The Bourbon Affair: Jazz, Velvet, and Forbidden Stories

In a city like Puerto Vallarta, where entertainment pulses through cobblestone streets and every evening is a chance for something unexpected, The Bourbon Affair carved out a unique space—an experience unlike anything else on offer. Equal parts theatrical immersion and sultry speakeasy, the series of eight jazz-centric shows at The Social Club didn’t just entertain. They transported.

Conceived by JT Horenstein—Artistic Director at The Social Club and founder of Jonny Paradiso Productions—The Bourbon Affair was more than just a show. It was a rich, full-sensory journey through time, where music, movement, and atmosphere came together in a uniquely immersive setting.

But like many great stories, this one began with something unexpected.

The Birth of a Concept

Last season, Horenstein and Tamale Ringwald were deep into the creation of their hit show Burlesque: A Big Gay Parody, Bitch. What they didn’t have was a rehearsal space. When a last-minute cancellation left them scrambling, Bryan Stocks, co-owner of The Social Club, stepped in with a sponsorship offer and an open door. What started as a practical solution quickly became an artistic revelation.

As Horenstein, Ringwald, and their cast—including Evita Loca, Ada Vox, Delta Miles, Roxy Pops, and Nacho Granados—developed Burlesque inside the atmospheric walls of The Social Club, something shifted. The space itself started influencing the art. The vibe, the acoustics, the natural mystique of the multi-room layout—it all fed the creative process.

An Affair to Remember

Thus, The Bourbon Affair was born.

At its heart, the show is an ode to jazz, to prohibition-era subversion, and to the voices—past and present—who have used music as a means of resistance, expression, and liberation. The house jazz band, dubbed “The Socialites,” laid the musical foundation. From there, Horenstein invited a revolving door of vocalists who, quite literally, were already in the room—artists like Qya Cristal, Shannon Maracle, and Ada Vox, all of whom had been blowing him away during Burlesque rehearsals.

That influence became so strong that the team ended up recreating the Social Club onstage at Coco Cabaret as a pre-show immersive experience. Audiences were drawn to the recreation. And Horenstein had an idea: What if you didn’t have to recreate the Social Club at all? What if you could stage a jazz experience directly in that space—where the mood was already real?

Qya became the show’s soulful anchor—a master of ceremonies who welcomed audiences into this time-traveling jazz lounge and kept the evening anchored in theme and tone. Ada’s virtuosic vocals and improvisational scatting stunned even seasoned musicians. Shannon’s vocals brought smoothness and clarity to the mix, later serving as inspiration for her own upcoming solo show inspired by Nina Simone and Billie Holiday.

Each show carried its own identity. From the original forbidden jazz theme to “Jazz Divas Night,” from “Powerhouse Ladies of Jazz” to “Standards and Swing,” the series highlighted different artists and different aspects of the genre—while never losing the sense of luxury, edge, and theatricality that made it special.

Guest performers became central to the experience. Effie Passero left jaws on the floor when she dismissed the band and played her own accompaniment. Maru Prado Conti channeled Edith Piaf in a rendition of “Bang Bang” that moved the audience to its feet. And Evita Loca delivered a soulful, vintage spin on “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” a nod to her Broadway past as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys.

Space as Muse

It’s impossible to talk about The Bourbon Affair without talking about The Social Club. The venue isn’t just a stage—it’s a playground for storytelling.

With no signage and a nondescript entrance resembling an old hardware store, guests receive a GPS pin and address upon ticket purchase. The entrance is intentionally secretive, feeding into the speakeasy mystique. Once the metal door unlatches, guests ascend into a velvet-draped dreamworld.

The multi-level layout invites exploration. Guests receive a surprise champagne cocktail in the red foyer. There are winding hallways, balconies overlooking a soaring three-story atrium, and hidden lounges perfect for whispered conversations. Lighting is low, cocktails are served in vintage stemware, and every table glows with colored fruit and flickering lamps atop sepia-toned photographs from the 1920s. The setting is not a backdrop—it’s an active participant in the show’s allure.

This multi-room setup also allowed for flexibility and spontaneity. “People are so impressed by this floor plan and all of its opportunities,” Horenstein explains. “Everyone who walks in definitely returns.”

That atmosphere wasn’t accidental. “It was an evening in Cartagena that really sparked the vision,” says Bryan Stocks. “We stumbled upon a mirrored door lit only by a tiny lantern. Inside, it was velvet curtains, low lighting, and mystery. It felt like stepping into a secret world. We wanted to bring that feeling to Vallarta.”

Stocks and his team discovered a vacant villa with a hidden courtyard and began crafting The Social Club with intention—from vintage decor and antique door crowns to Elizabeth Taylor memorabilia and photographs donated by patrons. “We felt it was important to let the building’s natural character show. The rawness, the history—it speaks,” he adds. “Each room whispers a different story.”

The design not only draws visitors in, but adapts to the art unfolding inside. “We always intended the space to evolve with the performances,” Stocks continues. “One night it’s a jazz lounge, the next a burlesque salon. Sometimes a magician, sometimes a fortune teller. You don’t just visit The Social Club—you get invited into the unknown.”

A Story With Resonance

While the trappings of The Bourbon Affair are decadent, the underlying themes are deeply relevant. Much of the show’s repertoire draws from jazz performed during the prohibition era—music once deemed “forbidden,” especially when sung by women and people of color. Today, that same music finds new resonance when performed by drag and trans artists, whose right to exist, let alone perform, is still debated in parts of the world.

By reclaiming these songs, and letting them resound in a space so rich with intention, The Bourbon Affair becomes more than a jazz showcase. It becomes an act of visibility. Of artistic resistance. “The players may have changed,” Horenstein says, “but the same issues remain.”

The performers channel that history—knowingly, powerfully. Their presence, their authenticity, their interpretation of these classic tunes breathes new life into music that has always pushed boundaries.

Looking Ahead

Though the official 2025 season saw eight Bourbon Affair performances, Horenstein confirms that a few “pop-up” events will take place during the quieter summer months—giving locals and off-season travelers a rare chance to catch the show. And it won’t stop there. Plans are already underway for more immersive productions at The Social Club starting in high season.

While details remain under wraps, Horenstein hints at a new Saturday-night experience that will utilize all the rooms in The Social Club, delivering personalized adventures that vary from one audience member to the next. “It’s time to engage new audiences,” he says, “and try something a little out of left field.”As Puerto Vallarta’s artistic scene continues to grow in boldness and sophistication, The Bourbon Affair has shown what’s possible when a concept, a space, and a cast of extraordinary performers come together in perfect harmony. It’s not just a night out. It’s a plunge into another time, another mood, another way of being. And like the best affairs—it’s unforgettable.