"The Making of Burlesque" Show Program

to Welcome

The Making of Burlesque

A RED City Live Entertainment Production

A message from the Producer

Hello everyone and thank you for joining us for a RED City Live production! I am extremely proud of this show and its cast of incredibly talented and hard working performers. This show has been in production for one year and these professional dancers have been through many long hours of training and rehearsals. I feel so grateful to be working with each and every one of them. It has truly been a dream, and this is only the beginning.

RCL is back and the future is written. Please follow us for some of the most exciting Vegas style entertainment to hit the stage. And now, I would like to introduce you to my newest pride and joy, “The Making of Burlesque”, starring the glamorous and talented Express Girls.

Yours In Burlesque, Susie

About the Show

“The Making of Burlesque”, includes a story of an aspiring dancer named Kitty. Kitty is exhausted from years of being the “show kitten” and cleaning the stage after the gorgeous and talented Express Girls. The dancers barely pay any attention to her night after night. Kitty is only seen by them as plain, quirky and they constantly demand everything from her. The show leader, Roxy has a soft spot for Kitty and one night accidentally discovers something about her that no one else has seen before. Is Roxy on to something? Or is Kitty always going to be sweeping the stage and dreaming of a glamorous life that she will never have?

The EXPRESS GIRLS Cast

ROXY (She/Her)

Choreographer, Co-Creative Director, Music Editor

Elisa Marie Alaio is a native of Brooklyn, NY and a graduate of Point Park University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in dance with a primary focus in modern/jazz. Elisa is the founder and owner of fireWALL Dance Theater, currently operating as a drop in dance studio here in Pittsburgh. fireWALL was established in 2013 as a theatrical modern dance company, resident to local theater Carnegie Stage. Over the years she has curated and choreographed eleven full length shows that have toured several theaters throughout the east coast. She is currently the co creative director, music editor, choreographer and performer of ‘The Making Of Burlesque.’ Elisa was first seen as an express girl in 2013, known as Roxy, and has been a part of several productions and performances with Red City Live ever since. She is thrilled to debut this new work and hope it brings people joy and excitement through storytelling, dancing and of course LOTS of teasing.

The EXPRESS GIRLS Cast

DAVINA (She/Her)

Savionne Chambers is an artist originating from Baltimore, Maryland. As a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts, and the T.W.I.G.S. program, she focused her early training on classical styles. She continued her studies at Orlando Ballet School, University of the Arts and earned her BFA from Point Park University in 2020. Her current interest is increasing the visibility of various cultures and identities on the concert stage by working to reclaim classical vocabulary and build her own style. Her goal is to influence her community through education, choreography, and humanitarianism.

The EXPRESS GIRLS Cast

ELEKTRA (She/Her)

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Sabrina grew up training at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Yanlai Dance Academy. She attended Carnegie Mellon University, where she was heavily involved in the dance community, holding positions such as business manager and artistic director for Infra Dance Company, a student led contemporary repertoire troupe, choreographer for Dancers' Symposium, and member of SoulStylz, an on-campus hip hop group. Sabrina has her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering (additional major in Biomedical Engineering) and her M.S.E. in Bioengineering Innovation and Design from Johns Hopkins University. After obtaining her Master's, Sabrina lived in Boston, MA for a few years to start her career in medical device product engineering. During that time, she was a choreographer and performer for the Urbanity Underground Company and Boston Community Dance Project (BCDP). Sabrina just moved back to Pittsburgh this past summer and currently works in supply management for a medical device company. She has and always will have a passion for dance and is so ecstatic to perform in her first burlesque show with all the other beautiful, talented dancers!

The EXPRESS GIRLS Cast

HARLOW (She/Her)

Jaide Frost was born in Kansas City, MO and began dancing at the age of 7 in various styles including jazz, ballet, hip hop, tap, contemporary, and lyrical. She trained at BPM Dance Complex and Studio 320. Jaide also had the opportunity to train with Caleb Brauner and Carly Lawrence through Kinfigure Kollective. She continued her formal dance training when moving to Pittsburgh, PA in 2020 to attend Point Park University. During her time there, she had the pleasure of performing works by Crystal Fraziere & Pearlann Porter.

The EXPRESS GIRLS Cast

STELLA (She/Her)

Nicola Molea is a Pittsburgh

from

Throughout her youth she studied at Rostraver Dance and Gymnastics Academy and Point Park University's pre professional program. She attended workshops with the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Point Parks International Summer Dance and performed with Exhalations Dance Company. She went on to double major at Point Park University earning her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Bachelor of Science in Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management. Nicola is bursting with excitement to be a part of this fabulous production and would like to thank Elisa, Susie, Mark Simpson, Derek, Bon’Sel, Sus Pisano and her inspiring cast who made this show possible! She would also like to extend a special thank you to her parents, friends, family and Mrs. Alexis for always embracing her creativity and encouraging her to chase her dreams.

native

Elizabeth PA.

The EXPRESS GIRLS Cast

ROSE (She/Her)

Sarah Mattis originally from Columbia, Maryland, was brought to Pittsburgh to attend Point Park University’s Conservatory for the Performing Arts to pursue a degree in dance. After graduating with a BA in dance with a concentration in Jazz, she began teaching, choreographing and performing with local companies around the Pittsburgh area. After working with Red City Live in the past, she is so excited to be working with them again for this incredible show. She would like to thank the entire cast (for simply being some of the best humans around) and of course Elisa and Susie for all that they have put into this production. She cannot be more grateful for the opportunity to perform and so excited to introduce you all to “Rose.”

