Fortune Cookie— Books, Burlesque & Building Creative Community

Don't Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭

There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque! 

--

In this week’s episode, Gemma sits down with Fortune Cookie—a NYC burlesque performer, acrobat and producer of Books & Burlesque, the literary-meets-burly show celebrating underrepresented authors and stellar performers. Fortune shares how Chinese dance and circus arts fuel her storytelling onstage, why a little improvisation goes a long way, and how she builds joyful community through art.

Plus, meet her ragdoll duo Donut and Koffee—gym mascot, stroller pros and occasional “assistants” to her costume-making adventures.

📖Resources & Links:
Follow Fortune Cookie: @fortunecookie_burlesque
Tickets to Books & Burlesque at Caveat NYC
Workout with Fortune: Cosmic Fit Club  

💌 Connect with Us:
Follow us on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbaretshow
Email: tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com

⭐ Subscribe & Review:
Follow Tails and Tassels on your favorite podcast app and don’t forget to leave us a review—it really helps us grow! 💖

Gemma’s cat-themed variety show, Catbaret, is back with a brand new theme: A Cat Lady Purr-ty!

Happening March 5th at Caveat in NYC, this show brings together comedy, burlesque, music, and all things feline. It’s the ultimate night out for cat lovers!

🎟️ Snag your tickets before they sell out: CatbaretShow.com

Transcript

Gemma Smith (00:04.793)
Hello, hello, kitty cats. Welcome back to another episode of Tails and Tassels, the show where you learn about the lives of burlesque and nightlife performers—their craft, their cats, and how the two worlds intertwine. I'm your host, Gemma Smith. By day, I work in animal welfare, and by night, I host Catbaret, New York City's cat-themed variety show. Today, we have a really exciting guest.

She's a kick-ass performer, producer, and host. Her name is Fortune Cookie. She's a cat mom to Koffee and Donut, and I'm really excited for you to learn more about her. Fortune Cookie is a New York–based Asian American burlesque performer known for incorporating props and acrobatics into her acts. She's the producer of the quarterly show Books & Burlesque at Caveat on the Lower East Side, and she's performed at events like Hotsy Totsy Burlesque, the Asian Burlesque Festival, and Catbaret, most definitely. Her performances are noted for their strength, cultural inspiration, and contemporary relevance. I’m so excited for you to hear my chat with Fortune. She does it all—she’s also a gym owner here in New York City. She owns a gym in Greenpoint called Cosmic Fit Club. You’re going to learn more about that.

You’re going to learn more about Books & Burlesque, her quarterly show that she produces—I’ve been many times as an audience member; it’s fantastic. We’ll talk about that, her creative process for developing an act, tips for performers (what’s going through her mind before she goes onstage), and her journey as a cat mom—all about her cute cats, Koffee and Donut.

All right, let’s dive into today’s episode.

Gemma Smith (02:08.367)
Fortune, thank you so much for being here today.

Fortune Cookie
Of course, I’m so happy to be here.

Gemma Smith
Okay, so I’ve known you for quite a while— for a few years—and we’re going to dive into your craft and your cats and the way those worlds overlap. But I’d love to touch base on this as I was getting ready for the interview: how did we first meet? I think you reached out to me about Catbaret, right?

Fortune Cookie
Yes. I started burlesque at a low point in my life at the suggestion of a friend after a breakup. This was right before the pandemic. I took classes at Jo Weldon’s New York School of Burlesque, and I loved all the body-positivity aspects and the community. After I finished creating my new act—very young and inexperienced at the time—I saw you posted Catbaret was looking for performers. I very excitedly submitted and emailed asking if I could bring my cats on the show. I was like, “I’m not a very good performer yet, but I could strip with my cats next to me—cute, right?” And you were like, “That sounds adorable, but my show doesn’t have live cats because venues don’t allow it.” I think that’s how we first met.

