January 16, 2025: Monster Show For Monsters

Every third Monday, after the sun goes down, the Red Light Cafe in Atlanta, GA comes alive with a primal howl. This is the traditional opening of Monster Show for Monsters, the world's only variety show exclusively by and for monsters!

This devilish revue is hosted by Boris Karhop, a shapeshifting goth swamp creature from the Okefenokee, and the Jack of Diamonds, a sentient time-traveling playing card from the mirror dimension. On a Monday night, you can see drag, stage magic, burlesque, poetry, live music, standup comedy, and just about anything else your local monsters can think of. The vibes between acts can shift from sexy to silly to heartfelt to horrifying and back again in the blink of an eye. And it's fun.

My own monster show debut came just last month, and it was decidedly Silly. After Boris did a fantastic Wicked parody as Mothra – The Lizard and I – I knew what had to be done. I asked Boris if he would do Confrontation from Les Miserables with me as Godzilla. Within a matter of days I'd sent him a rewrite of the lyrics, with Godzilla-as-Javert clamoring for humanity's destruction as punishment for their nuclear sins while Mothra-as-Valjean preached mercy and redemption for mankind.

Clockwise, from top: Boris Karhop as Mothra (Left) versus Igor as Godzilla (Right),
Portrait of Igor as Godzilla, Cast Photo of 12/16 Monster Show
Photos: Blake Pipes Photography

I don't have any immediate plans to take the stage again, but I had a great time letting my inner monster out for a night, and now the sight of the full moon fills me with an eldritch urge to write monster-themed song parodies . . . And if any Atlanta-area monsters are reading this, come on down and join the party at Red Light Cafe on the third Monday of each month.