Adelaide Cabaret Festival 08

What's new pussycat, at the 2008 Adelaide Cabaret Festival?

Adelaide Festival Centre, home of the performing arts in South Australia, hosts the eighth annual Adelaide Cabaret Festival 6 - 14 June, 2008.

Cabaret is re-emerging around the world with Adelaide Cabaret Festival right on the crest of the wave of what is now an officially recognised trend. The Festival is here to engage audiences, whether in an intimate venue, at a mainstage concert or by dancing the night away in the Kool Kat Festival Club.

This Adelaide Cabaret Festival broadens the definition of what artists and audiences consider to be cabaret. There are plenty of opportunities to indulge in the best cabaret from around Australia and the world including a selection of the finest international cabaret artists (many on their first visit to Australia and only performing in Adelaide) from the United Kingdom, Argentina, the Balkans, the United States of America and France. We expect demand for tickets to be very strong, with 67 shows selling out last year, we encourage people to book early to avoid disappointment.

The 2008 Adelaide Cabaret Festival is a more condensed festival than in previous years to ensure the celebrated atmosphere is maintained whilst managing increasing cost pressures and keeping a commitment to affordable ticket prices.

'Bring a Friend Free on Wednesday' offer, thanks to Minter Ellison, will again be a feature of the Festival ensuring it is as accessible to as many people as possible.

Headlining the 23 international artists are the delightful Maria Friedman, West End and Broadway leading lady for both Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber on her first visit to Australia; Broadway star (and daughter of Judy Garland), Lorna Luft; direct from the US, the writer of The Rose and many other hits, cabaret artiste Amanda McBroom; and French chanteuse and songwriter Belle du Berry.

From Argentina, in a show specially created for Adelaide Cabaret Festival, the talented Elena Roger will take you through the song of her native tango, whilst from the Balkan Peninsula we welcome the virtuosic, foot stomping fun of Paprika Balkanicus.

From the UK comes the dark and dangerous humour of the award winning, performance and animation of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

This year's line-up that also includes more than 200 Australian artists with 140 of those South Australian performers. Overall, there will be 100 performances of 45 different shows across the nine day festival kicking off on the Queen's Birthday long weekend.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival Director Julia Holt says, "The Adelaide Cabaret Festival is like a box of the most delicious chocolates - pick out your favourites and then try something new! From classic cabaret chanteuses, songwriters of incredible skill and celebrated raconteurs through to contemporary artists pushing the boundaries of performance with razor-sharp social and political satire. "

Holt is also committed to nurturing an original Australian cabaret voice as part of the series, In Their Own Words. This year's artists include Australian national treasure, indigenous songwriter Kev Carmody, who will perform his songs and stories with special guest Sara Storer (the most awarded female artist in the history of the Tamworth Golden Guitar Awards). Jazz newcomer Megan Washington (lyrics) joins forces with jazz veteran Paul Grabowsky (music) and arguably Australia's best songwriter and founding member of Cold Chisel, Don Walker presents his writings in Goodnight, Sweet Dreams, the World is Well. South Australia is well represented in this series with ETYPEJAZZ presenting a new show of all original self penned songs, local song writer Joshua Spier and the beautifully crafted songs of Adelaide's own Vincent's Chair .

This year's program features ten brand new shows and five international performances exclusive to Adelaide.

The program also includes:

Classic Cabaret a celebration of the classics songs of the past one hundred years or so with unique interpretations for the special enjoyment of the audience. This year's classics include the big horn sound of Countdown favourite Jeff Duff with the Ed Wilson Big Band in Cooler than Cool, Hotter than Hell and Tom Burlinson recreating the memorable songs and sounds of Frank Sinatra in Frank - A Life In Song. Klezmer band Monsieur Camembert with special guest vocalist Deborah Conway salute the songs of Canadian songwriter Leonard Cohen and Adelaide vocalist Catherine Lambert tells us Love Sucks and I've Got the Songs to Prove It.

