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Vivacious Vaudeville
Ukulele Loki puts together a show unlike any other.
Amber Taufen
photo: Myloh Villaronga
Ukulele Loki’s variety act is big-top worthy.
Ukulele Loki, aka Aaron Johnson, knows variety acts. A burlesque emcee,
musician, circus sideshow performer and former member of the Crispy
Family Carnival, Johnson just might be the most qualified person in
the state to put together a vaudeville show.
And Ukulele Loki's Vaudeville Variety Show and Folderol Follies
is a variety heavyweight: As emcee, Johnson will introduce burlesque
performers (including the lovely Orchid Mei), the Oracle dance troupe,
the University of Colorado swing-dance team, belly dancers, puppets
crafted by Corey Gilstrap (of Pee-Wee's Playhouse and MTV's Liquid Television
fame), comedy, mind-reading and music — including a band composed
of tuba, clarinet, marimbas, percussion and, of course, the ukulele.
"I finally have a really solid band together," enthuses Johnson.
"We'll be doing covers and original music."
The real question is: What's not in this show? "We're not going
to have a flea circus," he reveals. "I have a friend who's
building one. It just takes a long time to train all those little fleas.
"Over the years, I've managed to befriend lots of talented people
in this community," he adds, "and getting them all together
under one roof is really exciting for me."
Bask in the excitement tonight at 10 p.m. at the Mainstage Theatre on the CU-Boulder campus; admission is free. For more information, visit www.ukuleleloki.com. Sat., April 29, 9:30 p.m. University Theatre Mainstage, Theatre and Dance Bldg. , Boulder _
