Q&A with SHANNON SUKOVATY – Talks: Creating Arts Company, Upcoming Residency at The Sayers Club For FIGHT CLUB Inspired Musical: Project Mayhem Opening This Weekeend!

CAC Studios opened it’s door to it’s adult cabaret shows on November 7, 2015 with Thenardiers Inn a Les Miserables Cabaret.

CAC STUDIOS is a non-profit, educational creative collective that is perfect for any and all artists. CAC Studios presents high quality, professional, unique, original, ground-breaking shows and cabarets. Their shows are fun and entertaining for the theater lover but also designed to expose the non-theater goer in a way that makes them appreciate and want to see more shows.

CAC Studios offers children’s shows that are educational, immersive-interactive experiences and teach children how to appreciate live theater. CAC Studios acclaimed mini-musicals, pint-sized plays and original works have multiple 5-star reviews. CAC Studios has been rated one of LA’s top theaters for children and families for over three years and are proud to be a touring company for Military bases, bringing enriching entertainment to military families.

CAC Studios award winning, critically acclaimed adult cabarets are original, immersive, interactive parodies and shows that put the audience right on stage and in the action. The brand will also be expanding their performance with PROJECT MAYHEM at Los Angeles hot spot THE SAYERS CLUB: Feb. 19th thru Sat. Mar. 26th every Friday and Saturday.

PROJECT MAYHEM is ….A Knockout Immersive Rock Experience!

Sneak on into the basement of The Sayers Club and gear up for a theatrical experience that will have you on the edge of your seat ready to fight, sing and drink! This high-octane production will drop you into a side splitting, mind-racing, adrenaline filled powerhouse rock musical that blurs the lines of reality and imagination, dark and light, good and evil and what love can make us do. Spar with the boxing girls and cheer on the basement band, but remember…what happens in the basement at Sayers, stays in the basement!

Club Rules:

1. No talking about Project Mayhem.

2. No admittance under 21, this show features adult content… You have been warned.

3. Doors open at 7PM for cocktails and live music.

4. Get ready for an immersive theatrical experience like no other.

5. Visit CAC Studio here for more information and to purchase tickets!

All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had a chance to catch up with the multi-talented, actor, musician, singer and Creator of CAC Studios / Creating Arts Company, Shannon Sukovaty. Enjoy Nicole’s interview with Shannon below!

Hi Shannon! How are you today? What’s on the agenda today besides our interview?

Hi Nicole! Today I’m finishing up a script, finishing up some choreography for tonight’s rehearsal then it’s rehearsal from 5-10pm .

For those that are not familiar with you and CAC Studios, how did you get your start? Who or what was the catalyst for you to want to live the life of a musical gypsy, actress and performer?

I stared performing at the age of three when I asked my mom to take me to audition for Little Orphan Annie and that was it, I knew that’s all I wanted to do. I was am still am always happiest when I’m creating whether that be performing on stage or screen; acting/dancing/singing or writing or directing. For me, there’s no other choice but to create with this art form.

We started the company in 2012 with Creating Arts Company our family and children friendly shows. CAC Studios is our adult shows.

You have performed so many characters throughout the past couple years. Who has been your favorite thus far to portray? Who would you love to “sink your teeth” into next?

That’s a great question. In my lifetime of performing there are so many great roles I’ve had the honor of portraying it’s hard to choice a favorite. One of the most fun characters I’ve recently portrayed was The White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I was hired for a film to portray Mae West but the character was cut before production began, I really would love to bring that character to life, she was such an iconic character.

Who have been your inspirations growing up that also inspire you today?

As a performer my inspiration is Meryl Streep. She is such an amazing talent and always accepts challenges as an actor that pushes her beyond her latest project. Madonna is another strong woman that has always inspired me. She’s an amazing business woman and knows how to market what she has and is a great overall entertainer.

Of course Oprah is another role model for doing what you want no matter what the odds are. As for directing and writing Al Ruddy, who I’ve had the pleasure of knowing is one of the most inspirational entertainment industry people I’ve ever met. He’s humble, down to earth and always ready with an inspirational story.

What did you learn between your previous work, collaborations and playing live, that you felt you wanted to infuse into your latest creation A Night at the Sands which will be at The Sayers Club in Hollywood from November 13 – December 19th.

The one thing I’ve learned is that the people are ready for a new form of live theatre and CAC Studios immersive, interactive shows that transport you to another time and place seem to the change that people are loving.

A Night at the Sands adheres to my format and also infuses classic sounds with modern sounds in a fully staged story to make for an entertaining night from the time you walk in until you leave.

What sparked the idea to do these wonderful hybrid performances like Chicabaret which is a fantastic reinvention of Chicago meets Cabaret meets Rent? How did you come up with the treatment to make it a cohesive experience?

I love all of these shows, and have done two of them . I have always loved comedy spoofs as well and while listening to the songs from these three shows on shuffle I came up with the idea of parodying them in a way that made sense but was a funny parody.

Nowadays, everything is so instant…you press a button and it’s yours ala Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes. What was the first album you saved up for and purchased for yourself as a kid?

I remember saving up to buy Jesus Christ Superstar. I listened to that record over and over and decided to record my own operatic version at the ripe old age of 8, which sounded more like cats dying I’m sure. lol

What was the first song you fell in love with (that you can remember) and why?

“As Time Goes By”. My grandmother use to sing it and I loved it. She taught it to me and then when I watched Casablanca for the first time fell in love with the movie. It’s still one of my all time favorite songs.

Who is in your current playlist? What artists or bands are in current rotation for you?

My playlist is crazy, I literally have just about every genre, style and time of music except for a lot of country. Right now it’s a lot of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, but I mix up with The Weekend, Elle King, Janice Joplin, Madonna, Skrillex, Wiz Khalifa, Fetty Wap to name a few, oh and of course tons of Musicals.

What’s on tap next for you and CAC? What are you most excited about for this year?

It’s been such an exciting year, we’ve done so much more than we even anticipated. We won the 2015 Best Cabaret Hollywood Fringe Award, produced 4 5-star reviewed shows and launched an improve comedy division. I’m in awe of the amazing people I’m surrounded with that help bring to life my crazy ideas. In 2016 I’m excited for the expansion of our shows into other cities and venues.

My goal with CAC Studios is to expose people that normally would not attend live theatre to it in a fun way that will inspire them to seek out other shows.

To learn more about CAC Studios including upcoming shows visit their website HERE .

Follow CAC Studios on Twitter as well: @cac_studios