Lily Verlaine is the Seattle-based producer, choreographer and burlesque star of Verlaine and McCann Present, which has been producing shows with live music, dancing, comedy and tongue-in-cheek striptease since 2006. From Dec. 8 to Dec. 29, Verlaine and McCann Present puts on Land of The Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker at The Triple Door in Seattle. Learn about Lily Verlaine…
Hometown: It’s hard to say as I was born in Detroit but moved 18 times before I graduated high school. Home tends to be where my suitcase is.
First job: At age four, I had a speaking role in a Cabbage Patch commercial.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in WA: I love swimming and being on boats.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Being at the helm of a successful production for 15 years and the subject of a wonderful documentary that illustrates the value of peace, love and glamour and the ladies who lead.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: The idea that I had to wait for permission to stand in the spotlight.
Someone who inspires you and why: Tina Turner. She became a superstar when she broke every rule and reinvented herself at the age of 44.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Pay attention to tiny details that make your vision unique, be generous with your resources, nurture great relationships with people who spark you.
Favorite quote: “Every woman has a past, but she has 12 and they all fit.” –Oscar Wilde
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I aspire to pilot a seaplane.
What makes someone fabulous: So many qualities can combine to create that fine alchemy that makes a fabulous whole. I’m really inspired by those who use their passion to bring out the fabulous in others.