Montreal Burlesque Festival: A Month of Seduction, Art and Entertainment

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 30, 2012) - Scarlett James, president and founder of the Montreal Burlesque Festival announces a dramatic departure from its classic three-day format of previous years, with the introduction of a series of teasing events to last throughout the month of September.

The celebrations begin on September 6, aboard the Empire Sandy, the largest sailing boat in Canada. APOLLO L'AGENCE will host the launch of the 4th edition of the festival as part of its Jeudis d'APOLLO, a monthly professional networking event featuring Scarlett James and the Montreal Burlesque Festival. The press conference of the Montreal Burlesque Festival will also be held Thursday, September 6 at 5:30pm precisely on the pier in front of the Empire Sandy.

Meanwhile, fifty business partners will meet, as well as thousands of enthusiastic on the Jacques-Cartier pier in the Old Port of Montreal for a fabulous 5 à7 and have the opportunity to board the Empire Sandy to remind us of the great Montreal Burlesque era and the end of prohibition. From 7pm to 9pm, 275 members of the media, friends, partners and business personalities will go on a cruise on the St. Lawrence river aboard the Empire Sandy and enjoy an entertainment with 30 artists and culinary surprises. The evening will continue thereafter on the Jacques-Cartier pier from 9pm to 11pm under the great sounds of DJ Kola Papass.

On September 10^th, audiences will be treated to an emotional trip down burlesque's memory lane, with a dinner and a special screening of the documentary Behind the Burly Q, at the Rialto Theatre (www.behindtheburlyq.com). Director Leslie Zemeckis and producer Sheri Hellard traveled extensively across America, from New Jersey, to Louisiana and Florida, and many pit stops in between, to track down legendary performers of the Golden Age of Burlesque, and their surviving relatives, and reveal their experiences during The Great Depression years and beyond, often under extremely difficult circumstances and social discrimination. Tickets will be sold at the door for $45, including dinner. Doors will open at 6pm, dinner will be served at 7pm, and the screening will begin at 8pm.

A calendar of art exhibitions and activities will follow at 227 Notre-Dame West, starting on September 13^th with the very popular Etiquette & Protocol lessons, hosted by Nancy Kosik. On the 15^th, visitors will be invited to attend what the Globe & Mail has called "the most provocative literary series in the world." This unique club is formed of charming ladies, who love to share wonderful books in the nude. Their beautiful gatherings involve a lot more than reading and places are quite limited.

On September 19^th, fashion lovers will be treated to the absolute sexiest show of the year, featuring the latest creations of sensuality masters Nevik, Il Bolero, Lise Charmel and Anomal Couture. The event will take place between 5pm and 7pm, including a networking cocktail to mingle with guests and the designers.

The official Montreal Burlesque Festival will be held at the Club Soda on September 28^th, 29^th, and 30^th. For more information, to buy tickets and list of artists, please, visit www.montrealburlesquefestival.ca

« The festival is a tribute to a time when nightlife was all about glamour and high energy entertainment » said Scarlett James, one of North America's leading burlesque performers and the producer of the Montreal Burlesque Festival. « Every year, we invite passionate fans and the general public to be an active part of the event, to become characters and to come join us, dressed in their most sensational outfits. The response has been absolutely fabulous and has allowed us to assemble our biggest line-up of burlesque stars in our 4-years history, such as Michelle l'Amour, Jett Adore, Stage Door Johnnies, Ruby Joule and many others. »