After a sold-out show last fall, the Illumi-Naughtie Occult Burlesque is back at the Newport Theater with their Rites of Spring! For this show, we’ll be exploring the secrets of the Eleusinian Mysteries, the Ancient Greek initiatory society based on the journey of Persephone. The bard Orpheus will be your guide from the underworld as you witness the re-emergence and crowning of the Goddess for Spring! Featuring performances by Secret Mermaid, Marla Wyrd, Meg Mesmeric, Lady Ginger, Mae the Bellydancer, and of course, the head Hottie from the Illumi-Naughtie, Vivian Meretrix, Rites of Spring will educate and titillate you, enchant and entice you into the magickal world of the Illumi-Naughtie! All initiates and neophytes welcome!

Tickets available now!

Performers

Vivian Meretrix

Vivian Meretrix, the Sorceress of Shimmy and the Hottie from the Illumi-Naughtie, is an Ordained Priestess, Sacred Dancer, and producer of The Illumi-Naughtie Occult Burlesque Review, a show that titillates and educates, combining spiritually-based performances and occult history and ideology. She has performed at national occult conferences as well as local Chicago burlesque stages.

Secret Mermaid

Our catch of the day, Secret Mermaid, is a burlesque performer and professional model. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Loyola University Chicago and has always adored musical theater. She has also sung at the Vatican and with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. A delight to multiple senses, she is a triple threat and uses her combination of vocal and body movements to dazzle audiences of all sizes. Whether she’s reimagining a classic from the Broadway stage or carefully designing one of her unique nerdlesque routines, Secret Mermaid always makes a splash on stage.

Lady Ginger

Lady Ginger is an OG of Chicago Burlesque, bumpin, and shakin’ her way across stages for 17 years. She’s hit the stage in New York, New Orleans, Dallas, Toronto, San Francisco and Las Vegas, to name a few. She’s a bumper, she’s a grinder, she’s an instructor of almost 13 years….. she’s a bad ass B* and she just doesn’t give a F*!

Mae the Bellydancer

Mae the Bellydancer is a staple in the Chicago bellydance community. She was the producer of the beloved burlesque shows The Varietease Cabaret and the Knock Knock Hot Spot, and of course, the director of the long form bellydance show the Glint. Currently she is teaching bellydance at Hyde Park School of Dance to the masses. Her current project is her new theatrical bellydance show, The Glimmer.

Marla Wyrd

Marla Wyrd is a witch of the abyss, who spellcasts through movement styles such as fusion and improvisational belly dance, and burlesque. This gothic showghoul performed across the Midwest and studied from California to Puerto Rico. Sink into the depths with her. She’ll take your breath away. If you survive to tell the tale, she’ll haunt the rest of your days!

Meg Mesmeric

Meg Mesmeric is known as the Spinning Seductress of Burlesque. Based in Chicago, she has been tearing up stages across the Midwest since 2022, and made her Southwest debut at the New Mexico Burlesque Festival in February. Mesmeric enjoys combining movement from burlesque, circus, and flow arts to create a unique experience with each act she throws at you.