High Society Cabaret - The Art of Vintage Tease - Burlesque and Dance Theatre Company
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    • The Directors
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      • Performance History
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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Imogen Quest

8/31/2017

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​Number of years performing? 
"Imogen Quest has been well received on stage and screen around the world as a designer, educator, and entertainer. A member of Canada's première burlesque troupe for performers of colour, Les Femmes Fatales, as well as international clown collective #ClownsKillEmpires, they bring a heightened awareness of the theatrics of modern society into their work. With a true understanding of clown, and a stylish approach to the pageantry of costume and gender, they've been teasing, pleasing, and confusing audiences for many years to great acclaim! Recent theatrical credits include Daughters Of Lillith and the upcoming remount of Letters To The Universe."
List your most notable credits: 
THEATRE PERFORMANCE: Daughters Of Lillith (Sister Warrior, Pride Cabaret), Much Ado About Nothing (Leonato, Red Shoe Theatre), Our Country's Good (Aboriginal/Set Design, Germany). BURLESQUE PERFORMANCE: New York Nerdlesque Festival, Ottawa Burlesque Festival, Edmonton Burlesque Festival, Wunder Awards (Paris). TRAINING: University of Waterloo, Ecole Philippe Gaulier, assortment of workshops around the world, some real life shit.
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
First!
What are your vintage inspirations? 
I was helped a great deal at a young age by having grandparents who had perfected mid-century glamour and elegance. They for sure taught me the style and class that comes with unyielding compassion. A big book of black and white movie stars took care of the rest: Eartha Kitt, Elizabeth Taylor, and Katherine Hepburn taught me that a strong woman suffers no fools. The impeccable looks and dashing charms of Sidney Poitier, Cary Grant, and Paul Newman taught me that a devilish smile and a rakish wit will allow you to get away with almost anything.
What is your favourite thing about performing?
Bringing love and life to an audience.
What is your dream role?
Imogen in Cymbeline (no relation)
What is your favourite era and why?
I have a hard love for Europe between the Wars for the wildness, creativity, and futility of the Art being created then.
What is your most proud performance moment?
TBD. I have a lot of hangups around allowing myself to take pride in my work.
What is your favourite musical and why?
Does Romance & Cigarette count? It's not *exactly* a musical, but it's just so wonderfully bizarre.
Any hidden talents?
Professional clown means that I come with all the balloon twisting and mediocre juggling you can handle. Acrobatics are quite limited, and I only know maybe three magic tricks though. I'm a skilled costumer with a penchant for knitting.

See Imogen as "Theodore Stanley" in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Axel Roman Allioux

8/28/2017

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Number of years performing? 
7, street styles, contemporary, jazz, martial arts etc.
List your most notable credits:
Trained, taught and performed all over the world, NYC, Dubai, Paris, Montreal, Toronto, Chengdu (China). Performed with Gad Elbaz (#1 israeli artist).
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
3
If you've done a show with us before, your favourite High Society Cabaret show to date?
Portrait of a Scandal, I get naked.
What are your vintage inspirations? 
Gene Kelly, his performance is simply flawless.
What is your favourite thing about performing?
The moment right after when the adrenaline settles and the flow of happiness comes through.
What is your dream role?
Gene Kelly, An American Paris
What is your favourite era?
Mowtown/funk era, funk is everything
What is your most proud performance moment?
The first time i ever went on stage, it was the first time i felt truly free.
What is your favourite musical?
Dr. Zhivago, made me cry the most
Any hidden talents?
I can catch a fly without killing it

See Axel as "Jimmie" in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Dana Thody

8/25/2017

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Number of years performing? 
10 plus years 
List your most notable credits:
Tessie in Gypsy, Mrs Pottifor in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, a dancing shark for Green Peace and the television series Rogue
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
4 years, 6 full length shows, and number of events and corporate work.
If you've done a show with us before, your favourite High Society Cabaret show to date?
Meanwhile Back at the Office. It was my first show as a full member of the company and my first tease. Slinking across chairs and rock'n'roll a fedora was so much fun
What is your favourite thing about performing?
I get to push my boundaries and show sides of myself I don't show in my day to day world. I get to unleash characters I normally hide away
What is your favourite musical and why?
Wicked. It propelled me into dance training and made me work on my voice. Discovering my voice has been so important to my growth as a performer and made me the actor I am today.