Gemma Smith
Yes, and since then—for our listeners (our kitty cats!)—Fortune and I are friends. When you first reached out, I was so happy someone did because the show was newer. Then I felt bad—Q.E.D. didn’t allow live cats. But I saw your work and thought you were fantastic. You did a Hello Kitty act at Catbaret Purr-ide—we did a one-off in Gowanus—and you had these beautiful blue, rainbow-colored silks. Can you share what year you started? You said you started burlesque when you took the class, you were going through a dark time—and I know you also have a background in circus arts/acrobatics. Could you share that journey?

Fortune Cookie
Yeah. As a child, I grew up in Chinatown and did a lot of Chinese dance. I like to draw on my cultural background in my burlesque and use props. Like you mentioned, I did the Hello Kitty act with Chinese dance ribbons (rainbow) and I also stepped in for your Q.E.D. show last minute and did my Cheetara act from ThunderCats, with the sword. I love performing with props—they give me something to interact with and add visual interest. I’m very physical and athletic, so it brings another aspect to burlesque. With my background in acrobatics and yoga—after college I did my yoga teacher training—I was always that girl doing headstands and handstands while everyone else was trying to meditate. People were like, “Maybe try AcroYoga and acrobatics,” so I did. Long story short, I now have a gym in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where we teach circus arts and partner acrobatics. It adds complexity, fun, and athleticism to my burlesque.

Gemma Smith (06:32.432)
Yes! I’m always excited to see your acts—props or your incredible strength. And same—when I’m doing a restorative bridge with a block, the person next to me is in full wheel and I’m like, “I’m trying to rest!” Shout-out your gym for NYC listeners. What’s the name and what can people expect?

Fortune Cookie
It’s a nontraditional gym—no treadmills or weight machines. It’s a space for people of all ages to explore movement across disciplines. We’ve hosted a Star Wars stunt choreographer (lightsaber workshop), blacklight yoga, AcroYoga, animal-movement classes, improv, and MOMIX-inspired workshops. It’s for people who “hate the gym” to find joy—definitely not a typical gym.

Gemma Smith
It sounds like a really positive community. I still need to take a class. When I signed up, one of your cats welcomed me to the club, right? Tell me about that.

Fortune Cookie
Yes—Donut is our mascot. When I first got her 10 years ago (before the gym opened), I was teaching ~10 classes a week across the city and I’d bring Donut as a kitten. She’s a Ragdoll—if you know Ragdolls, they’re bred to be very chill and mellow. I socialized her in my yoga classes; students loved holding this snuggly marshmallow after class. When I opened the gym, I told my business partner Ben: Donut has to be the mascot/secretary and respond to emails. If you sign up, you’ll get an email “from Donut.” You can even call the gym—there’s an option to “talk to Donut,” and we have a recording.

Gemma Smith (08:38.384)
So cute. And yes, for listeners: you have two Ragdolls, Koffee and Donut. Ragdolls are known to be more chill (every cat is different). We recently went on a walking tour and you had your two cats—they’re lovely and chill.

Fortune Cookie
Thanks! I include my cats in my world as much as possible. People have mixed feelings about taking cats outside—it can be dangerous—so you have to read your cat’s personality and know their limits. Be careful, but mine were conditioned early and go lots of places.

Gemma Smith
They’ve inspired your art and I’ve seen that at Catbaret. You’ve performed at the Miss Coney Island Pageant, Hotsy Totsy Burlesque, and your own Books & Burlesque (which we’ll dive into). Do you have a stage persona? Does it change by act?

Fortune Cookie (10:59.094)
My stage name is Fortune Cookie. When I was starting, Jo Weldon suggested combining a flower and a cheese for a name—but I was like, I’m already Fortune Cookie! The persona is a badass Asian superhero/warrior. I don’t always have a sword or spear, but I channel that bravery and badassery into my performances.

Gemma Smith
It shows—you’re badass and inspire me to get stronger (not sure I’ll ever do a handstand on a chair!). For your cat-themed acts—or any act—what’s your creative process?

Fortune Cookie
I love storytelling. In my Hello Kitty or Cheetara acts, I think in story arc: beginning–middle–end. You can’t tell a long story in five minutes, but you can take the viewer on a journey with character, props, and music. Over time, I’ve become more improvisational—less rigid choreography—so I can connect organically with the audience. Being too choreographed can read less connected.

