WORCESTER—Lady LaRouge and Dolores Sweet are set to bring sparkle, sass and a slice of history to Worcester where they headline Silk & Satin, a burlesque brunch at Femme Bar on Green Street this weekend.
The duo says Femme Bar — one of the only lesbian bars in Massachusetts and the country — was a natural fit.
“Worcester has a bustling drag scene and we have both produced many burlesque shows over the years that feature both drag and burlesque performers,” LaRouge said. “Silk & Satin, however, is all AFAB glamorous performers meant to show Worcester what to expect from the art of the tease.”
The performers also want to connect their show to Worcester’s long legacy in the women’s movement. “Worcester was home to the first women’s rights convention in October 1850,” said LaRouge, “and now, 175 years later, we are using the rights that they fought for to book venues, run businesses, and entertain our community.”
Silk & Satin, which takes place on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 11 a.m., features performances by Jynx Merlot and Lo-La La, alongside a full breakfast spread.
Sweet, a classically trained ballet dancer, first stepped into burlesque at Ralph’s Diner in Worcester. “I’ve been performing across New England ever since,” she said. “Being surrounded by a community of creative, majority queer, and supportive performers is what makes the experience of performing such a delight.”
LaRouge’s roots are also in Massachusetts. She earned a degree in musical theater from Salem State University before touring across the country as a solo showgirl.
“She wanted to bring that level of fun back to her hometown, Worcester,” Sweet explained.
Owned by Danielle Spring and her wife, Julie Toupin, Femme Bar has become a gathering place since opening in March 2023, offering what they call a “queer human space where the whole community can gather safely and feel like home.”
Places such as Femme matter, LaRogue stressed.“At a time when our federal administration is erasing my identity off of government websites,” she continued, “it is important now, more than ever, to support safe queer spaces, especially those that cater toward femmes and AFAB people. It is also important to patronize businesses run by our kinfolk, so it made sense to bring burlesque to Femme.
Burlesque has long been tied to queer culture. The art form, which began in England and gained U.S. popularity in the 1860s, has evolved into a celebrated form of self-expression. Sweet said the first burlesque show she saw inspired her with its agency and sensuality.
“I hope that the audience will see a bit of themselves in the performers of Silk & Satin and leave feeling inspired and a little more at home in their own skin,” she said.
The spirit found in queer audiences, they both noted, makes the experience unmatched.
“The energy from the girls, gays and theys is palpable in the room,” said Sweet. “We are all here to support each other and appreciate each other’s bodies and talents no matter what you look like.”
LaRouge agreed. “Performing for queer folks, as a queer woman, feels more aligned and more affirming for me,” she said. “I feel safer, and that makes playing on stage so much more fun.”
Tickets are $35, including the meal, and can be purchased here.
Caroline Lacy is an English student at Worcester State University, exploring journalism and storytelling, with a focus on culture and human-interest stories. She can be reached at clacy@worcester.edu.
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
The Worcester Guardian is an independent nonprofit news organization. Support local journalism by making a DONATION today.
