The North Star Nerdlesque Festival is Minnesota’s premier celebration of nerdy burlesque—where fandom, performance art, and body positivity collide in a glitter-filled explosion of joy, empowerment, and unapologetic nerdery.
Founded to spotlight performers who fuse pop culture with the art of striptease, North Star Nerdlesque brings together a dazzling lineup of local and national talent. From sci-fi sirens to comic book crusaders, video game vixens to fantasy seductresses, our festival honors the full spectrum of fandom through creative, comedic, and often heartfelt performance.
Whether you’re a lifelong geek, a burlesque connoisseur, or just curious, this is a space where all identities and expressions are celebrated. We prioritize queer and BIPOC inclusion, consent culture, and accessible fun for performers and audiences alike.
Held annually in the Twin Cities, the festival features:
- Burlesque showcases inspired by iconic fandoms
- Workshops led by industry professionals
- Social events for continued networking
- Vending celebrating our performers and sponsors
Join us under the glow of the North Star and discover why nerdy is not only sexy—it’s revolutionary.
North Star Nerdlesque isn’t just a festival—it’s a growing constellation of nerdy performance art in the Midwest.
Building on the success and spirit of the annual North Star Nerdlesque Festival, we’re expanding to produce year-round nerdlesque shows, events, and community offerings under the North Star Nerdlesque banner.
These pop-up shows and themed evenings allow us to:
- Showcase even more local and national talent
- Spotlight specific fandoms or genres
- Collaborate with geek-friendly venues, conventions, and artists
- Create welcoming, body-positive spaces for both veteran and newer performers
Whether it’s a one-night-only tribute to sci-fi classics, a queer fantasy showcase, or a cosplay cabaret at your favorite con—we’re here to bring the sparkle of nerdlesque to new audiences across the region.
Stay tuned for upcoming events and follow us on social media to catch the next adventure in our ever-expanding nerdy universe.
Production Team
Opiumm Hayze
Co-Founder/Executive Producer
Opiumm has been producing and performing burlesque in the Twin Cities and beyond for over 15 years. She was the first performer from Minnesota to perform at the International Nerdlesque Festival in NY, and has also performed in the NOLA Nerdlesque Festival, Show Me Burlesque Festival, Ohio Burlesque Festival, Al-Stravaganza, and the Minneapolis Burlesque Festival. She is the Matriarch of Twin Titties Horrorlesque, and has helped pave the way for the next generation of weird burlesque performers. She is the founder of Dancing Cow productions, and dabbles in Resin Art and Photography in addition to Burlesque.
Mona Montague
Co-Founder/Executive Producer
Known as “The Star-Crossed Stripper” and “The Mean, Green, Stripping Machine,” Mona Montague has been enticing Twin Cities audiences for over 16 years with performances celebrating pop culture, humor, and sexuality. They have been featuring in festivals and shows across the country including Best of Midwest Burlesque, Al-Stravaganza (an all Weird Al burlesque show), Kansas City Nerdlesque Festival, Show Me Burlesque Festival, Colorado Burlesque Festival, Oklahoma Burlesque Festival, Windy City Burlesque Festival, and more. Mona is also a cast member of Black Hearts Burlesque, and the sponsorship and finance director of the Minneapolis Burlesque Festival.