60 second interview: Trixie Minx

Meredith Barnhill By Meredith Barnhill
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on December 02, 2007 at 8:12 AM, updated December 04, 2007 at 2:08 PM

Her real name is Alexis Graber, she's 25, from Miami and she's married. Just to get that out of the way. Oddly enough, it turns out she also taught my daughter in preschool many years ago, but that's a whole 'nuther story.

Trixie Minx is the producer, director and headline performer of Fleur de Tease, New Orleans' premier burlesque troupe, an ensemble that involves not only exotic dancers but comedians, magicians, fire eaters and aerialists.

Fleur de Tease is performing this Sunday night at One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St. (They have many more shows throughout the area in December; check 'em at

I caught up with Minx by phone this week in between rehearsals.

For the uninitiated, what is the difference between burlesque and stripping?

We get that question a lot. In stripping, you remove your clothing and it is a service, normally in return for cash, but it lacks the passion that burlesque has. Burlesque originally meant "to laugh or to joke" and it comes from the vaudeville style of entertainment. The purpose is to entice the audience, keep them on their toes, keep them guessing . . . while you take off your clothes.

Is it art?

Yes. We're there to create something, to create a feeling in the audience, whether it be comedy or passion or just something cute.

On your MySpace site, I see that your grandmother attributes your moral decline to your failure to marry a nice Jewish doctor. To what do you attribute it?

New Orleans.

I've been accused of having an obsession with Katrina. That said, where does Fleur de Tease fit into the Recovery?

We were talking about "art" before? Katrina inspired all people who were artists to come together and create. We started this troupe right after Katrina to be a part of the movement. We do a lot of benefit performances not specifically for Katrina but for anything New Orleans -- musicians or cancer patients or children; we like to give back as much as we can.

Is there any difference between pre-Katrina and post-Katrina audiences?

That thing I said before about artists coming together? That's how audiences are too. People who maybe wouldn't have seen the show before the storm are willing to give it a try and open their eyes to new and different experiences and taste the flavors of life. Our audiences are very varied. We have people from 70-years-old who remember burlesque back in its heyday and we have people who just turned 21 who are excited about seeing it for the very first time.

What is it about New Orleans and getting naked? It seems to be part of the civic fabric.

New Orleans encourages creativity. You can feel free to express yourself here. And people aren't quite as judgmental as they may be in other cities.

Is New Orleans still America's No. 1 Bohemia?

Any city where street performers can actually make a living doing their craft for the public -- that would be bohemian. There are more burlesque groups popping up, circus groups, live music everywhere and Julia and Royal streets are covered in art galleries and that's a beautiful thing.

Also from MySpace, I see we're both Taurus. What does that mean?

Tauruses are stubborn and determined but that's why we get things accomplished. We don't know when to stop.

I was hoping you'd dig a little deeper on that one.

OK, we were meant to be together.

What is your take on the subprime mortgage crisis?

In New Orleans, prices are out of control and that's kind of sad because there are a lot of people who want to rebuild here and would like to invest in the city and the way everything is set up right now, they can't do it. They can't get the money.

Dang. I was just kidding. What is the true meaning of the holidays?

I like that question. In America, its probably consumerism, but I like to think that for most people it's memories of childhood. The holidays are about bringing families together and that sense of community.

Last question: Show me your wits.

I don't know how to do that over the phone.
