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The women who responded to the ad were told to come to the warehouse behind the Zach Scott Theater with a pen and a personality. The periwinkle walls, concrete floors, and random props – Oriental screens and fake trees, mostly – weren’t supposed to see any dancing or sword-swallowing or pasties, despite it being the setting for a burlesque audition.
But Esther, a 20-year-old University of Texas student, has brought a hula-hoop and a CD, and she’s eager to show her stuff.
“I just started hooping three weeks ago, but I know I can be kick-ass at it by the time we do the first show,” she says. The CD skips as soon as the music starts playing; the hula hoop flies around Esther’s mid-section for a few seconds before it falls to the ground.
“Can I start over?”
“You’re fine,” assures Stephanie Stone, and Esther resumes her act.
With dark hair, dark lipstick, dark clothing, and colorful tattoos on her arms and chest, Stephanie is running the show. Literally. She’ll be in it, too: After seeing the Fat-Bottom Review in New York City last year, she was inspired to found her own plus-size burlesque troupe, Big Star Burlesque. “I thought, this is my chance to do what I want to do and to really give a venue for plus-size women to be women,” Stephanie says. “I figured if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you do it yourself.”
When Esther’s done hula-hooping, Stephanie leads her to a small table where they sit down to talk. Stephanie is concerned about Esther’s school schedule: Would she have enough time for late-night rehearsals, costume and set construction, promotion? Stephanie invites Esther to be a rotating performer in the show to avoid any conflicts.
The hula-hoop spins around Esther’s neck as she talks to the other girls a few moments later. “I wish the music had worked.” The hoop hits the ground.
Stephanie breaks up the girls into groups of three – one group has an extra member, Esther, who’s having too much fun to leave already. This is the main part of the auditions, and it will show Stephanie who’s outgoing, friendly, and the best fit for the troupe.
But all of them are outgoing. And friendly. And nice, confident, sexy, hilarious…. The competition is intense.
Stephanie gives the groups a few minutes before she sits in on their discussions with the help of Katie Cowden, who already has a place as the second member of Big Star. The group in the far back corner of the warehouse erupts in laughter – the kind of high-pitched laughter that includes at least one clap, a knee slap, a throw-back of the head, or all of those combined – reserved only for the funniest of funny. The point of this exercise was for the girls to get to know each other. In only a few minutes, it’s already a success.
“Why did you respond to my ad?” Stephanie asks Renei Sims, a woman in white capris and a pink sweater as bright as her personality. Since walking into the warehouse, sassy Renei has been making everyone laugh.
“What plus-size woman wouldn’t want to be involved in something like this – with pasties, too!” Renei says, and the girls crack up. Already, it’s obvious that Renei’s a shoe-in – she’ll steal the show.
Stephanie asks Renei another question: “Have you thought about characters? Stage names?”
Renei flashes a devilish grin and raises her eyebrows before responding, “I want to be a sex kitten-dominatrix-booty girl.” The girls laugh even harder this time. But they know she’s not kidding.
Stephanie asks Cassandra, who came to the auditions with Renei, if she’s thought about anything she’d like to do in the show.
“Actually, when Renei and I saw your ad, we immediately started thinking about stuff we could do,” Cassandra says. “We thought of maybe doing something with fire.”
But what if Cassandra makes it into the troupe and Renei doesn’t – or vice-versa?
Renei doesn’t miss a beat. “We’d still go to each other’s shows.”
Once they’re done sitting in on each of the groups, Stephanie and Katie step outside to discuss who they’re going to cut. It’s obvious that they love everyone here, so this is going to be a very tough decision. They stand outside talking for a few minutes before they return and give the girls the bad news: They’ve narrowed it down to six. The other four women congratulate them, hug, and leave.
Now comes the really hard part. Two more girls will get cut after this round, which will consist of one-on-one interviews.
Each girl is asked the same kind of questions: “Who have you told about this? Are you okay with nudity, and if so, what are your limits? Are you a flirt? Are you nervous about anything?” They give honest, thoughtful answers.
Stephanie and Katie step outside once again to make their final decision on who’s in and who’s out. There’s so much to consider: Each girl was confident, funny, and outgoing – all the things they’re looking for in troupe members. After what seems like hours, they return to announce the final cuts.
“We’re going to start with the three principles we’re taking,” says Stephanie. She’s talking about the three women who will be billed as Big Star troupe members – the fourth person chosen today will act as an alternate. “Congratulations to Kim, congratulations to Renei, and last, but certainly not least, congratulations to our other principle, Michael.”
Each time a name is announced, the group claps; the chosen girls are all smiles. There are still three left who are wondering to whom the last spot will go. Stephanie doesn’t keep them waiting: “Finally, we’re going to have our alternate, who will definitely still be part of the troupe, Cassandra.”
Everyone yells and applauds, especially Renei. Cassandra is thrilled.
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