Two for the Road: The Music of Movie Maestro Henry Mancini is a special Adelaide Cabaret Festival Commission and will star Julia Zemiro ( SBS's RocKwiz) , Colin Lane ( formerly of comedy duo Lano and Woodley) , Kaye Tuckerman ( Shane Warne: The Musical) and Dale Pengelly (Singin' In the Rain) with a groovin' eight piece band led by John Thorn on keys.

UK opera singer, Marie Angel will sing the story of her life so far, from growing up in the wheatbelt of Pinaroo, South Australia, to the opera houses of Europe, in Till the Fat Lady Sings - It Ain't Over.

The popular Sit Down Satire series presents thought-provoking social and political satire that revels in one of Australia's greatest national traits - the ability to laugh at ourselves. Shows include The Sally Bourne Identity and the premiere of The Kransky Sisters' new show, Three Bags Full. Queenie van de Zandt will welcome you to Cabaret rehab in Cabaret in 12 Easy Steps, Australia's finest "satirical vivisectionists" Jonathan Biggins, Phil Scott and Drew Forsythe will ensure no politician is safe from their wit in Revue Sans Frontières. Adelaide's satirical country and western trio The 3 Dolls will present Freudian Slips whilst Michael Dalley and Paul McCarthy poke fun at performers and art with Intimate Apparel.

Cabaret Crème is devoted to our most treasured performers and includes the reigning poster girl of Australian country music Adelaide's own Beccy Cole and her band. Also on the Dunstan Playhouse stage, jazz luminaries Katie Noonan and Vince Jones join forces in Songs of Love and War. In a specially created show, Australia's musical theatre leading lady and favourite showgirl Rhonda Burchmore will open the Festival with true Burchmore bravado in Everybody Loves Rhonda. The show has been commissioned to also celebrate the 35th Birthday of the magnificent Festival Theatre and will feature Rhonda with a 20 piece orchestra, dancers and special guests.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival continues to stimulate the unique voice of performance art, story telling and commentary in a cabaret format in the Contemporary Cabaret series. Sarah Ward (of Sista She fame ) has created a wonderful new character and show in Yana Alana and Tha Paranas' Bite Me. Absurdists writers and singers Tamlyn Henderson and Warwick Allsopp have also created an hilarious new show called The Jinglists about two jingle writers trapped in a room and in love with the same woman. Performance artist and songwriter Carolyn Connors has created a quirky show Ukulele and Other Extreme Sports while DJ and comedian Fiona Scott-Norman mines her vinyl collection to determine the world's worst records in The Needle and the Damage Done.

In a new series this year, Viva Variety, we celebrate new wave versions of genres from the variety clubs and music halls of a bygone era with artists such as Adelaide's very own Unusualist, Raymond Crowe. Returning by popular demand, with new special guests, is the world's most extraordinary salon of showgirls with sharp teeth The Burlesque Hour - Sizzles! In addition, the acclaimed physical and audio performers The Umbilical Brothers will perform their off-Broadway hit show than ran for over a year, Don't Explain.

The Festival continues its great FREE initiatives in 2008:

·          The Kool Kat Festival Club is back with live bands and DJs- Entry is free if you have a ticket to a show earlier the same evening (normally $10 entry or a $25 season pass).

·          In Conversation With... Festival Director Julia Holt will invite guest performers to join her on stage for a chat about themselves and their art .

·          Back by popular demand, Sing Your Own Musical, Michael Morley returns for another sing-along around the piano. With a song list drawn from your favourite Broadway musicals.

·          Michael Atchison Exhibition - The Adelaide Advertiser's cartoonist for more than 40 years has personally chosen a small selection of his favourite cartoons reflecting current political issues in Australia.

In addition, for those with an interest or professional penchant for cabaret, there are Masterclasses with Amanda McBroom (US) and Maria Friedman (UK).

Tickets on sale now from BASS on 131 246 or www.bass.net.au - tickets start from $10.

For a free copy of the Festival program, call the Adelaide Cabaret Hotline on (+61 8) 8216 8901 or go to www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com

Adelaide Cabaret Festival is produced by the Adelaide Festival Centre as part of its annual program of events that captivate audiences from Australia and around the world.

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Adelaide Cabaret Festival 08