Staff & Crew

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Lola van Ella is an international and award-winning burlesque singer, dancer, producer, instructor and emcee. One of the premier names in burlesque, she performs and produces many shows, including the international Show-Me Burlesque Festival, the largest of its kind in the Midwest, The Shimmy Showdown, and Spectaculaire. She’s been voted as one of the most influential performers in 21st Century Burlesque's Top 50 Burlesque Performers worldwide since its inception, and strives to always be the show she wishes to see in the world. As a performer, Lola’s performed and hosted five times at Miss Exotic World and has headlined the New Zealand, Colorado, Vancouver, Chicago, Kansas City, Ohio, Como Lake, and London Burlesque Festivals. She now resides in New Orleans where she produces and performs frequently.

Photo by Virginia Harold

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER & DIRECTOR

Since 2009 Jeez Loueez has left jaws dropped across the world with her biting wit, kinetic fury, and impeccable comedic timing. Known as “The Honey Badger of Burlesque,” Jeez is a multi-faceted force who’s been hailed as a “Chicago cabaret legend” and voted the number 1 burlesque figure in the world for two consecutive years. Whether she’s dazzling as a burlesque headliner, splitting sides as an emcee, or proving endless hot takes and booty shakes online, Jeez Loueez is a formidable presence who’s been described as “disarming” and “a true entertainer.”

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Bazuka Joe is one third of The Stage Door Johnnies from Chicago, named BHoF "Best Group 2011." Bazuka has headlined and toured throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Trained in contemporary, classical, and jazz dance, theater, and vault staff, he’s a seasoned teacher and instructor with more than 15 years of experience teaching and directing at a professional level.

Photo by Kaylin Idora

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Kristen Goodman is a versatile performer, entertainment producer, and entrepreneur with nearly two decades of event experience and nearly four decades of performance experience. With a degree in Business & Marketing from UMSL and a Capricorn drive for excellence, Kristen cultivates innovation and efficiency in all her projects. She has co-produced many large-scale events with Lola Van Ella and Van Ella Productions including The Big Gay* Soirée, Wonderland, and LEZ DANCE. She’s a frequent guest vocalist with The Van Ella Band, she leads a womxn’s folk rock tribute band called kg lang, an acoustic string band called Ghost Light, and she plays solo shows regularly around the St. Louis region. Kristen’s alter-ego, Captain K. GoodLove, made her burlesque sing-and-strip debut in New Orleans in 2018, her Show-Me Burlesque Festival debut in 2019, and her Bourbontown Burlesque Festival debut in 2020.

Photo by Sarah Goodman

PERFORMER RELATIONS

SOCIAL MEDIA

Called "A star on the rise!" by Lola van Ella, this fearless performer is known for pushing all of the boundaries, their theatrical twisted visions, and musicality.

Sailem had their start in January 2016 as a graduated student from Van Ella Studios. In the past few years, they've made several notable appearances including multiple tours with The Van Ella Bordella, performing with The Big Gay Soiree, The Show-Me Burlesque Festival, The Roux Festival in New Orleans, competing and then winning the Shimmy Showdown, performing and traveling with Jeezy’s Juke Joint — and is NOW a producer of “The Devil’s Cabaret” with drag and burlesque star Maxi Glamour, as well as running their brand new dance/strip-club party “FILTH.” This fireball is a force to be reckoned with and is ready to rock your world!

Photo by Terry Witt

PRODUCTION AND STAGE MANAGER

VENDOR AND BACKSTAGE COORDINATOR

The Dazzling Beauty from South St. Louie! This midwest maven got her burly start studying alongside some of St. Louis’s best at ​Van Ella Studios.​ In 2011 she debuted her first solo number, ultimately earning a spot in Lola Van Ella’s The Bon-Bons​. Since then, BiBi has delighted audiences across the country at The Oklahoma City, Kansas City, New Orleans, and Colorado Burlesque festivals, as well as being a veteran of her hometown’s ​Show-Me Burlesque Festival.

In 2017, BiBi marauded across the plains of the U.S. with the ​Van Ella Bordella​ as one of its bawdy casts of harlots.​ BiBi’s solo credits include shows at ​The Gay 90’s​ (produced by ​Sweet Pea​) and ​Lush​ (produced by ​Elektra Cute​) in Minneapolis (MN), and ​The White Rabbit Cabaret​ in Indianapolis (IN) as a featured performer.

Sensational and sensuous, salacious and sultry, this South City sister casts her spell with style, with charm, and with a healthy dose of swagger.

Photo by Dom and Lens

WEBSITE AND PROGRAM DESIGN

Dolly Mama made her burlesque debut as a student at Van Ella studios in St. Louis. Blending unexpected humor with a graceful, classic style, this singing burly beauty is known for her hilarious original song parodies — as St. Louis’ own “Weird Gal Yankadick.” A member of The Bon-Bons and The Dreamsicles, she’s also a successful producer and emcee of shows like Stripefy: A Stunning Harry Potter Tribute, Nips at Nite, The Bon-Bon’s Boudoir: An Intimate Cabaret, and Burlyeoke: You sing, we strip! She’s had the distinct honor of performing solo and with her troupes in the 2019 Shimmy Showdown, Missouri Burlypicks 2018, Show-Me Burlesque and Vaudeville Festival, Kansas City Nerdlesque Festival, The Oklahoma City Burlesque Festival, Colorado Burlesque Festival, Spectaculaire!, and The Beggar’s Carnivale.

Photo by John D Williams

TICKETING & BOX OFFICE

Dizzy Tunt has been the Ticketing Coordinator for Van Ella Productions since 2015. She is a St. Louis-based performer and producer, as well as a founding member of the nerdlesque troupe, the Nerds of Prey. Dizzy is also an instructor at the St. Louis School of Burlesque and Variety. Since 2016, she has been shaking her assets across the midwest, everywhere from Anime conventions to comedy festivals, with appearances at the New Orleans Nerdlesque Festival and the Kansas City Nerdlesque Festival.

Photo by John D Williams

HEAD OF SECURITY

WEBMASTER, TRANSPORTATION & STUFF