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SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH NEXT SHOW JUNE 13th!

HEADLINING - With his national tour show-  Darshwood!!

502-276-3737

Make your reservations Here!

On January 3rd, 2013, Wonderland opened its’ doors with a performance arts show that kept the audience enchanted for the entire 3 hour non-stop event.

When you first walk in, you are treated to rare behind the curtain experiences, being allowed to watch the show being set up.  The activity gets rolling when the 8 o’clock variety show begins.  You are taken back to a time where the fast paced 5 minute vaudeville acts blazed across the stage. In the vaudeville style, the Wonderland Orchestra provides the music for the acts.  But this isn’t a typical vaudeville show.  Wonderland becomes the intersection where vaudeville, floor shows, burlesque, visual artists and cabaret all meet head-on. 

After the variety show, the Wonderland Orchestra gets you ready for the headliner. Then the headliner of the month takes stage.  The headline show is always fun and edgy.

After the shows, stay for the afterparty. You have the chance to socialize in a complete “SurroundAround” environment. You become surrounded throughout the entire club with live street performances that may include dancers, jugglers, puppeteers, magicians, aerialists, and contortionists.

Many stories intersect at Wonderland.   The host of the show, Danny O’Day, led the last live band at the “gentlemen’s clubs”, in the 1970’s. His most memorable outings in comedy and mc’ing was at the Merry Go Round, where many famous performers played. Some of those were local talent that went on to make it big. Danny’s history is rich in the music scene, as well as mc’ing the vaudeville and burlesque type shows.

Ray Smerlin, Wonderlands’ producer, spent his early years following the big bands. The past 2 years, he has produced shows in Louisville, including a run at Baron’s Theater (formerly Squirrelley’s Tea Room).  For almost a year, Smerlin has been talking with, and working with, Jeff McBride, an international master illusionist, who has a long running show in Las Vegas called “Jeff McBride’s Wonderground).  When Smerlin brought McBride into Louisville for a 3 day run at Baron’s Theater, they visited the preferred venue, and Wonderland was born.  Smerlin’s Louisville Wonderland has taken on a life of it’s own, turning it into a complete 3 hour sensory experience that combines both visual and performance art.

Danny O’Day’s Wonderland Orchestra completes the experience.  Unlike many live shows with electronic tracked music, Wonderland offers the total experience with live music.  The orchestra is comprised of saxophone, drums, and keyboards.  The family tree of this group brings us back to the days of burlesque shows with live music.  You haven’t experienced the variety arts on stage until you’ve seen, and heard them, with the real musicians playing on stage as well.

WONDERLAND runs every second Thursday of the month at The Vernon Club, 1575 Story Avenue in Louisville Kentucky. The cost is $10.00, which gets you the shows and 2 drinks. Doors open at 7:15