INTERVIEW: The Great Dane and Eddie Lockwood
Towards the end of lockdown, LUST FILTH reminded us (with no small degree of style) what it was to see live debauchery. As Southern Decadence weekend approaches, Up All Night caught up with producers, and the prettiest bois, Dane and Eddie, to celebrate the return of this incredible show.
We know y'all perform a lot around town (at an impressive amount of shows!), but for people who might not know you, could you each give the short story of how you came to be a performer here in New Orleans?
I (The Great Dane) was fortunate enough to grow up in New Orleans. I was performing and body painting for a while before I stumbled upon the burlesque scene around 2016. Then I realized I could travel the world with burlesque and performed in places like Tokyo and Berlin.
I (Eddie Lockwood) moved here 3 years ago from Portland, Maine where I was a part of a small burlesque troupe. Moved here to pursue a full time career in burlesque & performance. Through networking, going to everyone's shows and sharing my art, I was able to hit the ground running.
I first saw Lust/Filth in your backyard as we all cautiously started to produce things towards the end of the lockdown and it was an amazing, cathartic experience that I'm sure many people shared. Was the show conceived before covid times or was it borne from the pandemic?
We'd been dabbling with concepts since we met, but it was the pressure cooker of the lockdown and the deep desire to return to the stage and reconnect with people that inspired us to take the plunge and start producing.
We're all happy to be back in our favorite venues and helping them thrive again - there was an edginess/sense of artistic risk to those backyard shows, do you think it will be difficult to recreate that?
While we appreciate how special those speakeasy spaces were, we're happy to trade in for the security and safety that this space provides, while still pushing the boundary of what performance art is and how it is experienced.
What do you look for when booking your cast? They all excel in such different performance skills, is there a common thread?
The common thread is this embodiment of Lust or Filth or ideally some degree of both. It's not about perfect execution, but about how they tap into these ideals and present them to the audience. There does tend to be a high charisma factor, but overall it's about creativity and presentation.
Tell us a bit about the out of town acts that are on the show - what can people expect from them?
We really pulled from our travels and touring and brought the most inspiring performers back home with us. We're so fortunate in the New Orleans performance scene and we wanted to welcome performers that have the same calibre and edge. Expect to see innovative performances, boundaries being pushed & true talents that embody Lust & Filth.
Can you give us a hint at what other kinds of things the audience might see on stage or is it a closely guarded secret?
The Royal Court is reincarnating the best of the Lust Filth parts I and II with some new special twists and elevations. Newcomers are all bringing their own special brand of erotic art that redefines entertainment.
This isn't really a question but let's just say a few words about how essential the AllWays Lounge is to our scene here!
Pivotal. It's literally our second home. Zalia is the supportive figure holding this space for us all to feel safe in, to be vulnerable enough to create art in. The entire staff is family. We couldn't be more appreciative and thankful. During the pandemic the AllWays continued as the beacon of inspiration and light. Zalia created the Peep Show that brought guests to see burlesque from a safe distance and gave us the drive to keep creating during a difficult time. We're very excited to be able to bring this back to the Allways on Thursday Sept. 1st for the Peep Show & Art Market from 7:30 - 9:30. One day only for the Peep Show so definitely try to make it!
It's great that Southern Decadence is back! How important do you feel that is for the local queer community and what other events over the wekeend are you looking forward to?
It's important that we continue to find ways to celebrate queer people and the city. We are mostly caught up in Lust Filth but we will also be gogo dancing at Oz and marching in the parade on Sunday with one of the Grand Marshalls (Danny Girl). There are so many amazing events happening throughout Decadence, of course many at the AllWays, be sure to check out the calendar!
Will Lust/Filth become a regular show in New Orleans now, or will you save it up for special occasions such as Decadence or Mardi Gras?
We will definitely be bringing it back at least once a year for the full weekender. And maybe there are other iterations in the works...a special Filth Horror event for Halloween perhaps...? Stay Tuned!
After you've recovered from Decadence, what's next for you both? Plans for any new shows in New Orleans? Shows on the road? Lying in a quiet, dark room for a week?
Well there's no rest for the wicked. We are producing a new monthly show called Prettie Boi Game Show as well as our Halloween special Filth Horror on October 22nd. We also work closely with many incredible producers in town and are constantly performing around the city. Follow us on social media to stay connected to everything we're up to this upcoming season!
You can follow The Great Dane and Eddie Lockwood on IG for more show news!
