USD Magazine, Spring 2003

the Fo/ies was the easiest part of her law school career. "My third year was the most difficult, even though I was only flying to San Diego three days a week," she says."I was with the Folies for 14 years and knew exactly what I was doing, but then I stopped performing to clerk with Quirk & Tratos.The law was completely new and required an entirely different type of concentration." But Thompson was deter– mined - and, it seems, destined - to have a career in entertain– ment law.After earning a degree in fine arts from the University of Utah , she began an odyssey through the entertainment industry. At an international bal– let competition in Jackson, Miss., she met dance partner Jamey Gallagher, who suggested the duo put together an act for Las Vegas.The two honed their rou– tine on the television series "Star Search," then joined the Fo/ies in 1984.

Thompson didn't stop at dancing. During her 14-year Folies career, she also started a production company, owned an entertainment consulting busi– ness and, for two seasons, moon– lighted as Susie Spirit in the "Gorgeous Ladies ofWrestling" television series. "That was an experience," laughs Thompson, "but I kept my ears and eyes open and learned how television works." All that on-the-job training taught her that the spotlight is anything but a lonely place, and led naturally into her current career. "There is really no such thing as a solo performer," she says. "It takes the talents of hundreds of people to make a production like the Fo/ies happen - the vast majority of whom the audience never sees. I've always been fas– cinated by that collective accom– plishment, and now, as an attor– ney, I act as a facilitator, doing the deals that help bring all the

creative people together." Thompson and husband Allen Bracken, the production manag– er for Las Vegas magician Lance Burton, have two sons, Nikolas, 4 and Alexander, 2.The family, she says, helped ease her transition from the stage to the world of copyrights, contracts and rights of publicity. "Becoming a mom totally changed the focus of my life;' she says." I had been performing for as long as I can remember, and it got to be second nature for me. Hearing the applause was pretty nice, but now I come home after a long day, see my beautiful children and know my clients incorporate my work into successful endeavors. That is even more rewarding than a standing ovation."

of her teen-age years had per– fo rmed professionally with the Pioneer Memorial Theater Company and Ballet West in Salt Lake City, and the Jackson Ballet in Mississippi. In Les Folies, she was the principal adagio act, combining the strength and agility of gymnastics with elements of classic dance . Despite the tiring commute, Thompson says working with

- Timothy McKernan

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SPRING 2003