July 2014
High Society Cabaret presents "A Tiki in the Moonlight"
Come get away as we escape to far off Hawaiian beaches in the early 60s! You can surf the waves, toss a beach ball, or simply strum your ukulele by firelight, all to some feel-good rock 'n' roll! Luau entertainment happens ALL NIGHT throughout Parlour! So don your polka-dot bikini, puff that bouffant, and swing on over to the most happen place this side of Honolulu!
Come get away as we escape to far off Hawaiian beaches in the early 60s! You can surf the waves, toss a beach ball, or simply strum your ukulele by firelight, all to some feel-good rock 'n' roll! Luau entertainment happens ALL NIGHT throughout Parlour! So don your polka-dot bikini, puff that bouffant, and swing on over to the most happen place this side of Honolulu!
Group Choreographer: Knox Harter
Producer: Laura Furtado, DivaGirl Entertainment, Parlour Costumes and Styling: Knox Harter Media and Marketing: Knox Harter Show Times:
Saturday July 12, 2014; Doors at 9pm, entertainment starts at 10pm Location: Parlour 270, 270 Adelaide St. W, Toronto Tickets: Ladies complimentary all night. Gentlemen complimentary before 11pm and $20 after. |
The Chic-A-Boom Room had been recently dissolved, making this production the first High Society Cabaret show presented by DivaGirl Entertainment alone. Laura had been approached by Parlour to have High Society Cabaret be featured at one of their Full Moon parties: an all-night event happening once a month on the night of the full moon. In collaboration with the venue, Knox and Laura build event entertainment as site-specific vignettes both indoors and in the outdoor courtyard of Parlour. Rehearsals were held at City Dance Corps and in the regular rehearsal schedule for a show. The entertainment consisted of two group acts of four dancers (both performed on the catwalk above the courtyard), two solos (one performed on an outdoor staircase, one performed indoors on the stage), and two solo burlesque acts performed by Thrasher, and guest artist Pastel Supernova. Because the entertainment was a commissioned event booking, ticket sales and performer pay were taken care of by Laura and Parlour, and were not influential to the show’s budget. The entertainment wildly received, adding delight and excitement to the monthly event.
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July 2015
Come get away as we escape to far off Hawaiian beaches in the early 60s! You can surf the waves, toss a beach ball, or simply strum your ukulele by firelight, all to some feel-good rock 'n' roll! So don your polka-dot bikini, puff that bouffant, and swing on over to the most happen place this side of Honolulu!
Group Choreographer Knox Harter
Producer Knox Harter, Anna Jaeger, Laura Furtado, DivaGirl Entertainment Costumes and Styling: Knox Harter Media and Marketing: Knox Harter Show Times:
Friday July 24th, 2015; 9pm Saturday July 25th, 2015; 9pm Location: Parlour 270, 270 Adelaide St. W, Toronto Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door |
Knox saw this production as a chance to adapt the event show from the previous year to a proper cabaret show format, remounting the two group acts and the lifeguard duet from being site specific performances to a proper stage format. Knox opened up suggestions to additional acts and invited drag king Maximum Capacity to perform to extend the run time of the show. There was also special attention paid to the kitten role, expanding from what was learned in Meet Me At the Diner and workshopping specific transitions. Knox also encouraged more overt and planned audience interaction, facilitated by the kitten to make for longer transitions if more time was needed for a performer to change or prepare.
A major challenge to the whole production was the PanAm Games happening at the same time in Toronto that year. Not only would it influence rehearsals as one of the dancers was booked for the closing ceremonies, but it would prove to have a significant impact on ticket sales and attendance. Knox would also come to notice Laura’s neglect and absence on promotion and sales of the production. While the show was well received by the attending audiences, it was not enough ticket sales to meet the proposed budget. Feeling overwhelmed and ashamed, Knox approached the ensemble dancers, explained the financial situation, and asked if they were willing to take a paycut. Initially, the dancers understood and agreed. As days went on, Knox received an email from Laura asking her to pay the dancers full rate out of pocket, as the dancers had invoiced Laura. Although a presenter and co-producer of the production, Laura did not see it as her responsibility to pay the dancers. Stunned, Knox approached the dancers again about the previous conversation around pay, to which the dancers explained to Knox that they didn’t trust that Laura wasn’t keeping money from the production for herself, and demanded that Laura pay them. Frustrated with the situation, Knox eventually saved to pay out the dancers in full. After the miscommunication, along with a trend of miscommunications and blunders with bookings made through DivaGirl Entertainment, Knox and Anna made the decision to part ways from Laura Furtado and DivaGirl, and to work independently. This would allow High Society Cabaret full autonomy in their operations. |
