Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad comes to Bloomington

Comedy, music, spoken word and burlesque dancing combine to transform some nice Jewish girls into raunchy burlesque performers.

The traveling comedic troupe Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad will be performing two shows at Bear’s Place tonight with tickets set at $10. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Both are for audiences ages 21 and older.

According to a press release, Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad “dare to deconstruct years of tradition and guilt in a fast-paced vaudeville extravaganza, complete with kick-lines, punch lines and a rendition of ‘L’chaim’ with a fist in the mouth.”

Susannah Perlman, “ringleader” and creator of Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad, said the idea for the show started about seven years ago after performing an event for the New York-based Heeb magazine. She said the event allowed her to meet a lot of women performers who defied many of the typical stereotypes about Jewish women and thus inspired her to create such a unique show.

“I wanted something to have a variety feel to it and have comedy, spoken word and burlesque,” Perlman said.

Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad has since become a nationally recognized act performing to sold-out crowds in major cities on the east and west coasts.

Those attending tonight’s shows can expect to see comedic performances from performers seen on Comedy Central, HBO and late-night TV. All musical performances will include accompaniment from a backing band called The Four Skin.

Perlman added that people don’t have to be Jewish to “get” or like the show, and she said she is also excited about performing for the first time in Bloomington.

“I think it’s safe to say that this is something that doesn’t usually come around to Bloomington that often, so we will be changing Bloomington forever,” she joked. “Since Indiana went blue, the country got Obama, and now Bloomington gets us.”