Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Cabaret Tidbits at large

I know we try to keep tabs on the local scene and anything that might relate to the genre of cabaret. But here are a few items from the East Coast which could plant some seeds and be used here as well. We keep speaking more and more to the power of our Education team and the possibilities to connect not only to new members, but larger audiences. Check these out:

First from our nation's capitol in Washington DC. La-Ti-Do a new collective of artists much like our own. They bill themselves as the "world where Musical Theater and Spoken World collide!" The brainchild of Don Michael Mendoza & Regie Cabico, it is a group of both amateur and professional artists in DC that come together for both solo and group pieces. They have shows every Monday in the Dupont Circle area for a loyal crowd and a modest cover charge. Each month has both a featured cause and at least a single featured artist. It sounds much like the curated dance works offered at the Walker. La-Ti-Do is garnering clout with a 2013 Broadway World Best Cabaret Concert award.
La-Ti-Do

In NYC Primary Stages @ Einhorn School of Performing Arts, there is a Cabaret Intensive over 6 weeks this Fall. It sounds very similar to the Yale Conference in that it goes from square 1 - choosing your material - all the way to marketing and promoting the piece. Instead of patter, they refer to it as banter: but it is still about finding your own funny, specific and authentic voice. It will be led by both Eric Kornfeld & Eric Thomas Johnson. Both have experience with such notables as Bette Midler and Betty Buckley. To top it off, each student finishes with a mini-set shared at the Metropolitan Room.
Creating Your Cabaret

And lastly, a unique spin on a Cabaret evening hosted by both the Dramatists Guild in conjunction with Samuel French. It will be a benefit concert at none other than 54 Below with the theme: Sing and Tell on October 1st. It is only one a roster of Symposium offerings for the entire week. The bill includes a slate of names including Bill Russell, Marsha Norman, Emily Skeggs and many more. Each writer/ composer will speak to their creative process and then share short selections of their theater writings. It beckons back to the days of Cole Porter and Gershwin singing songs around a piano - to the current generation.
Sing and Tell; 54 Below

All great offerings and opportunities.

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