See Dana as "Ellie" in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Jada Rifkin

8/22/2017

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Number of years performing? 
7 years
List your most notable credits
Graduated from Randolph Academy's Triple Threat College Program *cough* years ago
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
Debut!
What are your vintage inspirations? 
Betty Hutton. I used to be incredibly self-conscious of my facial expressions. I was told in the past that I couldn't play a real person if my face continued to move the way it did. One night, going down the rabbit hole of Youtube, I found a video of Betty Hutton singing Frank Loesser's "The Sewing Machine" from the 1947 remake of The Perils of Pauline. I was in awe; here was a beautiful woman on the screen, scrunching her face, eyes wide open, moving around like a monkey, and sincerely one of the most engaging, exciting performances I've watched since Judy Garland's infamous Carnegie Hall engagement (Of course, I only have the luxury of watching clips on screen). I'm so happy I stumbled upon the late Betty Hutton that late night. Whenever I need a confidence boost, inspiration, or just a few minutes of grinning, I watch Betty Hutton in Annie Get Your Gun, or one of her many 1940's B&W movies.
What is your favourite thing about performing?
Having quick-thinking, open scene partners ready to problem-solve when something unplanned on stage occurs. This line of work is exciting to begin with the immediate validation from an applauding audience, and knowing that your cast has your back and vice versa is just as powerful as that.
What is your dream role?
I have 200 dream roles at least. But I'll stick with three: Charity in Sweet Charity, Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, and Daphna in Bad Jews
What is your favourite musical and why?
My top ten favourite musicals tend to change, but one that never leaves my list is Company. Stephen Sondheim is notorious for haunting, beautiful, witty, cutting-edge composition and words. While Company is perhaps the straightest of shows of his work, it is successful, in my opinion, of portraying a life of being happy with what you have, despite it not being the norm or what others had in mind. There's a lot of people-pleasing, frustration, and crazy friends who only want what's best for the leading character, Bobby. Whenever I introduce a friend to Stephen Sondheim, after I say "You know! That insanely talented man that wrote the lyrics to West Side Story? HELLO!", I show them the 2006 filmed revival, starring Raúl Esparza or the 1970 filmed recording of Company, featuring the brilliant late Elaine Stritch. They immediately fall in love with the composition and story because while the music isn't as haunting as Sweeney Todd, they relate to Bobby, while seeing their own friends when watching his. I love when my friends who generally "not musical lovers" change their minds after listening to the recording or watching the film. I am also thrilled that Stephen Sondheim is all for Bobby to portrayed by a woman in the future. You know every woman has been singing "Being Alive" at cabarets, anyway!
Any hidden talents?
Manually shredding paper, imitating other people's faces, and being super sexy.

See Jada as "Beverly" in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Adam Martino

8/19/2017

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Number of years performing? 
It's been 24 years as a performer. Singer, dancer (tap, jazz, ballet, hiphop, Broadway jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, modern, zouk, East Coast Swing, improv), Actor.
List your most notable credits: 
Dancer for Celine Dion, Lead Toopy in "Toopy & Binoo Fun and Games", Five Seconds of Summer, Toronto World Pride, choreographer TSN Biosteel All Canadian Basketball Game Halftime Show, Artistic Director Breakaway Entertainment. 
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
2
Your favourite High Society Cabaret show to date? 
Portrait of a Scandal - Because i am sentimental and it was my first :D
What are your vintage inspirations? 
Gene Kelly, Speakeasies, Vaudville. It was such a cool era!
What is your favourite thing about performing?
The rush of performing live in front of an audience. Anything can happen.
What is your dream role?
Jack Kelly - Newsies or Dancing Backup for Justin Timberlake
What is your favourite era and why?
1920s 1930s 1940s - I can't choose. I think the prohibition era was so cool. Rum runners, speakeasies, vaudville. I also love the Rat Pack, Gene Kelly and MGM studios.
What is your most proud performance moment?
My most proud moment as a performer was when i opened Legally Blonde in Toronto. I got to play a dream role for me - Kyle The UPS Guy. It was my first time back performing in a musical in Toronto and was the first time my parents got to see me sing dance and act. (Prior to that i had only done musicals abroad- Jungle Book, Aladdin)
What is your favourite musical and why?
My favorite musical is tough. I love the dancing in Newsies, The music in Big Fish and the story/acting in In The Heights.
Any hidden talents?
I have double jointed thumbs.

