This little kitten could simply not sleep in today. There is a small list of remaining tasks to attend to, and I am simply too excited.

The last couple of days has seen a massive influx of tickets moving, and having a crowded house always makes us anticipate show day with real glee. Our dress rehearsal gave me shivers last night! I was so happy with the way my costumes came together, and totally blown away by the heart and soul in each number. What an amazing team we have!

My dear friend Ming Wong has crafted a very cool costume for Charlotte Webber this time around for a hoop routine that will blow your mind! When a project requires more mastery than my limited sewing skills allow, Ming is my savior. One day I hope we can afford her talents full time. As a designer, she has mind-blowing vision.

We have a special guest for these shows, who in my opinion is one of Toronto’s very well-kept secrets, and a secret that needs to be revealed. Rob Merrifield first came to Les Coquettes as a man prop, and he returns to our stage in a duet with Charlotte Webber (which he choreographed, by the way) that takes my breath away every time I see them rehearse. We’re batting our eyelashes at him furiously in the hopes that we can keep him again for a while.

Tonight my makeup goddess Angela McQueen is having a sleepover party at the Minouche palace. We’re going to jam on last minute touches and I’m going to let her watch me make compulsive lists so I don’t forget any important details.

One of the biggest challenges I’m faced with for Cabaret Enchanté is the complexity of this show. We usually choose a theme and then offer up a variety show filled with numbers inspired by the theme. This time we wanted to create a story and take you on a journey that’s just a little deeper than the usual escape into the sea of art and flesh. As narrator, I need to make sure that everyone can follow, and as director I need to make sure that each number is clear. You’ll see our performers sometimes play more than one character in this show too! Fortunately, our gracious audience always seems to be eager to follow wherever we lead.

Lilli Bubalotovich has cooked up some amazing numbers for this show! Her solo is probably my favourite piece she’s performed yet. Her tireless work as our production manager should not go unnoticed either. Lilli is the head of the team that ensures our shows run smoothly and she’s also our co-founder and lead choreographer. I’m so amazed by this woman’s energy!

Before I settle into my day of last minute show prep, let me once again say if there was ever a Coquettes show that you have to see, Cabaret Enchanté is it. Our tickets will have no problem selling out, (in fact they’re nearly there) so I’m not pushing you to fill seats. My plea for you to attend this performance is because of the profound amount of passion and artistry that Les Coquettes have stepped up with in this show. Our performers continually raise their own bar, and they will completely and utterly steal your hearts this time.

SPOILER ALERT! Below is a list of the characters you’ll meet at Cabaret Enchanté. Stop reading now if you want to be surprised!

Your Fairy Godmother
The Wicked Witch
The Queen of Hearts
Alice (in Wonderland)
The Red Shoe Maiden
Rapunzel
Snow White
Doc (the Dwarf)
Pinocchio
The Three Little Bears
Bo Peep
Goldilocks
Miss Muffet
The Little Mermaid
The Mad Hatter
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
The Seven Dwarves
The Snow Queen
Dorothy (of Kansas) and her little dog too!