Cabaret features alumni talent to raise funds for theatre scholarship

By Allison Martens

If you think Cabaret is the name of a Liza Minnelli movie, do yourself a favour and pick up a ticket to what is sure to be the sassiest event on the Homecoming calendar this year.

The alumni of Concordia’s Theatre Department are staging their Second Annual Cabaret Fundraiser on Oct. 15 to raise money for an endowment to provide scholarships to Theatre students in the future.

Hosted by Danette MacKay (Kiss My Cabaret) and Theatre professor and thespian-at-large Harry Standjofski, the event promises burlesque, drag and circus performances, song, dance and standup.

Some of the finest talent to sing, dance, and sashay down the halls of Concordia will grace the stage, including Miss Gina, who will perform Shakespeare’s Richard III, Anisa Cameron and her all-girl band Ladies Luncheon, and spoken word artist Catherine Kidd. In addition, performance artist Dayna McLeod will don her beaver costume to perform the first installment from her popular trilogy.

The Kinky Kissing Booth will make an encore performance, staffed by male and female alumni who are bravely lending their luscious lips out in support of the cause.

To provide one $1,000 scholarship a year for a Theatre student, the endowment must be built up to $10,000.

This is the second year the Theatre Department has undertaken a cabaret to reach that goal.

The doors of Kola Note, 5240 Park Ave., swing open at 7 p.m., and entertainment commences at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $7 in advance for alumni and students, and $10 at the door. For members of the general public, it’s $10 in advance and $15 at the door. E-mail alumnicabaret@concordia.ca or call 848-2424, ext. 4747.

“It’s a crazy good deal,” MacKay said. “A lot of these acts are worth paying $10 to see on their own.”