Studio 54 - A Disco Cabaret and Dance Party!
The Poetry Brothel Toronto returned to the Super Wonder Gallery on January 25th, 2025, with another unique immersive cabaret experience - travelling our audience back in time to the last great party!
From the late 1970s to the early 80s: Studio 54 was THE legendary nightclub. It came to epitomise glamour, hedonism, and boundary-pushing creativity.
It was art, fashion, music, and the hottest discotheque in town. New York City's centre for individuality and elation, Studio 54 became a home for celebrities, socialites, and misfits to celebrate life and love on a disco-fuelled, sparkling, uninhibited glittery dance floor.
The club’s iconic imagery included disco balls, neon lights, extravagant costumes - and, of course, a sense of mystery behind its famously exclusive velvet rope.
About Studio 54
As with the iconic club, our sixth immersive cabaret was made special via the incredible costumes of our guests!
The audience was immersed immediately in our magical little world, as the wonderful Maija McCahery as Birdie greeted everyone at the door and made the delicious truffles VIPs and extra nice patrons were treated to!
Our Studio 54 Cabaret was hosted by Madame Titania, Queen of the Fairies and Madame of the Poetry Brothel Toronto, and featured three stunning poets:
Alison Louder as the Childlike Empress, who was both an oracle and and had an oracular spectacular performance;
Paul Edward Costa as Jack Dunphy, the frustrated partner of Truman Capote himself, seeking his partner in the hazy Saturday night party of Studio 54, treating our audience to original work and excerpts from Capote's unfinished manuscript; and
Erika MacNeil as the Last Mermaid, who treated our audience to sensual poetry and a choreographed chair dance to David Bowie's China Girl.
Variety Performers
The night kicked off with a stunning performance by punk band Hot Apollo, and featured poetic interludes by charming front man Jaymes Buckman.
As with any good cabaret, the Studio 54 Cabaret was spiced up by a few special variety acts:
Hilarious sketch duo Jan & George, who Titania especially let out of the basement for the evening (where she keeps them between shows), had us giggling all the way home.
Those who were there will not soon forget the stunning pole dance and musical stylings of Jess Callaghan. This local Cryptid did not hold back a thing. From their pole performance to their unplugged cover of ABBA's Dancing Queen, followed by a treat to an original song, Callaghan wowed us yet again.
Like Burlesque? We do too. We were thrilled to welcome Helena Lovelace to our stage for the first time. Sad you missed her stunning performance to Beyonce's Summer Renaissance? Don't worry. She'll definitely be back.
And OF COURSE we were absolutely thrilled to welcome prolific storyteller and everyone's favourite silver fox back to the stage: Gay Grandpa! He transported us through time and space: to the late 70s and Canada's Studio 54 equivalent, the Luv a Fair, where he worked as a cute young queer. Want to hear the story of the Night of Whistle? Stay tuned - we might just put it up on our Youtube sometime soon. Suffice to say, VIPs were happy to have their "Blow me and I'll Come" whistles by the end of Gay Grandpa's tale.
The night went on after the show, with a massive dance party featuring sparklers and the incredible mixing and music of DJ Film, accompanied by aura painter Susie Love painting portraits of the revelry.
Pictures by the incredible Ryan Francoz. We know you're curious.
Our Show
our LINEUP
