Cabaret
Dear Editor: In our 11th year as an organization, and after an impromptu three-year break due to the pandemic, Ramshackle Cabaret returned to the stage for our 9th big performance event this February with “Sploosh!” Since we started, our mission has been to provide daring, different and titillating entertainment, but most importantly – to support sexual health and reproductive rights for everyone in our community and our state. Cabaret and burlesque have always been a platform for provocative ideas and progressive politics. Ramshackle Cabaret is no exception.
We should be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and our protected right to safe reproductive health care. But we’re not. Even our own governor wants to make Alaska “the most pro-life state in the entire country.” Thankfully, our state constitution protects reproductive choice as a fundamental right, but the hurdles needed to be jumped to exercise that right are getting higher and more difficult to overcome.
Which is why we do what we do. All of the time and talent that goes into each show – choreography, writing, dancing, set construction, costumes and makeup, advertising, advocating – collectively, hundreds of hours of love and labor, is volunteer. Our cast and crew volunteers so that our proceeds can go to organizations that support and empower people to make their own decisions regarding their reproductive and sexual health. Over 700 Sitkans came to “Sploosh!” to show their enthusiasm and support for Ramshackle Cabaret and the causes we stand for. We are truly humbled and honored to be a part of such a community as this.
Thanks to this continued creativity and support, we’ve been able to donate over $100,000 over the past 10 years to various organizations that support sexual health and reproductive rights. This year, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai’i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, the Northwest Abortion Access Fund, and Indigenous Women Rising will each receive $5,000 from Ramshackle Cabaret.
Each of these organizations works to ensure that bodily autonomy, especially reproductive autonomy, is supported, respected and protected for everyone. It is our privilege to help support them in their work.
While there are more people to thank than this column has room for, we would like to mention in particular: Ellen Frankenstein and ArtChange Inc., Carla Whiteside, Elle Campbell, Bryan Lovett, Jack Petersen, Caitlin Blaisdell, Judson Rusk, and the staff of Harrigan Centennial Hall.
Thank you, Sitka, for supporting us as we continue to bring ridiculous and provocative entertainment to the stage, and support sexual health and reproductive rights for all.
Erin Fulton
on behalf of the Ramshackle Cabaret leadership team
