Artists who have graced our stage
From Detroit to San Francisco, our shows have featured epic local artists, and when we can, we also feature national, traveling performers. Here are the women over 40 who have brought our crowds to their feet, and sometimes, to tears.
Revolva
Producer, Hoop Queen
Broadminded was founded by hula hoop artist and theater-maker Revolva, who launched the project as a way to honor her transition into her 40s — and to prove that women are relevant and powerful forever. Revolva's performance work has been featured in Vice, HuffPost, TMZ, CBS news, SF Weekly, Portland Monthly, and more. From spinning hoops on every limb to challenging who "belongs" on stage, her goal is to help audiences envision and realize new possibilities.
Grace Detroit
Torch Songs
Chanteuse and creative mastermind Grace Detroit is the founder of Detroit’s beloved, long-running jazz and variety show Torch With a Twist, which featured some of Detroit's hottest musicians and skilled variety acts. The vaudeville-meets-live-music revue wowed crowds for years at the legendary Cliff Bell's jazz club. These days, you can catch Grace belting out hits around town with "Grace and the Guys," and you won't want to miss her in her full variety show glory at Broadminded Detroit!
Leela
Bellydance
After rocking the stage with our west coast Broadminded cast, this L.A.-area bellydance dynamo also shimmied for Detroit! From her extensive background in classical dance forms, Leela brings fun and excitement to her popular performance style, delighting crowds with contagious enthusiasm and playfulness. LeelaBellyDance Productions has performed internationally, receiving rave reviews for their imaginative, inventive style, humor and choreography.
Nandita Bajaj
Bollywood
Nandita Bajaj is the Cultural Ambassador at Center for Performance Arts and Learning (Cen4Pal) in Wixom, MI, a welcoming hub for all forms of performing and learning. Nandita led a group of Cen4Pal dancers to perform at the first-ever Diwali Dance Fest at Disney World. An entrepreneur, a teacher, a dancer, and a “student for life,” Nandita was born and raised in India and has lived in the Metro Detroit area for over 25 years. Her goal is making the arts accessible to all.
Karen Ripley
Comedy
From the cover of the East Bay Express (Berkeley, Ca) with Whoopi Goldberg to Ms. Magazine's top 100 Lesbian Comics, Karen Ripley delivers non-stop laughs. She has performed all over the USA and the Caribbean, including 2005 SF Fringe Best Musical Comedy with Annie Larson and 2006 Diva Fest with “waiting for FEMA.” She was featured in Logo’s Wisecracks episode 2. This funny woman had our west coast audience in stitches with her killer jokes about aging and more.
The Golden Follies
Showgirl troupe
The Golden Follies is a high-energy, Las Vegas-style senior dance troupe. Co-founded and choreographed by sister duo Diane Stawicki and Susan Bostwick, the cast features performers ranging in age from 60s and beyond, who tap, kick, and strut in glamorous costumes to honor the classic Broadway vaudeville era. Several members of the Golden Follies performed in our west coast cast, and troupe member Sandy Eggers, still dancing in her 80s, did a solo in our Detroit show.
Helen Pontani
Tap Dance
Helen Pontani is burlesque royalty, co-founder of the World Famous Pontani Sisters dance trio, icons in the burlesque revival movement. This Detroit-area original made it big in NYC and toured globally, starring in the Off-Broadway hit This Is Burlesque, with appearances on Conan, Gossip Girl, Queer Eye, and more. Now she’s back in the city where it all began . This queen rocked the stage as “The Tapping Tornado,” live at Broadminded Detroit.
Patreze & Anjela
Detroit Style Skating
Patreze Brinkley is the founder and Anjela Moore is Vice President of The Detroit Stylin' Skate Club (DSSC). These passionate skaters have showcased their talents nationally and globally. Patreze has taught everywhere from Barcelona to Paris, Anjela has skated in parades from Detroit to West Virginia, appearing on the TV show "Soul on Wheels." The DSSC has become a hub for skaters to hone their skills while celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Detroit Style skating.
