Cabaret Showcase back for another year
The Annual Cabaret Showcase is set to present a new line-up of cabaret talent in Sydney this December.
The Annual Cabaret Showcase is set to present a new line-up of cabaret talent in Sydney this December.
Now in its 8th year, this year’s Showcase promises to be the biggest yet! Produced by Your Management, the event provides the opportunity for cabaret and musical theatre talent at all stages of their career, to showcase their abilities in front of an audience and before a panel of judges assembled from Australia’s leading entertainers and entertainment industry professionals.
The showcase has built a reputation for the high standard of its performers and as a springboard onto Australia’s professional theatrical stages. Past winners include James Millar, Nick Christo, Elenoa Rokobaro and Sheridan Harbridge. All past winners are now well established in the professional world of theatre and cabaret.
In a showcase first, the 7th Annual event drew two winners, Tom Sharah and Elizabeth Cousemacker. Both were standouts who have gone on to perform sell-out shows. The prize included a place for each to write and perform a new cabaret show at The 2010 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, one of the largest and most prestigious cabaret festivals in the world. The 2009 Showcase Grand Final also led to the announcement that The Noosa Long Weekend Festival would also host the winners’ respective shows at their annual festival.
This year the stakes are raised again with two new sponsors signing on as major partners. Both The Melbourne Cabaret Festival and the newly revived Brisbane Cabaret Festival will provide further opportunities for the showcase winner to perform their show, making The Cabaret Showcase the biggest cabaret prize of its kind in Australia.
Tom Sharah said of his win, “It was incredible to have the opportunity to perform at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival Gala Event, sharing a stage with legends like Natalie Cole, Donna McKechnie and Todd McKenney.”
Showcase Producer, Jeremy Youett said: “Giving new talent a platform to develop is an initiative I strongly believe in. The Cabaret Showcase now welcomes a further two major partners this year, providing a wonderful opportunity for its winner. Last year’s winners were more than deserving of the prize. They each went on to write their own unique shows, which received great industry and press acclaim. Their win has also enabled them to springboard into successful careers in the industry.”
Prizes at this year’s Annual event will again include the opportunity for the winner to perform their show at the 2011 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, The Noosa Long Weekend Festival and for the first time, The Brisbane Cabaret and Melbourne Cabaret Festivals, with all accommodation and flights included. Winners also receive a photographic and design packages courtesy of Blueprint Studios, platinum listings with online casting directory AT2 and tickets to master classes being taught by acclaimed Broadway Composers Jason Robert Brown, John Bucchino and Georgia Stitt.
This year producers welcome back host Hayden Tee (Les Misérables, Cats, Little Women), who has hosted the annual event now for 6 of its 7 years. Guest judges this year include legendary Australian performer and Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director David Campbell, Noosa Long Weekend Festival Artistic Director Ian Mackellar and acclaimed industry guests including Chloe Dallimore, Margi De Ferranti, Les Solomon and Phil Scott.
Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director David Campbell said: “We’re thrilled to be associated with the Annual Cabaret Showcase again this year, and look forward to discovering ‘the next big thing’ on the Australian cabaret scene.”
Each performer is asked to perform two songs of different styles with interlinking dialogue. Heats will be held at Sydney’s renowned cabaret venue The El Rocco Room (formerly Bar Me) and winners from each heat will perform in the grand final on Monday, December 20 at Sydney’s leading live music venue, The Basement.
This year’s competition is open to people in all stages of their career but places are limited.
For more information, or an entry form visit: www.yourmanagement.biz.