Check our our review of Lust Filth from last year!
Home
Towards the end of lockdown, LUST FILTH reminded us (with no small degree of style) what it was to see live debauchery. As Southern Decadence weekend approaches, Up All Night caught up with producers, and the prettiest bois, Dane and Eddie, to celebrate the return of this incredible show.
We know y'all perform a lot around town (at an impressive amount of shows!), but for people who might not know you, could you each give the short story of how you came to be a performer here in New Orleans?
I (The Great Dane) was fortunate enough to grow up in New Orleans. I was performing and body painting for a while before I stumbled upon the burlesque scene around 2016. Then I realized I could travel the world with burlesque and performed in places like Tokyo and Berlin.
I (Eddie Lockwood) moved here 3 years ago from Portland, Maine where I was a part of a small burlesque troupe. Moved here to pursue a full time career in burlesque & performance. Through networking, going to everyone's shows and sharing my art, I was able to hit the ground running.
I first saw Lust/Filth in your backyard as we all cautiously started to produce things towards the end of the lockdown and it was an amazing, cathartic experience that I'm sure many people shared. Was the show conceived before covid times or was it borne from the pandemic?
We'd been dabbling with concepts since we met, but it was the pressure cooker of the lockdown and the deep desire to return to the stage and reconnect with people that inspired us to take the plunge and start producing.
We're all happy to be back in our favorite venues and helping them thrive again - there was an edginess/sense of artistic risk to those backyard shows, do you think it will be difficult to recreate that?
While we appreciate how special those speakeasy spaces were, we're happy to trade in for the security and safety that this space provides, while still pushing the boundary of what performance art is and how it is experienced.
What do you look for when booking your cast? They all excel in such different performance skills, is there a common thread?
The common thread is this embodiment of Lust or Filth or ideally some degree of both. It's not about perfect execution, but about how they tap into these ideals and present them to the audience. There does tend to be a high charisma factor, but overall it's about creativity and presentation.
Tell us a bit about the out of town acts that are on the show - what can people expect from them?
We really pulled from our travels and touring and brought the most inspiring performers back home with us. We're so fortunate in the New Orleans performance scene and we wanted to welcome performers that have the same calibre and edge. Expect to see innovative performances, boundaries being pushed & true talents that embody Lust & Filth.
Can you give us a hint at what other kinds of things the audience might see on stage or is it a closely guarded secret?
The Royal Court is reincarnating the best of the Lust Filth parts I and II with some new special twists and elevations. Newcomers are all bringing their own special brand of erotic art that redefines entertainment.
This isn't really a question but let's just say a few words about how essential the AllWays Lounge is to our scene here!
Pivotal. It's literally our second home. Zalia is the supportive figure holding this space for us all to feel safe in, to be vulnerable enough to create art in. The entire staff is family. We couldn't be more appreciative and thankful. During the pandemic the AllWays continued as the beacon of inspiration and light. Zalia created the Peep Show that brought guests to see burlesque from a safe distance and gave us the drive to keep creating during a difficult time. We're very excited to be able to bring this back to the Allways on Thursday Sept. 1st for the Peep Show & Art Market from 7:30 - 9:30. One day only for the Peep Show so definitely try to make it!
It's great that Southern Decadence is back! How important do you feel that is for the local queer community and what other events over the wekeend are you looking forward to?
It's important that we continue to find ways to celebrate queer people and the city. We are mostly caught up in Lust Filth but we will also be gogo dancing at Oz and marching in the parade on Sunday with one of the Grand Marshalls (Danny Girl). There are so many amazing events happening throughout Decadence, of course many at the AllWays, be sure to check out the calendar!
Will Lust/Filth become a regular show in New Orleans now, or will you save it up for special occasions such as Decadence or Mardi Gras?
We will definitely be bringing it back at least once a year for the full weekender. And maybe there are other iterations in the works...a special Filth Horror event for Halloween perhaps...? Stay Tuned!
After you've recovered from Decadence, what's next for you both? Plans for any new shows in New Orleans? Shows on the road? Lying in a quiet, dark room for a week?
Well there's no rest for the wicked. We are producing a new monthly show called Prettie Boi Game Show as well as our Halloween special Filth Horror on October 22nd. We also work closely with many incredible producers in town and are constantly performing around the city. Follow us on social media to stay connected to everything we're up to this upcoming season!
You can follow The Great Dane and Eddie Lockwood on IG for more show news!
Check our our review of Lust Filth from last year!
Home