Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director Kate Ceberano has secured a premiere selection of international, national and local acclaimed artists in her debut year as Artistic Director. Tickets go on sale today for four shows ahead of the official program launch on March 31, so that audiences can get a taste of the look and feel that Kate will be presenting later this year. Today’s announcements already confirm she is set to present an unforgettable Festival in 2012.
The four shows include three Australian premieres and one world premiere.
The 2012 program will feature the USA’s Mary Wilson in Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project, 9 – 10 June, Dunstan Playhouse; Charismatic UK comedian Lenny Henry in his one man show Cradle To Rave, 23 June, Festival Theatre; New York based Australian Kim Smith performs Misfit in an Australian premiere, 8 – 10 June, The Artspace; South Australian company Various People Inc present The Velvet Gentleman: the odd story of Erik Satie, 15 – 17 June, Artspace.
Mary Wilson, a founding member of Motown’s The Supremes will perform Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project, about Hollywood’s first African-American goddess, from her reign at MGM’s “dream factory” to a fabled night club seductress and civil rights icon. Stormy Weather is a living, breathing biography based on the book by James Gavin. The show includes a combination of storytelling, live performances and rare audio and visual images from Gavin's wealth of material and interviews with Horne herself. Gavin joins Wilson on stage as the narrator, with orchestrations by seven-time Emmy Award winner Mike Renzi.
Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director Kate Ceberano says, “Mary Wilson still performs with the same passion as she did singing with the original Supremes. Cabaret Festival audiences will be blown away by her interpretation of the beautiful Lena Horne, who became a pioneering star for African Americans in the 40s and 50s. From the Cotton Club's glory days and the back lots of Hollywood studios to the glitzy resorts of Las Vegas, Mary takes you on a behind-the scenes look at this American icon”.
Mary Wilson says, “James Gavin put together a beautiful project. Everyone in Australia should come out to see us. James Gavin and I are having lots of fun and can't wait to share stories about Lena Horne!"
Acclaimed UK comedian, actor, writer, TV presenter, radio host and all-round Renaissance man Lenny Henryreturns to his roots with a funky, funny and personal one man show, Cradle to Rave, about the thing he loves most: music. Cradle to Rave is Henry’s most personal show yet, offering a hilarious and touching insight into a man to whom music matters a little too much. From growing up thinking Elvis was a relative as there were so many pictures of him in the house, to missing a cue during his theatrical debut as Othello because he was listening to hip hop, Cradle to Rave sets Henry’s family, first loves and fame against a musical backdrop – a comic cabaret voyage through his life told via its eclectic soundtrack. Directed by the critically acclaimed UK theatre director Sam Buntrock, Cradle to Rave is Henry's musical journey from fan boy to the greatest singer the UK never had.
In Misfit, Kim Smith charts a dark and whimsical path through a ruined musical landscape of disfigured pop and peculiar period treasures, mischievously proving that misfits have more fun.
Having made an impressive Adelaide Cabaret Festival debut in 2010 with his show Morphium, Kim Smith returns with his latest Weimar-era inspired cabaret. Smith sings in German, French and English, reinterpreting works by Weimar-era composers, as well as modern-day artists including Friedrich Hollaender, Björk, the Supremes, Kylie Minogue, Kurt Weill, and a myriad of glittering others.
The Velvet Gentleman: the odd story of Erik Satie (some of it is true), will transport you to Paris in the twentieth century into the curious world of eccentric composer Erik Satie. Satie was as a cabaret pianist and composer of popular songs, ballets and music. South Australian musical duo Cheryl Pickering and Richard Chew inhabit Satie’s crowded room coaxing musings and music from his piano and paraphernalia. The Velvet Gentleman is an affectionate tribute in music, song and text to one of the fathers of cabaret.
Remember, audiences can have their first taste of the Festival by purchasing tickets to Adelaide’s night of nightsVariety Gala Performance on Friday 8 June. Once again patrons will walk the red carpet and witness a variety of incredibly talented cabaret artists in this year’s Festival. This year’s Gala line-up is more impressive than ever – book early as it is sure to sell out.
Ceberano has big ambitions to take the Festival to even greater heights and ensure it builds on its reputation for excellence not only through its stellar performers but also with a design that matches its international reputation. Kate is working with renowned Australian Artist David Bromley who has been engaged as Festival Designer, to enhance some of the performance spaces, interiors and public areas by providing an overarching aesthetic and visual texture for the Festival.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and Artistic Director Douglas Gautier says “Whether you are a connoisseur, or if you are discovering Cabaret for the first time I urge you to book for the four shows on sale today as they are sure to sell out. Be sure not to miss Kate’s first Festival.”
Subscribe to four or more shows and you can buy additional tickets to any Adelaide Cabaret Festival show at the subscriber price when the full program is announced on March 31. And if you’re already an Adelaide Festival Centre subscriber you can automatically access the subscriber price. If you haven’t secured your 2012 Variety Gala Performance tickets yet then you can do so by including it as part of your subscription.
Full program and tickets on sale March 31, details will be available in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival brochure. Get one free by calling the Adelaide Cabaret Hotline on (08) 8216 8901 or go to www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au.
Tickets on sale now for Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project starring Mary Wilson, Lenny Henry, Misfitand The Velvet Gentlemen.
Book at BASS 131 246 or online www.bass.net.au
Check out the following EPK as Kate takes you through her design plans for the Festival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRIX-IlYjtc&feature=youtu.be
More News
