exactly do these cougars do? Apparently, a little bit of everything. They sing, tell jokes, play music, and tease the crowd with tassels. Variety is the spice of life, and that’s the soul of their showcase. Fun fact: the cast of the 2023 Valentine's Day show has over 500 years combined experience on stage. The line-up includes Vanessa Tortolano, Lyndsay Evans, Julia McConahay, Kitty Larue, Greta Thorn, Lili Luxe, Blythe Gamble, Rita Witter, Ava Gazelle, Elle Mae, and Belle Folle with special guests Ms. Behavin from Peach Pies Caburlesque; Cass Marie Domino, drag icon and Miss Gay Madison Elite; Luv Joy Seamon, aerialist from Cycropia; and comedian Vickie Lynn.
You may be wondering why they are celebrating how seasoned they are? It’s because the entertainment industry does not favor aging, especially for older women. This year’s Golden Globes are an example of a remarkable turn of events for several of the top honors. In Michelle Yeoh’s acceptance speech for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, Yeoh said, “I think all of you women understand this as the days, the years, and the numbers get bigger, it seems like opportunities start to get smaller as well. I’m just going to stand here and take this all in.”
These local ladies choose to sparkle in lieu of fizzling out. They stand together and take it all in. The recurring theme is self-love, and they hope to fuel the fiery spirit in all of us. Don’t miss your chance to catch this feral pack of performers sharing their extraordinary joy and talent. From the sound of it, it will be a roaring good time.
COUGAR CAST:
★ Vanessa Tortolano, Comedy
★ Lyndsay Evans, Singer
★ Lili Luxe, Burlesque & Fetish
★ Julia McConahay, Musician
★ Kitty LaRue, Singer
★ Greta Thorn, Burlesque
★ Hellen Muff, Burlesque
★ Rita Witter, Musician
★ Ava Gazelle, Burlesque
★ Elle Mae, Burlesque
★ Belle Folle, Burlesque
SPECIAL GUESTS:
★ Vickie Lynn, Comedian
★ Cass Marie Domino, Miss Gay Madison Elite
★ Ms. Behavin, Peach Pies Caburlesque
★ Luv Seamon, Cycropia & Bottoms Up Aerial Burlesque
★ Ruby Devour, Full Moon Burlesque
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