See Adam as "Warren" in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Cassidy Shaw

8/16/2017

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Number of years performing? 
I can't tell you the exact amount of years as that would give away my age and a lady never tells! However I started dancing at the age of 3 and never stopped.
List your most notable credits:
Way too many to name, I've been lucky enough to travel the world performing. One of my favourite moments though had to be performing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. When the Queen nods her head and you get to curtsy back its pretty amazing!
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
One.
Your favourite High Society Cabaret show to date? 
Down in Old New Orleans, I did a solo that was very out of the normal for me and I loved every second of it. Teared up the final show doing it because it felt so good to be that vulnerable on stage.
What are your vintage inspirations? 
Bob Fosse, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. They don't make performers like them anymore. Performers would learn so much now if they took a moment to watch the beauty that were these artists.
What is your favourite thing about performing?
I wish I could say that its having everyone stop and watch me on stage but honestly its the feeling I get while performing. The stage always has felt like home and I never could really put into words the exact feeling of putting all of you out onto the floor, but let me tell you that feeling is incredible.
What is your dream role?
Hmm dream role... throw me in the musical Cats and I'd be overjoyed!
What is your favourite era and why?
1950's Golden Age brought some of the most amazing music and movies to the world. Then there's the 1980s, big hair and Dirty Dancing? It's hard to make a solid choice but those are honourable mentions.
What is your most proud performance moment?
One of the most proud moments was my Father seeing my first professional show, being in the back telling everyone "Thats my Daughter". It may sound weird but knowing my family is proud of me keeps me going and makes me proud that all their efforts towards me performing while growing up amounted to something.
What is your favourite musical and why?
Top three would have to be Wicked, Phantom of the Opera and Cats.
Any hidden talents?
Not going to lie I'm pretty pro on a pair of Roller skates!

See Cassidy in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Tereka Tyler-Davis

8/13/2017

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Number of years performing? 
After a hiatus, performing/training professionally for the last 3 years. Started my arts training 20 years ago.
List your most notable credits: 
Having the privilege of touring Facing Home: Love and Redemption with Kashedance in Canada, US and Caribbean over the last 2 years. Currently enjoying working with diverse artists in the contemporary and Afro-diasporic genres and getting to perform live Samba every month.
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
1 magical year!
Your favourite High Society Cabaret show to date?
Portrait of a Scandal was a beautiful work of art framing burlesque in an enthralling way. I was so happy to be a part of it
What are your vintage inspirations? 
Eartha Kitt and Josephine Baker. Opinionated, sensual multi-talented women with a flare for the dramatics and always stood up for what they believed.
What is your favourite thing about performing?
Communicating a narrative or evoking feeling with clarity and conviction.
What is your dream role?
Lion King. I'd even sweep the floor.
What is your favourite era and why?
The 70s. I love the extremes in style from earthy to glamour. Increasing acceptance of diversity. And I love the groovy music - especially disco.
What is your most proud performance moment?
Hard to say but probably returning to Jamaica last year to perform as a professional. So many emotions.
What is your favourite musical and why?
Lion King. From the rich music scores, the physically engaging choreo to the stunning visuals.
Any hidden talents?
If I told you they wouldn't be hidden...

