UPTOWN — The owners of the Uptown Underground have announced PUR| The Company as the much-anticipated entertainment venue's first resident performance troupe.
The Uptown Underground is a "retro-themed adult entertainment venue" being opened by Jenn A. Kincaid and Chris O. Biddle, producers of hit burlesque and variety show Kiss Kiss Cabaret. It will feature a 150-seat main stage, a 60-seat cabaret stage and a full bar in the basement of the Uptown Broadway Building, 4707 N. Broadway.
PUR| (pronounced "pure") is an Indianapolis-based burlesque and cabaret company that Biddle and Kincaid have partnered with in the past through Kiss Kiss Cabaret, which has hosted PUR| shows in Chicago and also sent its dancers to Indiana to work with PUR|.
"We are pretty excited to partner with them as our first renter," Biddle said. "Nobody in Chicago does dance quite like PUR|."
Though the line between a striptease and dance number might blur within the spectrum of burlesque, PUR| takes a more dynamic "dance-focused" approach commandeered by the "uncompromising" choreography of former Las Vegas showgirl Jenee Michelle, PUR|'s founder.
A statement from Michelle called Chicago a great fit.
"We adore the amazing performances local troupes bring to the stage and we know that if we are going to be successful we will need to bring something truly unique to support the amazing performance scene there," she said.
There exists "an electricity in the air that the cabaret community can feel," Biddle said, "and we're excited to be a part of that energy."
PUR's addition to Uptown Underground is another step toward Biddle and Kincaid's vision, and its potential success is seen by Ald. James Cappleman (46th) and area commerce officials as a boon to entertainment district plans.
Biddle said city efforts to redesign the area around North Broadway and West Lawrence Avenue and build a pair of plazas could benefit Uptown Underground.
"I'm excited for anything that's going to bring more people into the neighborhood," Biddle said. "There's a solid foundation of architecture there and businesses, entertainment that is already in place, and if this is going to bring more people in the the neighborhood and have them stay in the neighborhood, not just see a show and leave, then that's something i want for my business as well."
Biddle said he hopes the plazas include a small performance space somewhere that could be used for musical soloists and children's theater groups to put on short performances on a regular basis.
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