Oops, She's Doing It Again

Sultry Cabaret Chanteuse Ali McGregor is preparing to record “Alchemy”, her second studio album.

Known to regular readers of cabaretconfessional.com for her beautiful renditions of jazz standards and creative and crazy reinterpretations of songs not usually performed in a jazz or cabaret context. 

Trumpet virtuoso James Morrison featured on two tracks from her debut release “Jazz Cigarette” - Georgia on my Mind and her cover of Britney Spears’ Oops, I Did It Again and with “Alchemy”, Ali will no doubt turn more trashy pop songs into gold.

Ali invites you to support the recording and release of “Alchemy” by being a part of her Pozible campaign. Her goal is to raise $6000, half of the amount budgeted to fund the recording, using this crowd sourced/micro-funded website.

She has already raised 70% of her goal, but she needs the whole amount to be pledged by 11am EST on Apr 29, 2012.

By following this link to her pozible page, you will see that pledges of various amounts entitle you to various ‘gifts’ in return.

Pledging $25 will guarantee you a signed copy of the cd before it is released for sale and a digital download of the album’s first single.

Pledges of greater amounts come with free tickets to McGregor’s performances or even the opportunity to have a special one hour performance by the singer for you and up to 249 of your closest friends or colleagues!

Contributing to this effort is a great way to pledge your support to a deserving artist and is a positive way to encourage performers to continue to record and release music in the new music economy - where commerical recording labels don’t have the funds to support artists who are not currently household names on tv. 

Cabaret Confessional has made a pledge to Ali’s “Alchemy” campaign and encourages you to do the same!

An Unexpected Addition to the Variety Show

Cabaret Comedienne Jenny Wynter has presented “An Unexpected Variety Show” at festivals around Australia including the Melbourne and Adelaide Fringe Festivals.

She is currently performing in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival at The Butterfly Club. 

The show was intended to debut at the Comedy Festival, but a horrific motor accident side-lined her from performing only weeks before the scheduled premiere.

“The Unexpected…” has taken twists and turns from season to season, but Melbourne is discovering perhaps the most radical one to date - a one woman show, performed by two women. Jenny is joined on stage by Ruth Sullivan, a sign language interpreter with Deaf Services Queensland.

She was inspired after working with Ruth at the Woodford Folk Festival, where she performs regularly on the stand-up stage.

“Woodford had organised interpreters at all the spoken word gigs and I really fell in love with what it brought to the show. Ruth and I especially just ‘clicked’. Chemistry, stars aligning, whatever you call it, we just worked naturally together immediately. I’ve had people tell me so many times that Ruth seems to really embody my comedy persona perfectly onstage. It’s amazing to open the performances to an entirely new audience of deaf people and I am completely smitten with the art form of signing. I think it is just beautiful.”

Working with Sullivan has provided Jenny with a fresh perspective on the show she has already been touring on and off for six months. 

“Having her interpret the songs completely transforms them in my mind. There are emotional notes in the show which have been really heightened by having Ruth interpreting them; it almost feels like there is a beautiful dancer onstage. Ruth is naturally incredibly comedic in her expressions and so I think she makes me look much better than I really am.”

An Unexpected Variety Show runs at The Butterfly Club in South Melbourne until Apr 22. 

More information and booking details can be found here.

Cabaret Confessional email subscribers may find the youtube link in the online post isn’t in your email edition. You can discover the Jenny and Ruth performing “The World’s Greatest Love Song” here. 

Cabaret Fringe Applications Close Wed Apr 18

Adelaide’s open access Cabaret Fringe Festival will celebrate it’s fifth year in 2012.

Organisers are currently accepting applications from artists interested in performing during the festival which runs from June 1-30.

Details about the festival and how to apply can be found at www.cabaretfringefestival.com

The Cabaret Fringe Festival coincides with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival (June 8-23) and has helped establish the city’s importance and influence in the art of cabaret. Last year’s Cabaret Fringe offered almost 60 different shows presented by artists from around Australia.

