Judith Stein she/her

When did you did join the cabaret community? What inspired you to become involved?
I never considered myself to be in a cabaret community. I was a burlesque performer ie STRIPPER. Money & travel! Glittery costumes! Fun! And freeing my inner tramp

What is your favourite act to perform?
I have three favourite acts, well actually they were all favourite acts or I wouldn’t have done them. If they were marketable, and those acts suited my type of burlesque which was some what irreverent, comedic, and cheeky

What trend do you want to see more of? What trend do you wish would STOP?
I would like to see more TEASE, provocativeness, and fun! Stop what I call ‘Angst Burlesque’. Your audience comes to be uplifted and entertained by fun frivolity and playfulness, not a whole act about how your dog died. And as a woman, being fun frivolous onstage is a middle finger to those who would keep women in the kitchen to be their little women.

Can you describe a moment that challenged you as a performer?
In my era, I was told I would never succeed unless I had a bust enhancement. Or in some places they wanted me to be more explicit in my acts ie spreads.

Have you ever dealt with burn out? How did you manage it?
No not really because I worked contracts so I knew the length of the contract, on the road 6-8 weeks and take some time off at home. I loved being a tourist, exploring art galleries, skiing, I was a sailor, I worked on fish boats and tug boats, totally off the wall jobs. It sort of brought me down. I knew it was time to take a break when I started believing my own publicity.

From where do you draw inspiration to create new art?
I love old broadway movies. People like the Marx brothers, the women comedians of the 50s, 60s, the Joan Rivers. My music is like broadway, old jazz. And the women of the 70s feminist movement, the women who were performers.

Did you ever consider an alternative stage name? What was it? Who would that person have been?
They told me I had to choose a stage name. At the time there were a lot of small furry animals, flowers. I had to choose a name right from the beginning. In those days, most of the agents were old Jewish guys, when they asked my name I would say Judith, they would ask Judith what? I would say Judith Stein, then they’d book me for Miami haha I was Lady Jane for the first three weeks

If you could learn one new performance skill what would it be?
How to type!

What is your DREAM SHOW? Money is no object. Who is your DREAM CAST? (dead or alive)
All the top name Las Vegas technical crew!

Do you have a mantra or philosophy that defines this moment of your performance career? Has this changed over time?
Having spent some time in recovery, before I go onstage I take a quiet moment and offer up the serenity prayer to the legends who went before me, And also, fuck em if they can’t take a joke.

Would you share your goals for yourself, or any advice for others in the community?
Advice for the community: 1. Get paid 2. Know your worth 3. Have fun 4. Don’t believe your own publicity