I clean up good.

From backstage at Viva Dallas Burlesque presents Reunion for Murder. This was my first look for the night.

I love being a hyphenate: dancer-writer-costumer-director-actor-host-singer-genius-taco enthusiast. On this particular night, I was the co-writer and director of the show. I also had some talking time on the stage before debuting my giant fans in an act where I couldn't strip (too complicated for the costume and show). After I stripped and died (spoiler), I was hauled offstage to transition into an assistant detective-type to monitor the evidence and deal with the audience over intermission. From there, I worked with the producer to tally up the votes and award the person who had the closest guess of whodunnit and why.

I love it, but being a hyphenate takes a lot of work. I spent most of my Sunday trying to tidy up my place from a whirlwind of activity and attempting some downtime after a few very busy months both on and offstage.

Mr. Snapper was bragging to the crew about my hyphenate living from our college days. I was one of the leads in a two person show. I was also the assistant set designer, responsible for the successful load-in of a show built for touring. Every university in the state sent in two representatives to serve on the honor crew to follow the presenting school's instruction for load-in. I barked out orders, directed traffic, handled nuances of set assembly, and passed over my hat about ninety minutes before the show to get into makeup and hair plus run some dialogue with my partner. I delivered a heart-wrenching performance, changed into carpenter's pants and orchestrated the load-out. The honor crew was impressed because I did so much in the show. More importantly, Mr. Snapper likes that I'm just as ambitious as he is.

The next murder mystery is in August. I'm glad because I can have a minute's break from burlesque writing again.