When LK sat down to write her new bio; she decided to look at her old one and complimented herself on her use of the word "myriad". While she'd like to use it again in the new version of her bio; she's not sure that it'll fit. Times have changed.

Leslie's first foray with NMTC was back in 2001 in Stephen Sondheim & George Furth's "Getting Away With Murder" when she played a prickly "Pamela Prideaux"; a year later as an official company member of NMTC she took on the role of Marketing Manager; and several other prickly roles later, she founded The Flaming Dames. NMTC's resident (and Chicago's most frequently running) rock-and-roll burlesque revue. The first Dames show was in 2002, and since then The Flaming Dames have gone on to perform all over the Chicagoland area, making The Spot and National Pastime Theatre their choice venues of performance. The Dames have performed for Motley Crue's "Cruefest", Screen Magazine and Getty Images; also Exit Chicago & Excalibur, as has been the featured performance act at Flashback Horror Weekend and Sci-Fi convention. Leslie is the creative and managing director of all things Flaming Dames; she is both frightened and intensely proud of that...all at the same time. :-)

Leslie's training in live theatre and performance started in the Detroit area and she brings 25+ years of professional dance and choreography experience with her to NMTC. She has trained with Harriet's Dance in Livonia, MI; and Robert Lee Dance in Garden City, MI. Along with being the proud recipient of various regional and national dance awards and titles, Leslie has studied under the mentorship of award winning Central City Dance & Performing Arts Studio owner Tamara Nastev-Smola; and Certified Jazz Master Choreographer Barry Douglas. Other theatre companies that Leslie has had the pleasure to choreograph for (or act with) include: The Gem Theatre of Detroit, MI, The Players Guild of Dearborn, and Robert Lee Players; as well as The Schoolcraft Players. Her favorite Chicago acting credits include Blindfaith Theatre Company, Speaking Ring Theatre Company and Healthworks Theatre Company.

LK's favorite things of all time are live performance and rock-and-roll and she vows to always find a way to incorporate them into absolutely everything she does.

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