Meet Cal Faer

Cal Faer (aka Caleb Hayden) is a singer/dancer/comic with experience across traditional and unconventional entertainment mediums. Faer has been entertaining audiences since 2002, and started directing/writing shows in 2021. After obtaining a B.A. in Dance with a minor in music from Wichita State in 2022, they went on to perform as a contemporary and ballet dancer before returning to their roots in music, writing, and campy comedy. Faer has written two award winning shows at Kansas City Renaissance Festival, and performed with the Tortuga Twins, and the Spice Boys. They are also known for their roles on various Dungeons and Dragons liveplay podcasts and as the creator of the tabletop roleplaying game “Fantasy Unhinged”.

Cal is a lover of fantasy novels, their favorites including; the Dragonlance franchise, the Stormlight Archive, and The Wandering Inn. They love a vibrant eye look, and have a special love for the Disney songs "Reflection," and "I Won't Say I'm in Love"... the reason should be obvious.

Cal Faer began singing in their early years in the church choir, and singing Disney Princess songs around the house. for as long as they can remember, Faer has been enthralled with many aspects of performance; orchestral music, dance, cirque, costumes, music theatre, and even had an obsession with a cappella music. When Faer lost hearing in their left ear, they doubled down, taking their love of the arts seriously in an effort to overcome their disability. Inspired by Beethoven (who began to lose their hearing at the age of twenty-six), Faer downloaded a free music notation software known as "Musescore" and began to experiment with composing at the age of ten.

Throughout their adolescence and teenage years, Faer performed in two musicals a year, in large and small ensemble choirs, marching band, and began making costumes with their grandmother. In their senior year, they played both Edna Turnblad from Hairspray (A role traditionally done in drag), and George Banks from Mary Poppins. This duality would turn out to be an indicator of Faer's future performances.

Faer attended Butler Community College on a full ride vocal scholarship, and took eighteen to twenty-four credit hours a semester. It was here that Faer had their first opportunity to receive formal dance training, and they fell in love. Faer graduated Butler with an Associates in music, and transferred to Wichita State University, graduating in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and a Minor in Music.

Beginning in 2021, Faer performed as a fairy and merman at special events, and as a backup dancer for drag queens. It took only a few months for Faer to start developing their own drag acts, and was tasked with writing and choreographing a fairy dance show. Before graduating, Faer had received accolades for their work, and was awarded "Best New Show" at Kansas City Renaissance festival. Faer's work would go on to receive the same award in 2022 for the production "Divas of Camelot".

Faer currently performs with the illustrious acts on the renaissance festival circuit, The Tortuga Twins and The Spice Boys, and produced their solo act "Lip Sing Assassin" which later became "The Ty Beaux Show". They are also a recognizable figure in the Kansas City Boylesque scene, and has produced several cabaret shows, known for their high octane choreography, silly seduction, and nerdy disposition.

Faer has performed professionally with Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, Ballet Wichita, Metropolitan Ballet, Alithea Mime Theatre, Wichita Contemporary Dance Theatre, The Enchanted Mermaid, Flint Hills Fairies, and actively performs with The Tortuga Twins, and The Spice Boys. Faer has worked under; Regina Klenjoski, Sabrina Vasquez, Nicholas Johnson, Cheyla Clawson-Chandler, Denise Celestin, Jill Landreth, David Justin, Mina Estrada, David Kassin-Fried, Ronn Bauman, Jef Hall, Riki Robinson, Cas Minniear, and Kyle Kuhlman.

Photography credits: Aja Page

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