Gemma Smith (13:11.615)
That resonates—leave moments to breathe and play, then know the specific beats (like when a glove comes off). In addition to burlesque, you’ve done standup—sometimes even featuring your cats at Catbaret. Tell us about that.

Fortune Cookie
I love comedy. I took a class to become a better host. I created Books & Burlesque, and comedians are so good at connecting conversationally and breaking the ice—humor disarms people. I started standup about a year after burlesque. I auditioned at Broadway Comedy Club and chased spots, but it’s its own scene with bringer shows. I realized I don’t want to be a professional comedian, but comedy informs my hosting and performance.

Gemma Smith (15:32.027)
Totally. It’s great stage time. I used to do more bits at Q.E.D. when I was a divorcee—dating stories, etc. I’ve been curious about standup but open mics intimidate me. Do you get nervous for burlesque vs. standup?

Fortune Cookie
Yes, in different ways. My strategy is to adopt confidence, even if I don’t feel it. For comedy, I rehearse and memorize; early on that helps so you can focus on delivery. For burlesque, it’s about having fun—not fixating on “is this sexy enough.” Does it feel good to me? If so, that read helps me overcome jitters.

Gemma Smith (17:41.755)
Exactly—if you’re not having fun, what’s the point? Switching gears: I’m a longtime fan of Books & Burlesque and have performed in it. Many cat people love to read at home with their cats, so this show is such a vibe. Tell listeners what Books & Burlesque is all about.

Fortune Cookie
I love books and burlesque, and the show combines them by pairing five published authors (reading excerpts from new books) with five burlesque/drag performers who interpret those books live. It’s a way to spotlight underrepresented voices—debut, Black, Brown, LGBTQ+ authors—who might not have huge platforms. It also gives performers new inspiration—art informs art. Diversity strengthens the industry, especially in a climate of repression/censorship. The show is joyful resistance.

Gemma Smith (19:56.967)
Agree—it feels like celebration and joy. I discover new authors every time. It also brings two audiences—book lovers and burlesque lovers—into one community. Do you see a lot of returning folks?

Fortune Cookie
Definitely. We do the show four times a year (seasonal), so people come back to see what’s new. The pairings help readers pick up books they might not otherwise. We choose books that translate well onstage—it doesn’t have to be a stripper memoir. The book you did was a nonfiction history of reality TV. Authors love seeing their pages reinterpreted live—they’re often in awe, meeting readers face to face.

Gemma Smith (22:12.787)
I loved your artist prompts—having an “assignment” can be more inspiring than starting from scratch. Two artists could read the same book and make completely different acts.

Fortune Cookie
Totally. A lot of thought goes into pairing performer and author. For the reality TV book, I thought of you—Catbaret: Reali-Tease and your love of reality TV. For Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion (by a Pakistani American author), I paired Spicy Delight, who’s queer; they chose a museum scene with Sappho, weaving in spoken word—beautiful cultural resonance. When the pairing is right (like you with Emily Nussbaum), it’s incredibly inspiring back-to-back.

Gemma Smith
Yes, that synergy. For December, you teased something special?

Fortune Cookie
Yes—Saturday, December 13 at Caveat—our first cookbook: Peter Kim’s The Instant Ramen Kitchen. Calamity Chang is interpreting it—she has a noodle act and did Cooking with Calamity during the pandemic. Perfect pairing. There’s also a Books & Burlesque Book Club to keep community between shows; members get discounted tickets.

Gemma Smith (26:40.287)
So exciting. Caveat is on the Lower East Side; tickets via Caveat’s site—just search Books & Burlesque. I also want to say you helped me grow Catbaret—we met at a cat café, you shared your positive Caveat experience, and I pitched Catbaret there. Thank you!

Fortune Cookie
I’m thrilled your shows do so well at Caveat. It’s perfect for our flavors of burlesque—cat-themed, reality TV–inspired—very inclusive, welcoming, and niche. Caveat’s a nerdy “think and drink” bar; both our shows fit right in.

