ST. PETERSBURG, FL \u2014 A St. Petersburg comedian is hoping people will commit to the bit when she hosts a burlesque open mic contest inspired by the ’90s TV show “Roseanne” on Thursday night at The Ball.<\/p>\n
Cat Lim<\/a> regularly hosts a general open mic on the third Thursday of every month, 8 to 10:30 p.m., at the venue located at 49 24th Street N.<\/p>\n The monthly series features a little bit of everything. Music, comedy and even one time \u201ctwo girls tested their balance [on stage] to see who had better balance,\u201d Lim told Patch. <\/p>\n Find out what’s happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n And when the open mic acts dwindle as it gets later in the evening, she breaks out the karaoke machine. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been described as a disco sleepover,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Find out what’s happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n Now, she\u2019s taking the May open mic to a new level with a \u201cRoseanne\u201d show burlesque theme. <\/p>\n The ’90s show, set in Lanford, Illinois, centers on a working-class, blue-collar family. <\/p>\n Lim knows it’s not a typical theme for a burlesque show. She unexpectedly came up with the concept while watching a TikTok video about \u201c\u201890s butter moms.\u201d<\/p>\n For those who don\u2019t know about the \u201c\u201890s butter mom\u201d concept, \u201cit\u2019s the opposite of the \u2018almond mom,\u2019” known for restricting their children’s diets, she said.<\/p>\n The \u201cbutter mom\u201d diet focuses on butter-laden, comfort foods, Lim added. <\/p>\n That video was set to the \u201cRoseanne\u201d theme song, which got the wheels turning in her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I heard the music by itself, I thought, \u2018This sounds like a burlesque song. This sounds sexy AF,\u2019\u201d she said. <\/p>\n Lim posted an Instagram story about the theme song. <\/p>\n \u201cLike, is it just me or does this sound like a burlesque song?\u201d she asked her followers. <\/p>\n Her friends immediately supported her using \u201cRoseanne\u201d burlesque as the theme of her next open mic. <\/p>\n \u201cYou gotta do it,\u201d they told her. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was one of those situations where I think this is funny, but I also took an edible. But people are getting into the bit,” Lim added.<\/p>\n As a comedian, she already \u201cperforms the most ridiculous things,\u201d especially at The Ball, where they let her \u201croam freely with comedy and creativity,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n Just a couple of months ago, she performed a comedy routine as \u201cthe concrete butthole,\u201d a reference to \u201cThe Sun on the Edge\u201d sculpture by artist Ilan Averbuch, located at the Central Avenue and 11th Street intersection roundabout, that\u2019s often called \u201ca butthole\u201d by locals. <\/p>\n Not only did The Ball encourage Lim to host a \u201cRoseanne\u201d-themed burlesque open mic, the venue also suggested that she turn it into a contest. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd I was like, \u2018Oh my god, the potential,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re turning it into a real contest.\u201d <\/p>\n So far, there are three confirmed contestants: pole dancer Amber Von Schassen, comedian Natasha Samreny and Will Lorenzo.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be taking on the John Goodman character [Dan],\u201d Lim said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to give too much away, but I will tell you: ripaway pants.\u201d<\/p>\n Last-minute entries to the contest are also welcome. <\/p>\n Three guest judges, Jesse Miller, Alex Lavalle and Evelyn Long, will rate contestants across the following 10 categories, each worth one point, to determine the winner: <\/p>\n funnyattitudeartistry thematically relevantsexystar qualitycharismauniquenessnervetalent <\/p>\n The top three winners will be awarded during a medal ceremony at the end of the night. <\/p>\n Lim also encourages the audience to get involved. <\/p>\n \u201cEveryone is welcome. We want people to dress up like Roseanne. Get your flannels out; get your denim shirts out; come out and hang out with us and dance to the theme song,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n There\u2019s just one rule, Lim added: \u201cWe don\u2019t want anybody acting like real life Roseanne. That behavior is not welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n The show\u2019s namesake and lead, actress and comedian Roseanne Barr, was fired from the sitcom\u2019s reboot in 2018 after she fired off a series of racist tweets, Variety said<\/a>. Her character was killed off, and the series was rebranded as \u201cThe Conners,\u201d which focused on her family.<\/p>\n Lim said that as St. Petersburg grows and changes, events like this continue to bring whimsy to the city. <\/p>\n \u201cI feel like, St. Pete, we can be weirder,\u201d she said. \u201cAs a community, we can be way weirder. As a comedian, I feel it is now my mission to bring that weirdness and that silliness to this city. It\u2019s such a special city, and that attracted me as an artist.\u201d<\/p>\n The city has seen significant growth in recent years, with numerous new developments changing the landscape. <\/p>\n \u201cAs the city changes, these little pockets of weird, niche humor give the city character. It gives people something to look forward to that\u2019s different,\u201d Lim said.<\/p>\n Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.<\/a><\/p>\n