Lily LaRue
Burlesque
Lily LaRue is a multi-talented burlesque performer, pin-up model, and actress who has graced stages and screens across the country. A Michigan native, she launched her performance career in Detroit, eventually relocating to L.A., where she was a regular burlesque and pole performer at Hollywood’s iconic bar Jumbo's Clown Room. She has film credits in “The Woman” (2011) and “Mosquito Man," and we are ecstatic this captivating beauty joined our Detroit show!
Heather Kyles
Comedy
Heather Kyles is a seasoned comic originally hailing from Detroit, MI. She launched her comedy career in 2015 at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle Comedy Stand-Up Class. Now 10 years later, you can find her entertaining audiences all over the region — from the “mitten state,” to Illinois, and Ohio. This Motown funny girl also has acting chops, and you can check her out in the hilarious role of ex-reality star Ophelia Sparks in the comedy series “The Agency” on Tubi. It's filmed in Detroit!
Isis Starr
Burlesque
Isis Starr is a living legend of burlesque, who has performed at the Crazy Horse and legendary Moulin Rouge in Paris. She has worked at the Windmill Theater in London and has performed in Australia, Japan, Thailand, Spain, Morroco, Russia and more. She’s also been featured on HBO’s Real Sex, Hawaii Five O, and Top of the Pops in the UK. This total pioneer, who paved the way for the modern, neo-burlesque movement, rocked the house with our west coast Broadminded cast.
Shelly Elle
Pole Artist
Shelly brought the house down in our west coast and Detroit casts. She was 1st Runner Up at the 2010 USPDF West Coast Regional and the 2011 Pole Burlesque Competition. She was a finalist in the 2013 and 2016 National Aerial Pole Art Competitions, 2013 California Pole Dance Championship, 2011 and 2012 USPDF Championships, and 2010 East Meets West Tripole Challenge. Competing against women half her age, Shelly's strength, artistry, and stage presence put her on top.
Valentina Orbit
Bellydance
Internationally renown artist Valentina grew up belly dancing with her mom, Leela, and their teacher Mesmera from the age of 12. After adding hooping and hoop burlesque to her repertoire, she landed on national TV in HBO’s “Live Nude Comedy.” She and her husband, circus artist Bags, own San Diego's Twisted Orbit Circus Entertainment. In addition to her solo burlesque, Valentina and Leela combined talents for a Broadminded Detroit bellydance duo.
Sandy Eggers
Broadway/Jazz
A MAJOR inspiration to Broadminded, Sandy is still rocking stages in her 80s with San Francisco’s The Golden Follies, a high-energy, Las Vegas-style revue of dancers over 60. Sandy's dance career took her from the midwest, to the east coast, to California, where she danced in the San Francisco Ballet (at age 42!) and was an early member of the Golden State Dance Team. She performed with The Golden Follies in our San Francisco cast and did a solo jazz number in Detroit.
Kate Peckham Korte
Co-Emcee
A theatre artist for over 30 years, Kate is the Director of Education at Michigan Actors Studio. Some of her favorite productions are “Baggage,” written by her friend the late Chuck O’Connor; “Waking the Witch” at Hamtramck’s Planet Ant Theater, which she conceived, directed and co-wrote with an incredible cast of women; and “A Doll’s House Part Two,” which she directed at Tipping Point Theatre. At our Detroit show, Kate helped keep the show flowing as co-emcee.
Nazelah Jamison
Spoken Word
Nazelah Jamison, who brought her talents to our west coast cast, is a gifted author, performance poet, emcee, comedian and vocalist. She has competed on and/or coached twelve National Poetry Slam teams, served as former host and co-producer of The Oakland Poetry Slam & Open Mic, and has performed poetry and music across three continents. Nazelah is well-known for her work with Spearhead and Les Nubians, and her love of hip-hop translates onto the stage.