The Second Annual Midwest Nerdlesque Festival

This year's Midwest Nerdlesque Festival will feature more than 65 performers from across the country for two nights of "naughty nerd-ery." Bazuka Joe, a member of the award-winning Stage Door Johnnies, and Babia Majora, a co-producer and host of F*ck Shit Up, Toronto's monthly trans and non-binary cabaret, headline the event. The Midwest Nerdlesque Festival also welcomes featured performers such as Verna Vendetta, a gender-bending burlesque performer and drag king, and Delhi Marquette, the co-founder of Moonstruck Burlesque in Athens, Ohio. The show combines burlesque, drag, and variety performance with all things nerdy — pop culture, movies, TV shows, comic books, video games, or whatever makes a performer "geek out." Expect to see performances drawing inspiration from Harry Potter, Speed Racer, the Marvel Universe, Greek mythology, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I Love Lucy, Star Wars and Disney. The shows take place tonight and tomorrow night at 8 at the Kent Stage. Tickets range from $20 to $40. (Niesel)