End of Summer Vaudeville Show at Bonnie Vee
Spiced up with custom matchboxes and specialized drinks, Seek’s “End of Summer Vaudeville” show brought a modern twist to the classic 20th-century variety entertainment show, combining the best of burlesque, jazz, magic and music in NYC. Seek hosted the event on Wednesday, September 14, at Bonnie Vee, a Lower East Side bar and garden, and it featured four local artists who have each previously performed in Seek’s Showcase Series - and received rave reviews.
Two singers, a burlesque dancer, and a close-up magician brought their individual flair and tone to the show, making for a fantastic atmosphere of entertainment and mingling across the crowd of around 40 people.
Javier (@javierdunn), a talented musician who has performed with singer Sara Bareilles for a decade, began the show with the strum of his guitar. He performed two original songs along with two covers, carrying his audience through the different emotions of each song.
Chloe, a front-row audience member of the show, said that Javier was one of her favorite acts of the show, praising the song he wrote about feeling lonely while living in a big city like New York.
“I really enjoyed his own original music. Especially for people that live in New York, his songs resonated and were perfect for the dynamic of the crowd,” she said.
Burlesque dancer Sassie LeFay (@sassielefay) performed her burlesque act next, riling up the audience with her seductive moves, as she glamorously stripped her bejeweled outfit. With the slow and slinking background music, Sassie made her way across the audience to tease them with her various props.
Sassie’s performance impressed Alma, another audience member, who said, “She picked up the mood with her sex appeal. It definitely got my blood flowing.”
During the intermission, the crowd headed to the bar to grab another “Magician’s Margarita” or “Humdinger Martini,” mingled with other guests, and got personalized Polaroid photos taken.
Soon magician Matthew (@matt.magic_) took the stage to begin his series of mindreading and magic tricks. You could hear gasps and surprised shouts throughout Matthew’s set, as he wowed the audience with each new trick, from guessing the exact suit and number of nine random cards given to audience members to fusing two halves of ripped cards into one. By the end last trick, each person in the room was left wondering how he pulled all of it off.
Matthew said, “My favorite part of performing is giving people an experience of wonder, giving them something that they might not have seen before.”
Finally, Jen (@_jenksings), accompanied by pianist Mia (@mia.gorcz), distracted the audience from any lingering confusion of the previous set with her stunning, theatrical voice, which she expertly controlled to execute a variety of genres. Her rendition of the dramatic song that appeared in Fifty Shades of Grey, “I Put a Spell on You,” received overwhelming applause, as Jen flawlessly sang the high notes.
While she wasn’t able to use a wireless microphone to walk around as she did at her last show with Seek, Jen said, “I feel like the crowd was really great tonight. The vibes were really intimate and cute.”
As part of the Showcase Series, this show put the spotlight on local performers, strengthening Seek’s preexisting bonds with these artists as well as giving the chance for these artists to connect with the broader New York City community
“It was very interesting to see performers that I’ve never seen before and see them showcase their talent,” Chloe said.
Another audience member appreciated seeing different people and artists from the city gathered together: “This is the New York experience that everyone wants.”
Alma also added that the event offered a great space to make new friends and enjoy entertainment together with others, as someone at her table pointed at Alma and the man sitting next to her, “They’re besties now.”
“I’m a hairdresser and I know everybody in town,” Alma said, “So everyone will know about this show!”
Follow Seek on Instagram or stay updated on our event page to find out about future events, especially if you’re looking for a place to hang with friends or date ideas in NYC.
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