The 2016 Adelaide Cabaret Festival

The 2016 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, which kicks off on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend with the popular Variety Gala, will feature more than 425 Artists in 150 performances over 16 days and nights.

The 2016 Festival showcases 6 world premieres, 8 Australian premieres, 35 Adelaide premieres as well as 13 Adelaide exclusives. The program also features 11 international shows.42 international artists from as far afield as the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom and Germany join the best from Australia, with over 383 Australian artists including 182 from South Australia. 

According to the festival’s publicity, co-Artistic Directors Ali McGregor and Eddie Perfect aim to inform us in 2016 not what Cabaret is, but what Cabaret could be.

Co-Artistic Director Eddie Perfect says, “My relationship with Cabaret as a performer and writer has convinced me that the possibilities of what Cabaret can be are only limited by imagination. What Cabaret has going for it in spades is immediacy. It’s an art form that values communication with an audience above all else, and it can be refreshingly, shockingly and seductively direct.

“That’s why the Adelaide Cabaret Festival has become an indispensable institution and that’s the reason I couldn’t be prouder to curate, along with Ali, a program of the best of what is happening RIGHT NOW in cabaret around Australia and the world. We’re excited to invite our audience along to have a conversation with us about where cabaret is, where it’s going, and how it can so intimately and effectively tell us something about who we are.”

Co-Artistic Director Ali McGregor says, “Cabaret is at a turning point with a long and rich history, and a bright and exciting future. We have made a point of celebrating the icons of Cabaret, and aspects that have shaped it; political satire, songbook interpretation, comedy, burlesque - while reveling in the new and unique ways artists are working in the genre. We also wanted to represent a snapshot of where cabaret is on the international stage, how different works are being created and to showcase just how strong and inspiring many Australian acts are on the international stage. But above all of this, we have programmed acts that we LOVE.”

The Festival kicks off on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend with the perennially popular Variety Gala, a glittering night of stories and song. Artistic Directors Ali McGregor and Eddie Perfect play host to a showcase of international and local stars. The annual “Cabaret Icon Award” will also be presented to a cabaret luminary.

The popularity of the Gala has ramped up each year and so this year audiences can delight in two Gala’s.  The Festival will conclude with The Last Galah, hosted by Ali and Eddie and paying tribute to Australia’s greatest songwriters featuring performances by local and international cabaret stars.

In a first, not just the adults are privy to a preview of the Festival, for the first time the Festival features the Family Gala, an opportunity for the whole family to dress up and walk the red carpet. Once again hosted by Ali and Eddie it will sample the Festival’s finest. Offering jazzy beats, interpretative dance, comedy and roller-skating, ukulele-playing-madness and maybe even ‘a bear in there’.

In approaching this year’s artistic vision Ali McGregor says, “Cabaret is often made up of seemingly random pieces of other genres; Music, Theatre, Dance, Comedy and Cabaret. These performers take these elements, and with them create something unique and beautiful. We wanted to capture this, alongside the beauty of seeing behind the façade of theatre into where all the real magic happens. We created our season image from thrown-away set, lighting, storage and the detritus of the theatre. We shaped it by hand (and sweat and tears and 10 hours in an empty rehearsal room) and along the way found treasure from theatrical trash.”

Eddie Perfect says, “Each piece of the 2016 program represents a surprising and intelligent suggestion not of what Cabaret IS, but of what Cabaret CAN BE. You may be drawn in by one particular artist in the program, but Ali and I have designed the program so that it’s the moment of WHAT COMES NEXT that leads you to an exciting discovery. We’re excited not to dictate to our audiences, but to invite you all to come and experience WHAT COMES NEXT.”

Adelaide Cabaret Festival features a line up of Sexy Sirens and Chanteuses.

Megan Hilty, critically acclaimed star of stage and screen, is set to shine when she performs in Adelaide. Megan rose to prominence on Broadway for her musical roles, including her performance of Glinda in Wicked and Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5: The Musical.  Megan is also well known for her starring role as Ivy Lynn on the musical-drama TV series Smash. Her voice has been featured in multiple Disney and DreamWorks Animations.

Another Glinda is also taking centre stage, Helen Dallimore. Don’t Bother to Knock is her tribute to the platinum pioneer performers who’ve led the musical way from Marilyn Monroe and Mae West to Dolly Parton and Madonna.

Adelaide will play host to the world’s most famous burlesque star Dita Von Teese. Described by Vanity Fair as the Meryl Streep of burlesque, Dita is the embodiment of a retro Vargas pinup girl from the 40s. Her Adelaide premiere will be a 90 minute spectacle of her most impressive work joined on stage by “the hardest working man in show business”, MC Murray Hill (Club Swizzle) along with a cast of Dita’s favourite burlesque acts from around the globe.

In Decadence, Artistic Director Ali McGregor will guide audiences through torch songs, jazz reworkings and trashy mash-ups in an evening of cabaret.