The EXPRESS GIRLS Cast

KITTY (She/Her)

Carly DiCola is from McMechen, WV where she began her career as a dancer, and now professional dancer/choreographer. Carly is well versed in the teaching and choreography world but is incredibly excited for this opportunity to be a part of her first professional production.

Beyond dance, Carly is a 200hr Certified Yoga Teacher, and is now figuring out the ropes as a new small business owner!

Carly would like to thank her mom and all the other amazing women who have helped pave the way so she can do what she loves most

The EXPRESS GIRLS Cast

IVY (She/Her) - Understudy

Claire Calloway was born and raised in Louisiana. She began her dance training in jazz, ballet, tap & hip hop at a local studio in Baton Rouge. In 2016, Claire relocated to Pittsburgh to pursue her formal training, graduating cum laude with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance from Point Park University. Studying under the direction of Garfield Lemonius, she had the pleasure of performing numerous works by Stephanie Martinez, John Higginbotham, Dan Karasik, and Kiesha Lalama, among others. While studying at Point Park, Claire trained with San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, and Movement Invention Project. During this training, she had the honor of dancing with Summer Lee Rhatigan, Alex Ketley, Stefanie Batten Bland, Francesca Harper, Stephanie Pizzo, and Molly McMullen. After graduating in the Spring of 2020, Claire continued her dance career in Pittsburgh as an 'Express Girl' with RCL Entertainment under Susie Gustin and Elisa Marie Alaio Russo. Most recently, Claire is in her first season as a company member with Inaside Chicago Dance, but will forever hold her Express Girls family close to her heart!!

The RCL Entertainment Team

SUSIE (She/Her)

Owner/Producer/Co-Creative Director

A Pittsburgh native, Susie has been involved with the dance industry for her entire life. After years of training, Susie began dancing professionally at the age of 15, working for production companies, live shows, tv commercials, and Paramount Parks. Susie was a dance major in college and opened RED City Live Entertainment in 2013. She has created and produced three large shows that resulted in sold out audiences. In addition Susie works in partnership with Screaming Queens Entertainment delivering quality programming for private events. The success of RCL Entertainment is Susie's passion and dream, and she is committed to ensuring its lasting impact. She is excited to share every future production with the world!

The RCL Entertainment Team

REID (He/Him)

Owner/Business Manager

Hailing from upstate New York, Award winner of a soccer scholarship to attend Point Park University, Reid earned his degree in Sport, Arts and Entertainment Management and his dreams of entrepreneurship were beginning to fall into motion. His passion, drive, and enthusiastic nature for business, coupled with Point Park's dance conservatory influenced his decision to partner with Susie to create RED City Live Entertainment.

The RCL Entertainment Team

TJ (They/Them)

Production Assistant

Terin Juniper known as TJ is born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. They are currently a senior at South Park High School and a company member at fireWALL dance theater. Along with being a student and dancer, TJ finds great passion in cosmetology and is the production assistant for Red City Live’s production, ‘The Making Of Burlesque.’ TJ’s role consists of styling hair, organizing costumes/props, helping with wardrobe changes, and anything else needed during the performance. They are so excited to be a part of this artistic process and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

The RCL Entertainment Team

SUZ PIZANO(She/Her)

Costume Designer

Award Winning Costume Designer Suz Pisano continues to work with the “Best of the Best” in the region. Longstanding “Best Of City Paper’s Top 10” she recently relocated her full time design studio from 15 years Downtown to a much larger and commercial space in the North Hills. From professional dance companies & pageant queens, to wrestlers & stage & screen, she maintains an enviable clientele with a multitude of projects. Living and teaching fashion in Milan, Italy was a dream as was being hired by Fly Girl Productions who produced the reality tv show Dance Moms. (Seasons 1, 2 & 2.5). Her love of dance led her to work with notable choreographers Antonio Brown, Christopher Huggins, Troy Powell, Darrell Moultrie (who’s choreographed for Beyonce!), locally- Beth Corning, Attack Theatre and so many more. There is no down time in her design studio she affectionately calls “Sparkle Studio” where her motto of many years is “There’s just not enough sparkle in the world. Shine daily.” Suz is thrilled to be working with RED City Live Entertainment on this show where friends & family can finally see some of her work.

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

Sponsors

RCL Would like to thank our

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

RCL Would like to thank our Sponsors

SpecialThanks

Thank you Firewall Dance Theater, for providing a safe and creative space for our cast to rehearse.

Thank you Mark Simpson, for all of the amazing photos and time spent bringing out the beauty of our girls at your shoots.

Thank you Kings Rising Hair Salon for providing the Express Girls with the ultimate glam in hair & makeup.

Thank you Hanna Rubin, for social media and behind the scenes shots.

Thank you, Tim Gaber and the Pittsburgh Winery for believing in Susie and RCL, and offering us a residency when this show was just a concept.

Thank you Suz Pizano, for your commitment to detail. Thanks for seeing the vision and making it happen down to every diamond and last stitch.