See Tereka in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Kaitlind Gorman

8/10/2017

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Number of years performing? 
Professionally 2 - contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, tap
List your most notable credits: 
Mary Poppins twice at Lower Ossington Theatre, Cirque d'Zouk 2016, Portrait of a Scandal, George Brown Dance
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
This is two
Your favourite High Society Cabaret show to date? 
Portrait of a Scandal-changed my perspective of burlesque
What is your favourite thing about performing?
Seeing the audience enjoy it just as much as you do
What is your dream role?
Dancing in a touring musical
What is your most proud performance moment?
Not my performance, but dance recitals always make me proud seeing my students do the best they've ever done and loving every minute! #prouddancemom

See Kaitlind in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Paige Sayles

8/7/2017

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​Number of years performing?
19
List your most notable credits.
Recently (June 2017) graduated from York University with a BFA in Dance
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
Newbie!
What are your vintage inspirations?
Definitely high waisted bottoms: Jeans, pants, skirts, shorts, bathing suit bottoms
What is your favourite thing about performing?
The performance HIGH!!
What is your dream role?
Velma Kelly from Chicago
What is your favourite era?
1970's - rock n roll, women's rights movement, and bell bottoms
What is your most proud performance moment?
Performing on the Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan theatre for the last time as a member of the York Dance Ensemble. The emotion was tangible!
What is your favourite musical?
This is incredibly difficult to answer. But I would have to say... Chicago, because I remember seeing it live as a little girl and wanting to do what those performers were doing for the rest of my life!
Any hidden talents?
I can roll my tongue many ways!

See Paige in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Michelle Crossman

8/4/2017

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Number of years performing? Specialties? 
Performing since the age of six! Performing professionally for 7 years, specialties in jazz!
List your most notable credits. 
Touring with Aladdin to Dubai and Qatar, MMVAS with Marianna's Trench, Producing my own company "Project:DOLLS", and Producing my first charity event "Let The Elephants Dance" - artistic showcase that raises awareness and funds for mental health.
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
First show :)
What is your favourite thing about performing?
My favourite thing about performing is making the audience truly feel something! Knowing they connected with your performance, your character and your story is something kinda magical!
What is your favourite era and why?
My favourite era would be the 1920s! I love the style, the independence the woman strived for, and the strength they had for going for what their hearts desired!
What is your favourite musical and why?
I love so many musicals... but one of my favourites is definitely RENT. It really pulls on my heart strings, plus I love the music!

See Michelle in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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White Light Follies Artist Profile: Kristen Pepper

8/1/2017

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Number of years performing? Specialties? 
Seven years professionally. Musical theatre, Brazilian samba, jazz, ballet and modern techniques, Latin, cultural dance forms. Classical voice.
List your most notable credits. 
BFA in Dance with Specialized Honours from York University. Theatre: Featured Dancer in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Deputy in the Mystery of Edwin Drood, Fritzie in Cabaret, Ensemble Member of Lua Shayenne Dance Company. Film/TV: Kim in James Franco's film Blood Theater, Featured Dancer in Toyota and Sonica commercials and David Record's music video Closer. Up Next: Touring and performing across the country for the month of October with A Cool Magician as a Dancer/Magician's Assistant.
Number of shows with High Society Cabaret? 
This is my first!
What are your vintage inspirations? Why?
Marilyn Monroe because she was both glamorous and talented and also was honest about her faults and inner demons and shared them.
What is your favourite thing about performing?
Sharing the story I'm conveying to an audience and inviting them into my world, feeling confident and powerful in my presence and movement.
What is your dream role?
Sally Bowles - Cabaret
What is your favourite era and why?
The 1920s - The secrecy and sexiness behind Prohibition and the style, attitude and dress of the flappers and cabaret singers.
What is your most proud performance moment?
Performing with a two week old broken foot in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2015 Pan American Games.
What is your favourite musical and why?
Cabaret - Not only are the music, lyrics and book by Kander and Ebb incredible, but the darker themes highlighted in the show were very ahead of its time and unfortunately are still topics of discussion and relevance today.
Any hidden talents?
Gun shooting for TV/film, Baseball, Social Media

See Kristen in White Light Follies September 6th and 7th at Revival Bar! Buy tickets NOW!
#highsocietycabaret #vintagetease #whitelightfollies #torontotalent #torontoentertainment #torontonightlife #Broadway #showgirls #musicals #cabaret

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