Lisa Fischer has performed as a back-up singer for icons such as Tina Turner, Chaka Khan and the Rolling Stones since 1989. Her personal moving story was told in the Oscar-winning 2013 documentary Twenty Feet From Stardom and now stepping into the spotlight Lisa, accompanied by co-conspirators Grand Baton, a virtuosic psychedelic soul trio, will perform iconic songs, including her Grammy wining original ‘How Can I Ease The Pain’ in Ms Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton.

Also on the program are Cabaret Masters. Barb Jungr returns to perform the works of song writing legends Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen in Hard Rain. Adelaide’s own Robyn Archer will delight audiences in two shows. Dancing on the Volcano will see her truly authentic interpretation of Germanys’ cabaret from Brecht and Eisler, Frederich Holleander, Wilhelm Grosz, Kurt Tucholsky and more. On the opening weekend Archer, along with a range of Festival artists, will pay special homage to the famous cross-genre composer Kurt Weill in the World Premiere of The Weill File.

For more than a decade, Adelaide Cabaret Festival Crooners have been swooning audiences. This year’s lineup is no different including Australian star of stage and screen Tom Burlinson performing Sinatra at the Sands. Kick back to the big band sound of Frank Sinatra featuring the Sensational All Star Big Band. Bobby Fox, Australia’s original Frankie Valli, will have you swinging to his grooves and high altitude falsetto. Share Bobby’s journey 4 Seasons in 1 Night as he provides you with a behind the scenes insight into the world of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Cabaret has been characterised by political events and satire since it began and this year’s Festival will once again tickle the funny bone. The Wharf Revue are back celebrating 10 years and in typical style there ain’t no party like a Wharf Revue party. And after sell-out seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe and coming direct from the UK Margaret Thatcher Queen of Sohois a mischievous political pantomime with an ‘iron lady’ punch.

The Composer is Dead stars Frank Woodley with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in a combo of classical music and comedy with an intriguing murder mystery for the whole family. Tripod join the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra inThis Gaming Life, a love letter to video games. Amy G stars in Entershamement, a mad mash of physical, musical, stand-up and improvisational comedy that will leave you in stitches.

Friends of Barbra The Way We Weren’t revives Barbra Streisand’s iconic power duets combining comic silliness with musical know-how, with star of ABC TV’s musical comedy Sammy J & Randy in Rickett’s Lane – Sammy J.

Dash Kruck has been described by the Herald Sun as “the dashing love child of Eddie Perfect and James Corden” performs I Might Take My Shirt Off.

Parody gets a nod in an intimate evening with blockbuster sensation Adele, Rumour Has It. Naomi Price as Adele is part MTV concert, part bedroom lament.

Contemporary Cabaret are artists at the cutting edge of their genre. Starman sees Sven Ratzke inhabit Bowie’s multiple personas – a mad, bizarre, androgynous universe of incredible music and outrageous costume and Yana Alana, infamous for her nude, rude and lewd cabaret appearances will appear fully clothed inCovered.

Cabaret will be stripped bare as local clown hero Hew Parham washes away your sins in Rudi’s The Rinse Cycle. Andrew Strano’s Nailed It is a celebration of the insane, brutal and hilarious things we do when we’re falling in and out of love and Die Roten Punkte is wild rock-und-roll Cabaret.

Two of Australia’s rising cabaret stars Maeve Marsden and Libby Wood explore the history of gin through story and song, Mother’s Ruin: A Cabaret about Gin. Sheridan Harbridge’s Songs for the Fallen is a wild and hilarious tale of a woman who knew one thing: good girls don’t make history.

Talented Songwriters also feature. The master of melancholy, gifted composer and singer Hue Blanes will appear in And The Moon, while Emmy award-winning composer, lyricist, performer, producer and music director Lance Horne launch his album First Things Last.

Cabaret always features Variety and so does this year’s Festival. Miss Behave’s Gameshow is inventive, funny and shrewdly subversive entertainment, it contains warnings of course language, nudity and haze effects - anything may happen. The Birds is avant garde variety in full flight created and directed by Moira Finucane and Jackie Smith who return with a brand new gothic, erotic airborne variety show.

The Backstage Clubis variety personified.  Expect the unexpected as cabaret’s elite team-up for unique collaborations and celebrations of all things cabaret. Hosted by Amy G and Miss Behave, Jan van de Stool and Libby O’Donovan.

‘Great Duets’and ‘Power Ballads’, enter Kate Ceberano and Paul Grabowsky, to reinterpret some of the great love songs of the past 50 years in Love Songs; Rhonda Burchmore and Trevor Ashley, in Twins will pay tribute to the icons of outrageous glitz and glamour, reinventing the likes of Sonny and Cher, Judy and Liza, Kermit and Miss Piggy; David Hobson and Colin Lane collide In Tails - as they each have a go at what the other does, see the comedian and the opera singer swap roles.

