PRESS RELEASE

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn – TIGHT & NERDY, the hilarious and unexpectedly moving portrait of the women behind the world’s first (and only) burlesque tribute to “Weird Al” Yankovic, will close out this year's North Star Nerdlesque Festival with a special screening at Minneapolis' Parkway Theater.

Partially filmed in the Twin Cities, this feature-length documentary follows the Tight & Nerdy burlesque troupe across the U.S. through a series of performances culminating with their return to the site of their very first show. As the story unfolds, we learn that their "Al-Stravaganza" is more than just a comedy show. Behind the stage personas and wild costumes are stories of female empowerment, gender equality, and the role art has in overcoming trauma – all set to some of Weird Al’s most memorable music. Directed by first-time filmmakers Jeff Nucera and Jonathan Ruane, this is a film aimed squarely at those who were bullied for being different.  

The film includes a brand-new interview with five-time Grammy Award winner "Weird Al" Yankovic, who has spent his 40-plus-year career demonstrating to misfits everywhere that weirdness should be celebrated. 

After winning Audience Choice awards at SF Indiefest, the Savoy Luminère, and the Heartland International Film Festival (where it also took home the Humor & Humanity Award), Tight & Nerdy comes to Minneapolis' own North Star Nerdlesque Festival. After the screening, filmmakers Jeff Nucera and Jonathan Ruane will be on hand for a Q&A, followed by a choice set of performances from some of the Twin Cities' nerdiest Nerdlesque stars.

Tight & Nerdy will screen at the Parkway Theater on Sunday, July 12 at 1pm. Tickets are available at TightAndNerdyMovie.com 

Producer Bios:

Jeff Nucera is a non-fiction producer with more than 25 years’ experience. Credits include MTV’s The Osbournes, Showtime’s Gigolos, and The Roku Channel's Charlie Puth Show, but he is perhaps best known for sorting Weird Al’s fan mail since 2000.

Jonathan Ruane has spent the last two decades working in feature documentaries and non-fiction television. His recent credits include the Emmy-nominated Martha for Netflix, Billie Eilish: The World is a Little Blurry for APPLE TV+, and Worst Roommate Ever for Netflix. 

Eddie Schmidt serves as Executive Producer. He produced the Emmy-nominated Valentine Road and the Oscar-nominated Twist of Faith for HBO, Troubadours for PBS’ American Masters, and This Film Is Not Yet Rated for IFC. Schmidt was also Executive Producer of Gilbert: A Gilbert Gottfried Story.

For more information or screeners, please contact JeffNucera@TightAndNerdyMovie.com