2015 INTERNATIONAL CABARET CONTEST GRAND FINAL LINEUP

The final of the Your Theatrics International Cabaret Contest (YTICC) has its Grand Final at The Basement in Sydney on Saturday January 17, after recently holding heats in Adelaide, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Auckland, and Sydney. Winners from every city are flown to Sydney to take part in the contest Grand Final, which will see ­­11 hopefuls take to the stage in what promises to be an exciting night of new talent from around Australia and New Zealand.

The cabaret talent vying for the chance to win the largest cabaret prize in Australasia will be Adelaide winners David Gauci, and Michaela Burger with Greg Wain, Brisbane winner Judy Hainsworth, Sunshine Coast winner Jenny Wynter, Melbourne winners Noni McCallum and Bethany Simons with Peter de Jager, Auckland winner, Cherie Moore with Robin Kelly and Sydney winners Jaimie Leigh Johnson, Ben Hudson, Shondelle Pratt, and Dash Kruck.

The ultimate Grand Final winner will walk away with an unbeatable career-changing prize package which will provide them with various performance opportunities from our Major Festival Partners. These will include invitations to perform at the Cabaret Festivals of Adelaide, Melbourne, Ballarat, and Queensland, as well as the Festival of Voices in Tasmania and the Noosa Long Weekend Festival, which all guarantee flights and accommodation.  In addition, we are able to offer an Australia/Pacific cruise ship booking as part of the Grand Prize package, thanks to new Principal Sponsor Grayboy Entertainment. The Grand Prize winner will also have the opportunity to present their show at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, with flights and accommodation for their appearance to the value of $3000 generously contributed by The Ron and Margaret Dobell Foundation, a cash prize of $1000, a photographic and marketing package from Blueprint Studios valued at $1000, a music theatre and cabaret music and book package from Hal Leonard, as well as tour publicity from AussieTheatre.com which will spotlight the winner’s creative process as they develop and tour their show. The runner-up will also receive a $500 cash prize, and a photographic package from Blueprint Studios valued at $500.

The Grand Final will be held at acclaimed live music venue The Basement in Sydney on Saturday 17 January.  The judging panel for the evening includes Executive Producer of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival John Glenn, Artistic Director of the Noosa Long Weekend Festival, Ian MacKellar, Ballarat Cabaret Festival Director, Graeme Russell, YTICC Patron Ron Dobell, Executive Producer of the Festival of Voices, Lucinda Wilson, an Artistic Director of the Melbourne Cabaret Festival, and the Founder and Executive Director of Grayboy Entertainment, Graeme Gillies.  Previous contest winners Sheridan Harbridge and Marika Aubrey will co-host the evening of exceptional entertainment that will also include special guest performances from previous winners Melody Beck, Toby Francis, Nick Christo, and our hosts for the evening.

Tickets are strictly limited and are available at yticc.com.

Image: 2014 Winner Melody Beck