Thank you for 20 years of DQ!

On May 19th, the oh-so-sparkly DQ curtain came down for the last time, the grand finale to 20 years of fabulous frocks and frivolities.

Casey House CEO Stephanie Karapita took the stage to accept on behalf of Casey House a cheque for the $110,000 raised by “Diva Oz Vegas,” an homage to the glitz and glam of the glittering Vegas of yore. Over the past two decades, DQ productions have been an important source of funding for community programs at Casey House, with this year’s funding putting the cumulative amount over $1 million, the largest amount raised by a community group for Casey House!

“Diva Oz Vegas” was a spectacular romp featuring Dorothy as a confused Judy Garland wannabe, who becomes lost (with her little dog, too!) en route to Oz where she yearns for a makeover. Along the way she meets up with a fabulous cast including the Amazonian “Cher”crow, a Madonna-esque Glittering Tin Diva replete with dangerous conical breasts (and an astonishing disco-ball headpiece), and an insecure Buxom Lioness whose idea of purrfection is bellying up to an all-you-can-eat buffet. The gaggle is spellbound by a dazzling Rita Hayworth-esque Glinda, who high-kicks them all the way to “Oz Vegas” for lamé-and-sequin makeovers, despite the machinations of the ohh-so-scarrry Evillinda. We ain't in Kansas anymore, honey! Anything can happen in Oz Vegas, and so it did with sultry showgirls, campy comedy and terrifically titillating music.

The costumes were dazzling, with many rolls of lamé and millions of sequins sacrificed for a good cause. An all-volunteer cast and production team lent their time, talent and love under the keen eyes of DQ chair Brian MacDonald, producer Marlene Smith and director Graham Maxwell. Also helping to raise funds were the equally resplendent usherettes, employing their bouffant wiles to charm the audience into buying raffle tickets.

Bree Fitzgerald was on hand at the show’s close to express what DQ meant to her grandmother, Casey House founder June Callwood. June loved the DQ family and always made it a point to join in the fun, from the first year when money raised by DQ provided the final parcel of funding needed to open the doors at Casey House. This was the first time in 20 years (10 productions) that June Callwood was not able to join the cast on stage. DQ’s final show was dedicated to the memory of June and the many other DQ angels who no longer grace our stage.

To our beloved DQ family: thanks for the memories. Bravo, all. (Curtain down.)

Key sponsors of this year's production were:

Presenting sponsor:



Production sponsors:



Media sponsor:



Performance sponsors:
Past and present board members of Casey House
The Home Depot
Scotiabank Group
Dickson, MacGregor, Appell LLP