New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival
Esmerelda returns to the New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival to debut her newest puppet musical comedy, A Day in the Life. Time and location will be released in early 2026. Esmerelda will also lead and host the Giant Puppet Parade and Slam, where puppets and people take to the streets, marching through the Marigny/Bywater neighborhood, with various performance stops along the way. Esmerelda will also co-host the last puppet slam of the festival in The Twilight Room at Allways Lounge and Cabaret. Stay tuned for more details!
THIRSTY FOR THE LIMELIGHT at UCB Franklin (LIVE)
Washed-up puppet divas claw for stardom in an unforgettable musical packed with glitz, wit, and grit.
Thirsty for the Limelight has showcased at Electric Forest Music Festival, the New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival, the Lyric Hyperion Theater, and more. This original musical musn’t be missed!
A Varietyville Christmas Special at The Elysian Theater (Los Angeles)
Yuletide, they’ll tide, we’ll all tide on December 3rd because A Varietyville Christmas Special is comin’ to town! Join your Varietyville pals at a new place and time as we deck the halls of The Elysian to kick off the holiday season with a merry variety special that would make Dean Martin proud.
You’ll see that Wizard of LA Variety, the rosy-cheeked RON LYNCH, ESMERELDA THE PUPPET, and TREVOR GOOBER as Ebenezer Scrooge! Plus, characters by The Varietyvillians (Suzanne Nichols, Cait Bidwell, Yasha Rayzberg, Amanda Sedaka, Iris Perry, & “Transatlantic Will” Marcil) with legendary character actor, Dr. M.C. GAINEY, and music from MIKE BOLGER and The Varietyville Sound (Madison Shearer, Jared Tashjian, & Fiddlin’ Tom Hanslowe), as well as cartoons from ISAIAH FERGUSON and puppetry by ALEX BARTLEY!
There’s no place like Varietyville for the holidays, so sleigh on by for a night of sketches, music, and more as we honor the timeless traditions of the Christmas season!
Clown for All at The Lyric Hyperion Theater
Saturday, August 16th, 2025
Doors 10:40AM // Show 11AM
$15 - Presale // $20 - Day Of
This performance will include an intermission.
Lineup subject to change
Late Arrivals will be turned away 20 minutes after scheduled event start.
No Refunds or Exchanges.
For the protection of our audiences we reserve the right to refuse service.
Come one, come all, to a morning with the best part of the circus -- the clowns! This hour-long show will feature a variety of acts from up-and-coming clowns in LA's burgeoning "plain clothes clown" community. Less red noses and big shoes, more silly playfulness and audience interaction. Families and kids of all ages, come on down!
The Electric Cheetah Cabaret Soirée (Live at The Kibitz Room)
Get ready for the best puppet cabaret… in a dive bar.. in a Jewish deli… and if that doesn’t intrigue you, then we can’t help you! Prepare for a night of wild surprises, zany characters, new acts, bits and shticks. Esmerelda hosts the one-n-only Electric Cheetah, packed with live music, hearty laughs, audience interactive comedy, pastrami, pickles and booze. C’mon… that’s fabulous!
Carnival Freakshow at The Snail Farm
Come to the Snail Farm at 501 S. Ave 17 for a night of wild performances amidst a haze of Carnival magic. Esmerelda will do sing and dance. Don’t miss it or you’ll miss it!
Twin Flames Show at The Elysian Theater
Hang up and call us now. Get ready for a time-bending, heart-melting cosmic circus. Your transcendent variety show from the celestial ether is taking The Elysian stage. Enjoy a bizarre evening of magic, drag, characters on characters, clown, art, and time-traveling friendship that leaves you wondering if you just fell in love. (You did.) Hosted by beautiful cosmic freaks Emily Maverick & Geri Courtney-Austein.
Featuring:
Esmerelda (a stripping puppet)
Sweet Tea (iconic drag queen!)
Rachel Troy (Baby, Top of Fringe 2024)
Nicholas Hemerling (Ecole Philippe Gaulier)
Jill Young (award-winning theater clown)
Scarlett Divine (aerial & burlesque)
Silent Partners (vaudeville time-traveling mime clowns)
MARIA BAMFORD
& of course your hosts, Emily & Geri!
You may also join us for our preshow from 6:30-7:30 in the lobby, featuring handmade accessories, fashion, poetry, and MORE!
