A Woman You Should Know, Ms. Donna Hood
You should know Donna Hood because not only is she top notch in her field she is one of a handful of successful women producers in live burlesque. Every month, bi-weekly, Donna produces a yearlong show entitled “Tease If You Please” in Downtown Los Angeles at the beautiful Globe Theatre. I have been many times and it is standing room only and one of the consistently best shows in the country.
How did this former dancer and choreographer get into burlesque? She was inspired by the photos of Dita Von Teese, one of the top burlesque performers of her day. As a professionally trained dancer Donna moved to Los Angeles from Houston in 2010 and was cast in “America’s Best Dance Crew.” She also danced for the Dita Von Teese show that same year. Donna found herself as a “kitten,” burlesque parlayance for one who helps change sets, pick up discarded clothing and generally helping on and off stage the acts. Donna also “lightly choreographed” numbers for Dita. She was lucky enough to do it for roughly three years, all the while learning, watching and being hugely inspired by the incredible talents on Dita’s stage.
A fiercely determined and smart woman Donna decided the often-times self-sufficient life of costuming, designing and choreographing one’s own show was just the sort of career she had been looking for. She wanted to call the shots. Not only is she proficient in tap ballet, contemporary, jazz, etc. she is an expert clogger! She continues to train which she credits for keeping her “healthy and happy! And in great shape!”
Historically, burlesque dancers have always created and sewed their own elaborate rhinestone costumes, selected their own music and choreographed their own dance numbers. Many buy and or build their own sets and props. Blaze Starr, a 1950s burlesque icon and the subject of the Paul Newman starring film “Blaze, proudly told me how she built a special effects prop that would set her couch on fire, by soldering a peach can. For my film and book, of the same name “Behind the Burly Q” many of the former stars of burlesque proudly recalled how many hours they spent sewing and gluing. A practice that continues today. Sally Rand wasn’t above climbing a ladder and nailing together her set. Gypsy designed special gowns held together with straight pins that she stripped from.
Donna began producing and performing at Au Lac Restaurant in Los Angeles, but after a couple years of sold out shows she needed to move her production to a larger venue.
In 2015 when she attend a “Night of Broadway” performance, a celebration of the historic Downtown Los Angeles Theatre District, she fell in love. She also discovered the Globe Theatre and though it was undergoing construction a strong vision in her head told her this is where she could create and find a home.
The Globe Theatre, formerly the Morosco was built in 1912 for producer Oliver Morosco’s small dramatic productions. With only fourteen rows and 100ish seats it was an intimate theatre. Sadly Morosco would die after being hit by a car on Hollywood Boulevard. On his stage performed Eddie Cantor and Ziegfeld rival, Earl Carroll worked there. In the late 1920s the theatre was renamed The President. In 1930 it was turned into a movie house showing newsreels.
In 1940 the now iconic Globe marquee went up and the theatre changed names. Like many theatres it fell into disrepair. The space was used for retail, swap meet space and a nightclub before being renovated.
Hood wanted cabaret seating and a long runway — both of which the Globe entertained. Meeting and no doubt charming Globe owner Erik Chol who at the time was renovating, Donna convinced him her high-end burlesque show would thrive at his venue. And she was right.
It’s been three years of hard work since her first show. Hood dances in all shows of Tease if You Please, but also casts emerging and established talent. Her stage has seen the incredible talents of Mosh, Jessabelle Thunder, Miss Tosh, Brynn Route and, in her words and from my experience, “amazing host and boylesque extraordinaire, Tito Bonito.” Tito keeps the variety-type acts flowing between the burlesque numbers.
Hood has set the bar high for the type of talent she employees, researching new challenging acts, that she says will engage not only her fantasies but the audience as well. She is interested in bringing the best to her stage. She admits it isn’t luck but hard hard work.
Some of her hardest challenges have been the endless details she must attend to that the audience will never see or know, not only hiring, sometimes firing, but the piles of paperwork, promotion, etc. So far she has pulled it off flawlessly.
Her attitude is and remains “the show must go on” no matter what happens on show day, during her 14 hour day, she wears two hats, producer and performer and must know when to turn off one and don the other.
Donna Hood, a performer who decided it wasn’t enough to wait for someone else to give her opportunity. A reminder that you are responsible for making your own dreams come true. A woman you should know.
For more info on Tease if You Please http://www.teaseifyouplease.com/ I hope to see you there.
