Photo by Ken Doody
Sarah Butler is a Toronto-based actor, dancer, and singer, who, since moving last year, has performed in the Stageworks production of Urinetown (directed by Lorraine Kimsa) as Little Sally, Hart House Theatre’s Cabaret (directed by Adam Brazier) as a Kit Kat Dancer and Dance Captain and the Lower Ossington Theatre’s production of Legally Blonde: The Musical as Whitney/Kortney/Ensemble, as well as understudying the role of Brooke Wyndham. Sarah has also appeared in music videos for Lynzie Kent (Whoop Dee Doo), choreographer Stelio Calagias (Simply Tina), and the short movie-musical Gossip Queen.
In addition to Cabaret and Urinetown, Sarah’s favourite shows include Hairspray (Penny), The Cripple of Inishmaan (Helen), The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily), Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), and originated the role of Stephanie in The Job as a part of Saint John Theatre Company’s Theatre on the Edge Festival. She has also been featured in West Side Story (Graziella), Lysistrata (Calonice), and Perfect! (Nonie/Jenny). In its second season, Sarah made it to the Finals of So You Think You Can Dance Canada. During the 2010-11 National Tour of The Wizard of Oz, Sarah taught and cast the munchkins in the Imperial Theatre portion of the tour. This fall, she will be appearing as a Hot Box Girl in the Segal Centre’s production of Guys and Dolls, directed by Diana Leblanc and choreographed by Jim White!
Sarah as Penny with Chika Ikejiani in Hairspray!
Sarah recently graduated from the University of New Brunswick with degrees in both Arts (Honours English, Minor French) and Education and was named a 2010 Dean’s Scholar. During university, she taught and choreographed for such institutions as Rothesay Ballet School, Gala Ballet Company, Artemis Dance, Bonnie Kilburn Dance, Kingswood Gymnastics, Dance Fredericton, Summer Arts Été, InterAction Children’s Theatre and several schools throughout the Maritimes. She has choreographed such musicals as The Music Man, The Sound of Music, Grease, High School Musical (Jr.), and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Sarah, at a master class with Soulpepper’s Artistic Director, Albert Schultz.
Sarah was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick – although her parents hail from Gander, Newfoundland and Manila, Philippines. She caught the theatre bug early, dancing at Rothesay Ballet School, singing with Dr. Kevin Langford with the Rothesay Kings Rotary Girls Choir, and performing with Kidsing Entertainment and KV Players in shows like The Music Man (Gracie Shinn) and Annie (Annie).
Photo: Ken Doody
To further her training, Sarah attended Deerfield Academy, where she studied under the direction of John Reese (acting) and Jennifer Whitcomb (dance). She particularly enjoyed working with guest choreographers Alan Arnett, Billbob Brown, and Lindsey Dunn and her favorite roles included Sophia in Fools, Mercy Lewis in The Crucible and Darlene Henshaw in The Diviners. While in high school, Sarah was fortunate to perform in a Broadway Revue at the Rainbow Room in New York City’s Rockefeller Center, as well as to train at pre-professional programs at Tisch School of the Arts (CAP21, NYU) and American Theatre Dance. At the end of her high school career, Sarah was selected as the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Dance, as well as the Ford Foundation Grant for the Pursuit of Fine Arts.
Photo: Ryan Lavigne | Makeup: Lindsay Thorne
Sarah is thrilled to be part of the Toronto arts community and can’t wait see what happens next!