A marriage of mirth and melody, Harry Shearer is a comedy writer-actor who voices some of our favourite characters in The Simpsons and is equally famed for his role in cult mockumentary This is Spinal Tap whilst Judith Owen is a soulful singer and confessional songwriter who has collaborated with Ruby Wax and toured with Roxy Music’s Brian Ferry, they make a formidable duet.

Southern Belles is packed full of powerhouse vocals, from powerhouse women Jane Clifton, Nichaud Fitzgibbon and Carla Lippis, celebrating the sassy, red-blooded female musicians of the late 60s and early 70s.

‘Classic Cabaret’ and ‘Song Cycles’ go hand in hand. The Juliet Letters featuring Zephyr Quartet stars the South Australian line-up of Michaela Burger, Cameron Goodall, Jude Henshall and Jamie Jewell perform a song cycle that meditates on the dying art of letter writing and very nature of correspondence. Musical director John Thorn steps into the spotlight joined, onstage by his talented daughter Bonnie and special guests featuring witty works, bittersweet ballads and songs inspired by the 1920s.

It wouldn’t be cabaret without a ‘Tribute’ - enter Joe Stilgoe and Songs on Film. The internationally acclaimed singer, pianist and songwriter pays tribute to 100 years of music that aided and abetted the legendary status of Hollywood cinema. Toby Francis’s award-winning cabaret lifts the curtain on ‘Bat Out of Hell’ composer Jim Steinman. Love and Death will boast a collection of some of the biggest rock songs of all time. Join the fun as Debora Krizak pays special tribute to icons of screwball hilarity Betty White, Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers and our very own Jeannie Little in Laugh Be a Lady.

In A Latin Fiesta, award-winning jazz vocalist Emma Pask combines Spanish, Portuguese and English vocals, in a vivid musical voyage deep into hot Latin America.

In the Balance is a collaboration between Restless Dance Theatre and The Audreys, exploring the intricacies of how people behave and interact at a party.

In another Cabaret first, the Festival introduces Movie Nights. The films will be introduced by the stars themselves: Betty Blokk Buster Follies introduced by the Cabaret Icon Award Winner Reg Livermore; Michelle Ryan introducing her inspirational story of dance and disability Michelle’s Story; Ms Lisa Fischer will introduce the Oscar winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, and David Bowie’s cult hit Labyrinth will be introduced by Sven Ratzke.

Now in its seventh year, the 2016 Class of Cabaret once again features rising stars from secondary schools across South Australia. Lighting the path is Charmaine Jones with support from performers Michael Griffiths and Amelia Ryan. Class of Cabaret Graduates Naomi Crosby, Benji Riggs, Mellie Tantalos, Harry Nguyen and Jemma Allen are coached by cabaret artist Libby O’Donovan.

There are a number of FREE events. Every night in the piano bar a variety of free cabaret entertainment ishosted by piano-man Trevor Jones.  Stay on in the piano bar for Late Night DJs every Friday and Saturday night from 11.30pm as well as Sunday night of the opening weekend. Songwriter Series will see creative minds of cabaret and musical theatre composer’s show-and-tell how they get their creative juices flowing guided by co-Artistic Director Eddie Perfect. Award-winning international composer and sought after musical director Lance Horne will share his industry insights and experiences in an Insights Workshop. Still want to know what’s inside a song or a story? Join Eddie Perfect, Ali McGregor, Barb Jungr and Reg Livermore on stage as they swap Art Stories and reflect on those moments that led to their success, hosted by theatre director Chris Drummond. Throughout the Festival there will be a plethora of great local musicians taking part in Bands in the Wintergarden. 

ABC 891’s Peter Goers brings his evening program for a live broadcast ‘audio vaudeville cabaret style’ in the piano bar with a smorgasbord of guests from the Festival. Whilst ABC 891 Presenter Sonya Feldhoff hosts Cabaret Catch-up where Sonya coaxes artists to reveal their creative impulses and artistic desires.

GreenRoom Speakeasy: experience exciting new work from our talented team of GreenRoom members, these emerging cabaret performers will sing songs and share stories on Wednesdays in the Wintergarden.

Aged between 18 – 30? Adelaide Festival Centre’s Greenroom program provides cheap tickets, free workshops and special events. Join online www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/greenroom

Full program and tickets are on sale to subscribers from Sunday 3 April and the general public from Wednesday 6 April through BASS 131 246 or online www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

Program details are available in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival brochure, get one free by calling BASS 131 246 or log onto the Cabaret Festival website. 

Images (from top): Eddie Perfect, photographer Claudio Raschella; Ali McGregor, photographer Alan Moyle; Megan Hilty; Robyn Archer; Yana Alana; Twins, photographer John McRae; Debora Krizak, photographer Jeff Busby; Variety Gala, photographer Claudio Raschella.