Gorilla Tango Announces GO GO POWER RANGERS: A MIGHTY MORPHIN BURLESQUE for 6/8 - 7/27, Chicago

Gorilla Tango Burlesque, makers of your favorite nerdy burlesque shows, is at it again and this time it's all about devious monsters, giant robots, and the protection that only skintight spandex can provide: GO GO POWER RANGERS: A MIGHTY MORPHIN BURLESQUE performs Fridays at 11:59pm, June 8 – July 27, 2012 (Note: no show 6/22/12) at Gorilla Tango Bucktown (1919 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago IL 60647).

Rita Repulsa's got a devious new plan to turn the town of Angel Grove against the Power Rangers, but your favorite "teenagers with attitudes" are ready to shake their butts while they kick hers. Join Jason, Kimberly, Zack, Trini, Billy, Tommy, Bulk and Skull, Zordon and Alpha doing battle with Rita, Goldar, the Putties and a powerful new monster as they tease and tussle for control of the town's violent and lustful urges.

Director Bobby Hoffman, an SAFD certified actor-combatant, started working with Gorilla Tango Burlesque as a fight choreographer before stepping into the full director role. Over that time he's learned what sort of action works in the always entertaining world of GTB, and looks to bring that experience to GO GO POWER RANGERS: A MIGHTY MORPHIN BURLESQUE. With a background in sketch, improv, and theater he has rallied the cast into an energetic and sharp performance of C.J. Tuor's hilarious and faithful script.

Hoffman, along with choreographer Stella Cheeks and the cast, share an immense fondness for the subject material. "My main focus – aside from creating a fun and sexy production! – was to bring all of the hyper activeness of a children's show into a late night romp through equal comedy, dance and fights." He continues on to say, "Early in the rehearsal process I had the cast read through scenes and then we'd all sit down and watch full episodes of the original Power Rangers series. I instructed them to pay close attention to their characters movements, vocal performances, and smaller nuances; then we'd get up on our feet and incorporate the various TV tidbits into our scenes."

Evoking nostalgia for the original series has been a focus for the show's Choreographer, Stella Cheeks, as well: "The majority of the song selections for the dances come from the mid-nineties, when Mighty Morphin Power Rangers first showed up on the American TV scene. We also used music from the excellent original soundtrack from the Power Rangers show." The end result is a show full of strong, comedic performances and sexy, character specific dances and fighting sequences that is in one moment faithful to the spirit of Power Rangers and in the very next something new and alluring.

Power Ranger loyals and newcomers alike will find plenty to laugh, cheer, and whistle about - and as always, may the power protect you!

The show is written by C.J. Tuor, directed and choreographed by Bobby Hoffman and Stella Cheeks and costumed by Wanda Cobar and Kim Fukawa. It features Dakota Fanny, Ellie Gator, Lady Lemondrop, Hazel Hellbender, Typsy Gypsy, and Zatanna Zorelle, with the debuting Doxie Doll and Vicki Van Go-Go.

Since October 2010, Gorilla Tango Burlesque has gone from the debut of the surprise hit "Boobs & Goombas: A Super Mario Burlesque" to a local burlesque/comedy powerhouse with literally thousands of audience members through the door to see unique burlesque parodies of everything from Star Wars ("A Nude Hope: A Star Wars Burlesque") to Indiana Jones ("Temple of Boobs: An Indiana Jones Burlesque") to fantasy films and RPGs ("Fellowship of the Boobs: an LOTR, WoW, D&D, RPG Burlesque")-- and that's just a small selection of what they have available for-- as their slogan states-- "the Discerning Nerd."

As with all Gorilla Tango Burlesque shows, GO GO POWER RANGERS: A MIGHTY MORPHIN BURLESQUE is more than just a set of themed striptease routines. Each production is a fully scripted parody with the burlesque numbers integrated into the plot. Think Broadway musical-- but with striptease instead of musical numbers. Or... it's kind of like Gypsy Rose Lee and Second City had a baby. Or... go see it for yourself, and YOU figure out how to tell your friends about this glorious mish-mash of comedy and debauchery that the good folks of Gorilla Tango Theatre have introduced to the local burlesque scene.

Tickets are $20 from www.gorillatango.com or 773-598-4549. 18 and over only.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Kanne.