by JR Valrey
If you want to experience a sexy, sensual, artsy and drama-filled Halloween onstage, I would expect you to attend the ‘House of Velvet: Halloween’ burlesque show at Yoshi’s in Oakland on the official night.
Juju, of Juju’s Productions, has already written, produced and directed two other burlesque shows at Yoshi’s that were presented before sold-out crowds. She has been extremely successful at reviving interest in the art of burlesque for a Black crowd in the Bay Area. Trailblazing through uncharted artistic territory in the modern era, Juju’s Productions brings a refreshing and innovative voice to the rich history of burlesque and to the current cultural fabric of the Bay Area. Check out Juju as she describes the House of Velvet.
JR Valrey: What is Juju’s Productions up to this Halloween? Can you tell us a little bit about the storyline in this upcoming ‘House of Velvet’ show?
Juju: This Halloween, Juju’s Productions is introducing “House of Velvet: Halloween” at Yoshi’s Oakland. It’s the first installment of a three-part themed burlesque series featuring performers from all backgrounds. I don’t want to give away too much of the storyline because I want people to experience it for themselves. What I can say is that when you enter the House of Velvet, you’re entering a world of mystery, glamour, music, dance and some very interesting characters. And you might want to pay attention before the show officially starts.
JR Valrey: How is the Halloween storyline different from the last Juju’s Burlesque show that was performed at Yoshi’s?
Juju: They’re actually two different productions. Juju’s Burlesque is our classic. It features an all-Black cast and pays homage to the Black women business owners, Black businesses and Black entertainers that once bustled along Seventh Street in West Oakland — the area also once carried the name “Harlem of the West”.
House of Velvet* is a new three-part themed series. It gives me the freedom to create fictional characters and different worlds while bringing together performers from all backgrounds. So I’m not changing Juju’s Burlesque. I’m expanding what we can create through Juju’s Productions.
JR Valrey: What is your creative process like when you are writing the scripts for your burlesque shows?
Juju: I usually see it before I write it. It can start with a song, a character, a costume or even one little moment I picture happening in the room. Then I start building around it.
Music is a huge part of my creative process. I’ll hear something and suddenly think, “I know exactly what I want to happen here.” From there, I’m connecting the music, choreography, characters, vocals, costumes and storytelling. I think a lot about how I want the audience to feel, not just what I want them to see.
JR Valrey: What was the most memorable thing about writing the script for this Halloween show?*
Juju: First of all, the costumes … Thinking of costumes made me realize how much fun I could have with the Halloween theme. Halloween gave me permission to be a little fun, spooky, glamorous and unpredictable all at the same time. I could create characters and situations that might not make sense anywhere else but inside the House of Velvet, they make perfect sense.
JR Valrey: What is the difference between the burlesque shows in the distant past and the burlesque shows of today? Can you share some of that history?
Juju: Burlesque has always been more than one thing. Its history includes satire, comedy, music, dance, theatrical performance and, of course, the glamour and sensuality people often associate with it. Today, burlesque artists continue to build on those traditions while bringing in their own cultures, identities, music and styles of storytelling.
That’s part of what inspired Juju’s Burlesque. I wanted our classic show to celebrate Black, beautiful and sensual performers while paying homage to the Black businesses, women entrepreneurs and entertainment culture of Seventh Street in West Oakland.
House of Velvet lets me explore another part of the art form through themed entertainment and storytelling. There is so much history in burlesque, but there’s also so much room to create something new.
JR Valrey: What should people expect from the House of Velvet Halloween show?
Juju: Come expecting a really fun Halloween night. There will be burlesque, live vocals, dancing, great costumes, characters, music and surprises. It’s sexy, spooky, theatrical and playful.
But I’m purposely not telling you everything. I want people to walk into House of Velvet not knowing exactly what’s waiting for them.
JR Valrey: Who are some of the leading women in your cast? Why did you pick them to help you bring your story to life?
Juju: We have a wonderful cast, and one of the characters audiences will meet is Madame Crush, played by Micaela. Micaela has the personality and theatrical presence I needed for that role, and she really commits to the character.
And then there’s Velvetine. Velvetine is a mystery throughout the entire three-part House of Velvet series — including the identity of the performer. So I’m not telling you anything else about her.
More broadly, I chose performers who bring individuality to the production. I don’t want everyone onstage to look, move or perform exactly the same way. Part of what makes House of Velvet exciting to me is seeing different performers bring their own energy into the same world.
JR Valrey: Where can people get tickets?
Juju: Tickets are available through Yoshis.com.
House of Velvet: Halloween takes place Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Yoshi’s Oakland, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. for VIP ticket holders.
This is Part One of the three-part House of Velvet series, so if you want to know what happens inside the House …
You’ll have to come in. Enter curious and leave spellbound!
JR Valrey is a veteran journalist and Editor in Chief at the San Francisco Bay View. He can be reached at JR@sfbayview.com and at IG @JRValrey
