Last Monday night (December 19), LVHRD members and friends of thehappycorp gathered at the Pussycat Lounge for a holiday event: the 2nd Annual Striptease for Charity. Affectionately dubbed “STRPHRD,” the party was a high-energy affair, showing that even the looming threat of a transit strike couldn’t stop attendees from a good time.

Whether hiding beneath absurd amounts of clothing, seductively disrobing, or playfully baring skin, LVHRD members made STRPHRD a night that would not soon be forgotten. (Left and center photos by Leo Zacharias; Right photo by Brian van Nieuwehoven)

Throughout the night, volunteer “strippers” took to the stage, wearing layers upon layers of clothing and performing stripteases to display their donations. The audience, in turn, showed their support in the form of hooting and hollering, wild applause, and tips thrown from all directions onto the stage. Striptease for Charity raised approximately $350 and nearly 200 lb. of clothing, all of which was donated to the Henry Street Settlement. We’d be wasting words to further describe the talent, humor, and daring that was seen that night, so we’ll let the frozen moments captured below do the talking.

All photographs by Leo Zacharias unless otherwise noted.

Host Todd Levin kept the crowd entertained between acts, offering one very funny joke after another and providing a running commentary throughout the evening. (Photo by Brian van Nieuwehoven)

DJ Gene Hogan played a repertoire of songs to strip to, including but not limited to “Santa Baby,” “I Want Your Sex,” and “Rump Shaker.”

Krispy K of the New York City Ballet returned to the stage, having performed in last year’s Striptease for Charity, and wowed the crowd once more.

Maximus Gluteus, garment-shedding gladiator and thehappycorp partner, took to the spotlight like… a bee to honey, perhaps? A high standard was set for the dancers that followed.

Many onlookers made donations by enthusiastically casting their money toward the stage. Others preferred to leave their tips where the stripper could see them. (Photo by Brian van Nieuwehoven)

Still others opted to perform the dollar bill kiss, as seen here with stripper Chris Franzese.

Their names are Allison, Lavalicious, and Virginia. Need we say more? (As it turns out, it is very hard not to take your clothes off when dancing to the likes of “My Neck, My Back” and “Like a Virgin.”)

The Pink Pony, of Alvin Ailey, got down to business — to the tune of “The Thong Song.”

STRPHRD attracted a colorful crowd and made for plenty of conversation starters. (Left photo by David Snetman; Right photo by Brian van Nieuwehoven)

The stripping was intense. Intermission was called. But attendees quickly congregated back to the stage, hungry to see more. (Photo by Brian van Nieuwehoven)

Event director Ben Nabors made additions and edits to the strip list, taking new names and song requests during the course of the Striptease.

Under Magic, founder of thehappycorp, sheds an astonishing number of layers, leaving cocoons of clothes strewn about the stage and causing several articles of clothing to land on photographers’ heads. (Photo by Brian van Nieuwehoven)

Some strippers could only be satisfied by multiple performances, jumping onto stage and dancing with other performers. In particular, the gentlemen of STRPHRD exercised an admirable degree of creativity with their dance moves, making it hard for the ladies to resist.

Of course, the STRPHRD women held their own, often dancing in pairs and teasingly helping each other out of their clothes. All for charity. (Photo by Brian van Nieuwehoven)

Whether doing a breakout bump ‘n’ grind performance (like Cruz Control, seen here), putting on a goofball grin while taking off just a jacket, or stripping right down to their skivvies and shakin’ down on the stage, the STRPHRD cast gained the love of the LVHRD audience.

Job well done to all the strippers who so charitably gave their all at STRPHRD 2005 (in random order): Under Magic, Shukanimator, Maximus Gluteus, Ronit & Mary, JM, The Pink Pony, Lavalicious, Michael B, Allison B, Chris Faile, Chris Franzese, Cruz Control, Krispy K, Sir Hilton, Sam, Wesley Clouden, and T Pig!

Thanks to the good-natured goodwill of everyone who attended Striptease for Charity, LVHRD and thehappycorp were able to donate a bundle of money and all this clothing to the Henry Street Settlement. (Photo by Spanglervision)

Good times and happy holidays to all — see you at the next one! (Photo by Brian van Nieuwehoven)