Applications close this Wednesday, April 18.

Just Ask Ruth! Secrets of Cabaret Creation Part 6: The Opening Night (cont.)

Opening Night! It’s Opening Night! (PART 2)

By Ruth Wilkin

You are now on a post-show high, and finally everyone has seen your talents and had your passion thrust upon them.  They may have also seen a nipple, but this was a totally unintended costume malfunction which you have already apologised for onstage.

Post-show necessities include:

- Gorgeous post-show outfit

- Pen for autographs

- Headshots to sign autographs on (optional)

STEP ONE: THE STAGE DOOR REVEAL

Take a deep breath and push the stage door open in a flourish, revealing you with your flowers (see previous blog) and a face full of stage make-up.  I always opt to leave mine on, for two reasons: 

1) Because even the ugliest of performers look great in stage makeup and

2) So audience members will recognise you as being in the show, even if you weren’t the main character. If this does not become immediately apparent, simply re-do a song or two for the gathered crowd in the foyer.

STEP TWO: MEETING YOUR FANS

Make sure you rush up to everyone and ask them exactly what they thought of your show.  Maintain constant eye contact at all times, so they feel secure knowing they can give you their most truthful thoughts on the show, and so you can rest soundly, knowing Nana thought you were amazing. 

STEP THREE: BASKING IN YOUR OWN GLORY

The hard work is over – it’s time to bask! Bask, I say!  People will be buying you drinks and telling you that your show is worthy of venues other than your bedroom, where it is currently showing.  They are right.  

FINAL THOUGHT: Congratulations.  You’ve completed the first steps of becoming a sucessful cabaret writer/ artiste! It is the time to immediately book the Arts Centre for your encore performance. Tell them Ruth sent you.

Ruth Wilkin is an emerging composer, cabaret creator/expert. She has full of tried and tested hints that she’d like to offer to her fellow cabaret artists and inspire them to write those award-winning hit shows that would no doubt get a spot at all the cabaret festivals. She completed a sucessful season at the 2012 Adelaide Fringe Festival last month, where her show Just a Little Something I’ve Been Working On was nominated for Best Cabaret out of over 100 cabaret acts. She has been sharing the secrets of cabaret creation via her vlog posts. She will mix it up and will write two blog posts to finish up the series. She really likes peanuts.

Just Ask Ruth! Secrets of Cabaret Creation vlog/blog Series:

Just Ask Ruth! Secrets of Cabaret Creation Part 1: Accessing your creative self

Just Ask Ruth! Secrets of Cabaret Creation Part 2: The cabaret writing process

Just Ask Ruth! Secrets of Cabaret Creation Part 3: Rehearsing your show

Just Ask Ruth! Secrets of Cabaret Creation Part 4: Publicity

Just Ask Ruth! Secrets of Cabaret Creation Part 5.5: The Opening Night

 “Like” Ruth’s Facebook page 

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A farewell post

Dear Readers,

The time has come for me to let you know that this is my final post on Cabaret Confessional. 

It has been an amazing journey in every way and I had an absolute ball.

In a few weeks, I’ll be starting my own blog, which will be a whole new adventure.

Before I sign off, I’d like to say a few thanks to: 

Matthew Carey for giving me the opportunity to be part of Cabaret Confessional, introducing me to the world of blogging and for sharing his vision with me. It’s been such a valuable experience and I’ve learned so much.

My cabaret friends and mentors for their incredible support and encouragement.

Every cabaret artist I’ve had the pleasure of featuring on Cabaret Confessional for inspiring me with their stories, talent, hard work and commitment.

Last but not least, to all of you for reading the blog and for allowing me to share my love and passion for cabaret.

I wish you all the very best and hope you will continue reading Cabaret Confessional for many years to come.  

With heartfelt gratitude, 

Lena Nobuhara