“Wickedest Performer: A Burlesque Competition" at the Adler Theatre -- April 16.
Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m.
Adler Theatre, 136 East Third Street, Davenport IA
With the crowned winner receiving a cash prize and a featured spot in the Capitol Theatre's Wickedest City Burlesque & Variety Fest on Saturday, April 18, the Wickedest Performer burlesque competition will be held at Davenport's Adler Theatre on April 16, the evening featuring electrifying artists from across the country, including Arizona, North Carolina, Seattle, Des Moines, and the Quad Cities.
Adult audiences are invited to Join the celebration of fearless performance, radical joy, and the unapologetic spirit of Davenport’s infamous Bucktown past, where art, vice, and spectacle once thrived loud and proud. Held in conjunction with other "wickedest city"-themed area events, including Ballet Quad Cities' April 11 and 12 performances of Wickedest City in America: Dancing, Drinking and Debauchery! at St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center, the contest's producers are kicking things off the only way that feels right: with a battle for the crown.
On April 16, each scheduled contestant will bring their boldest, bawdiest, and most unforgettable act to the Adler stage, all vying for one title: The Wickedest Performer. Presiding over the spectacle is a panel of four iconic judges: Catty Wompass (the burlesque powerhouse known for high-energy performances and festival features across the Midwest); Qween Quan (the dynamic drag artist and producer celebrated for bold, boundary-pushing stage work); Milange Cavalli (the local drag performer known for high-glamour aesthetics and commanding stage presence); and Charlie Quinn Starling (the award-winning burlesque performer and educator recognized for theatrical storytelling and competition success). From sultry striptease to jaw-dropping variety acts, this night is a showcase of the daring, the decadent, and the downright unforgettable.
Only one performer, however, will ultimately claim the crown, cash prize, and a featured spot in the Capitol Theatre's Wickedest City Burlesque & Variety Fest Grand Showcase on April 18. So settle in, clutch your pearls (or toss them … no one will judge), and witness the moment a new legend is crowned.
Wickedest Performer: A Burlesque Competition gets underway in downtown Davenport on April 16, admission to the 7:30 p.m. event for ages 18 and older starts at $33, and tickets are available by calling (800)745-3000 and visiting DavenportLive.com/the-adler-theatre.