Gemma Smith (28:50.099)
Exactly—“think and drink.” And you’ll definitely be in Catbaret 2026 (I’m taking a brief holiday-show break to focus on the podcast). Before we move on to your cats, anything else about your art you want listeners to know?

Fortune Cookie
I’m always looking to create acts featuring characters not often seen onstage. For the Asian Burlesque Festival, I reinterpreted Princess Mononoke—seven-foot spear, face paint, teeth necklace—bringing that badassery and celebrating strong women is a perennial goal.

Gemma Smith
We need that—I’m here for it. Okay, cat time: when did you become a cat mom? Who came first? Names and how they arrived in your life?

Fortune Cookie (31:10.431)
I don’t have children, so my cats are like my children. Ten years ago I really wanted my first cat. I didn’t grow up with cats but always wanted them. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I shopped for my cats. One of my best friends had Ragdolls (and Maine Coons). I fell in love with Ragdolls. My first cat, Donut, came from a reputable breeder outside Pittsburgh—she was a Christmas present about ten years ago. After opening the gym in 2017, I wasn’t home much, so I wanted a friend for Donut. Donut is a princess—quiet and chill. I decided on another Ragdoll since they often get along well together. I got Koffee near Binghamton. She’s rambunctious, very active, great jumper. I thought I’d train her to jump through hoops—she prefers snacks. She’ll stand on her hind legs like a little bear and “box” with Donut on the windowsill. I have the cutest cat-boxing videos.

Gemma Smith (33:26.279)
Adorable. Everyone, follow @fortunecookieburlesque for Koffee & Donut content. Did they get along right away?

Fortune Cookie
They’re three years apart. Donut was three when I got Koffee, and within four or five days Donut was licking Koffee like she was her baby. It didn’t take long, thankfully.

Gemma Smith
So grateful—they don’t all bond that fast. Any daily rituals?

Fortune Cookie
I play with them a lot after work. I brush Donut every other day and brush her teeth with my index finger. Koffee loves wand toys and a little mouse; she sprints the length of the apartment chasing them. She won’t bring toys back—she just chases and stops.

Gemma Smith (35:52.179)
So much enrichment—love it. I’m jealous you can brush teeth. For listeners: brushing helps avoid dental disease and anesthesia dentals.

Fortune Cookie
I started Donut young. Koffee doesn’t like brushing, but she’ll eat dental treats (Greenies, etc.). The vet said at seven she had the teeth of a two-year-old—those treats help.

Gemma Smith
Great to hear—dentals are stressful. Any other ways the cats show up in your creative world?

Fortune Cookie
I include them whenever possible. I fantasize about a circus-trainer act—tiny lion costumes, a little whip. When I rehearse, they have full run of the house. Koffee burrows into costumes. Once, while painting inmate ID numbers on underwear for an act based on a prison memoir, Koffee walked into the paint and got black ink all over her paws. I had to stop and wash her for an hour—we got it out. She wants to be part of everything.

Gemma Smith (37:58.888)
Relatable when you’re mid-costume! Before we wrap: one favorite tip for our cat-loving creatives?

Fortune Cookie
Spend quality time with your cats. People say cats are low-maintenance and independent, but the more love—smooshing faces, snuggles, play—the better. Cherish every moment and bring them into your world.

Gemma Smith
Yes. I remind myself daily to be grateful for their health; they don’t live forever, so cherish the days. For folks who want to follow/connect with you after listening?

Fortune Cookie
Instagram: @fortunecookieburlesque. For bookings: fortunecookieburlesque@gmail.com. Hope to see you in an audience—or on the NYC subways with your cats! I take them in a stroller to Central Park and down to Chinatown to visit my sister—say hi if you see us.

Gemma Smith (40:12.936)
Love it. One more idea: a Catbaret community group for the Coney Island Mermaid Parade—purr-maids, anyone? Maybe we’ll see folks there, too.

I would love to.

Gemma Smith
And that’s a wrap for this episode of Tails and Tassels. If you have questions or just want to say “meow,” email tailsandtasselspod@gmail.com. Thank you for listening—and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Join our community on Instagram @tailsandtasselspod for updates and behind-the-scenes fun. See you next time, kitty cats.