‘ARKHAM A$$YLUM’ Burlesque Premieres at Denver Fringe!

Gotham’s getting glam!

This June, the villains are stealing the spotlight—and your heart—at the world premiere of ARKHAM A$$YLUM: AN [AFTER DARK] KNIGHT DRAG BURLESQUE, strutting its stuff at the 2025 Denver Fringe Festival. Equal parts scandalous and spectacular, this genre-bending fever dream is the brainchild of film professor and LGBTQ+ organizer Andy Scahill and director Richi Ramos, bringing a thrilling, no-holds-barred twist to the superhero universe you thought you knew.

This time, the rogues run the show. With drag, burlesque, and cosplay colliding in one deliciously deviant cabaret, ARKHAM A$$YLUM reimagines Gotham’s most infamous baddies through a fierce, queer lens. Poison Ivy booked for a weed bust? Harley Quinn as a corporate whistleblower? Bane battling the trauma of gay conversion therapy? It’s satire; it’s spectacle, and it’s served up with rhinestones, rage, and a whole lot of sass. (But let’s not forget our dear Dark Knight completely, mind—There’s a lot to unpack there too!)

At the heart of this electric production is the dazzling world of Denver drag and burlesque—a scene known for its artistry, audacity, and unapologetic queerness. From jaw-dropping lip syncs to high-concept striptease, ARKHAM A$$YLUM is a celebration of a nightlife culture that’s as politically charged as it is wildly entertaining.

And Scahill knows how to throw a party. He’s the mastermind behind Rainbow Cult, Denver’s beloved queer film series that started as a scrappy backyard movie night and grew into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. With interactive screenings, drag hosts, and cult classic chaos, Rainbow Cult has packed the house at venues like Meow Wolf—and was just named “Best Night out for Queer Intellectuals” in Westword Magazine’s 2025 Best of Denver. Talk about a glow-up!

The show also boldly plays with copyright and canon, riffing on icons in a way that’s both hilarious and revolutionary. Following in the footsteps of The People’s Joker and other queer reimaginings, ARKHAM A$$YLUM taps into the growing movement of artists using parody and pastiche to push back against gatekept storytelling. The message? These stories belong to all of us.

So grab your glitter, don your cape (or your corset), and get ready for the wildest night in Gotham. ARKHAM A$$YLUM isn’t just a show—it’s a riotous, rhinestoned reckoning.

Catch it at Denver Fringe, June 4–8. Villains have never looked this good.