Cho's 'Sensuous Woman' Begins Off-Bway at Zipper Tonight

Margaret Cho begins her new Off-Broadway burlesque-style variety show The Sensuous Woman, tonight, Wednesday September 26 at The Zipper Factory; officially opening Saturday October 6..

Direct from performances in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, Margaret Cho brings The Sensuous Woman to New York.  A new variety show starring the critically acclaimed comedian/actress Margaret Cho, The Sensuous Woman features an impressive line-up of the country's most renowned burlesque performers, along with hilarious stand-up and sketch comedy from emerging and established artists.  Featured performers include Los Angeles belly dance and burlesque sensation Princess Farhana, emerging transgendered comic Ian Harvie, the ingenious burlesque performer Selene Luna, comic actor Liam Sullivan, New York downtown favorite Miss Dirty Martini, and sketch comedians Diana Yanez and Kurt Hall of the Gay Mafia Comedy Troupe of West Hollywood.   The Sensuous Woman is directed by Randall Rapstine and choreographed by Kitty McNamee, with set design by Steven Capone and lighting design by Josh Monroe.

In describing her inspiration for this show, Margaret Cho explains, "The Sensuous Woman is an evening of comedy, dance and music celebrating women's bodies.  I have suffered from eating disorders and a horrendously distorted body image for my entire life, and I think the biggest reason is a lack of images of real women's bodies.  Where are they?  We don't see them in movies, on TV, in magazines.  Instead, we are force-fed a steady diet of unattainable ideals, a tyranny of slenderness and youth, goals we can't even aspire to, they are so far out of reach.  When we see dancers who enjoy their bodies, who are sexy and having fun, it gives us permission to enjoy our bodies and to enjoy ourselves in the process.  We are presented with a new ideal, not one that is about dieting ourselves down to a smaller size, but expanding our notion of what is beautiful and to allow ourselves to be included there too." For more information, please visit www.MargaretCho.com.

The Sensuous Woman will play as follows: Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM, with late shows on Friday and Saturday at 11PM.  The Zipper Factory is located at 336 West 37th Street.