Stella Kulagowski, who you might know better by her stage name Saint Stella, is getting into the holiday spirit with the third annual A Burlesque-Mas Carol. A naughty twist on the Dickens holiday classic, A Burlesque-Mas Carolis sure to be an unforgettable night. We get to talk about all things holiday, what makes A Burlesque-Mas Carol special, and why more people should check out the art form of Burlesque.

1. Could you please introduce yourself to my readers and tell us a bit about your role with A Burlesque-Mas Carol? 

I’m Stella Kulagowski, and I work under the stage name Saint Stella. I’m a theatrical producer, writer, and performer who specializes in creating burlesque and drag adaptations of classic literature.

With “A Burlesque-Mas Carol,” (http://aburlesquemascarol.eventbrite.ca/) I wear several hats – I’m the adapter, writer, and producer of the show. I also play the narrator, or ‘Spirit of Burlesque’. This production is my love letter to Dickens and the burlesque community. We’re now in our third year, and what started as my wild idea to reimagine “A Christmas Carol” through a burlesque lens has become this beautiful annual tradition that brings together performers and audiences who are looking for a non-traditional way to celebrate the holidays.

The show is really about reclaiming the season for misfits, queers, and anyone who’s ever felt on the outside. We’ve kept Dickens’ core message about community, generosity, and transformation, but we tell it through striptease, drag performance, and queerness. The whole thing celebrates chosen family and the power of art to bring people together.

We run as a limited engagement – typically three performances across two days – at The Painted Lady in Toronto, and I’m incredibly proud that we’ve built a track record of selling out. There’s something magical about creating this space where people can come together, celebrate their bodies and identities, and remember that community and joy are what really matter during the holiday season

2. What was your inspiration to create this show?

The inspiration really came from wanting to create a holiday tradition that takes both the holiday and tradition out of it!

I think a lot of people want a celebration during this season that isn’t based around Christmas or Hanukkah or any religious tradition. Instead, we celebrate the holidays through togetherness, art, and maybe a bit of camp. In “A Burlesque-Mas Carol,” we don’t actually mention any specific holiday at all. But at the same time, I think almost everyone will recognize the framing of Dickens’ three ghosts coming to teach a selfish protagonist a lesson about love, generosity, and community. That framework is so deeply embedded in our cultural consciousness that it transcends any single holiday.

What I love about using “A Christmas Carol” as our foundation is that Dickens was already writing about economic inequality, the struggles of performers aka workers, and the importance of chosen family and community support. Those themes are incredibly relevant to the burlesque and queer communities today. So many of us in the arts are cobbling together multiple gigs, struggling to make ends meet, and finding family in our artistic communities rather than traditional places.

And I have to confess – I absolutely love “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” There’s something about how it takes this classic story and makes it joyful, accessible, and a little bit silly while still honoring the heart of the original that really inspired the tone I wanted to strike. We’re serious about the art and the message, but we’re also here to have a fabulous time.

3. This is the third year that you’ve put on A Burlesque-Mas Carol. What do you look forward to with each remount?

One of my biggest goals with this show was to create something like “The Nutcracker” – a production that people return to year after year. They know the story, but they also know each production will be slightly different, and that’s part of the magic. Every year, we add little twists to the script, change up the acts, and spice up the characters in different ways. And we always throw in a new fancy group finale that brings everyone together in a fresh way.

What I look forward to most is that beautiful balance between continuity and surprise. There’s something really special about having a tradition to look forward to every year – for both the performers and the audience. People come back because they loved it, but they’re also wondering, “What are they gonna do this year?” That anticipation is exciting for everyone involved.

It also means we get to grow and evolve with the show. As we learn more about what works, what resonates, and what makes people laugh or cry or cheer, we can fold those discoveries into the next iteration. The bones of the story stay the same – you’re gonna get your three ghosts, a bedraggled Tiny Tim and a rehabbed Scrooge – but everything else is alive and evolving. That keeps it fresh for us as artists and ensures that even our most loyal returning audience members get something new to delight in.

4. Why should folks get out and see Burlesque?

People should come out and see burlesque because it’s one of the most joyful, inclusive, and genuinely human art forms out there. When you come to a burlesque show, you’re not just watching a performance – you’re part of a community. You’re supporting artists celebrating bodies and expression of such a wide variety, who are creating art because they love it and because it matters to them. And, you’re giving yourself permission to be joyful, to be a little bit naughty, to celebrate pleasure and camp and artistry all at once. Burlesque helps people both onstage and off feel more comfortable in their own skin, realize things about their identity and sexuality, flex their humour in unusual and unexpected ways, feel big feelings, and move their bodies. Plus, it’s just really fun. And in a world that can be pretty hard on our souls, we all deserve a little glitter and a lot of joy.

5. What’s your favourite part of the Holiday Season?

My favorite part of the holiday season is making art and being with my chosen family!

Honestly, the whole season for me is just this beautiful cascade of performance and community. It starts with remounting “A Burlesque-Mas Carol” – getting to revisit this show I love, working with incredible performers, and creating this space for people to celebrate together. Then my birthday hits in December, and I get to do burlesque and dance all night with my friends. And then New Year’s? That’s right – another burlesque show with some of my absolute favourite people and performers.

The whole season is tied up in a gloriously sparkling bow of performing and being with my chosen and found family of incredibly talented artists. I get to be surrounded by this community of misfits and makers who’ve become my family. We’re creating art together, supporting each other, celebrating each other’s bodies, brains and talents, and just revelling in the joy of being together.

That’s really what these shows are about at their core – reminding people that family is who you choose, that celebration doesn’t have to look traditional, and that there’s profound beauty in gathering with your people to make art and share joy. I’m incredibly lucky that my work and my community are so intertwined, and that the holiday season gives me so many opportunities to celebrate both.

I want to thank Stella for taking the time to answer my questions. You can see A Burlesque-Mas Carol at The Painted Lady on December 12 and 13. For more information and tickets, visit: http://aburlesquemascarol.eventbrite.ca/

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