Sydney Australia 1999 CABARET CONVENTION Preview

Here are details of the 1999 SYDNEY CABARET CONVENTION to be held June 8 through 12 at the Sydney Town Hall. Our Australian correspondant, David Schwartz will be sending us reports once again this year.

1999 SYDNEY CABARET CONVENTION
Australia's premier performance showcase
Sydney Town Hall 8-12 June 1999
Tickets from Tickatek: 02 9266 4800

INTRO:

The City of Sydney (the local government authority for the Central Business District) initiated and fully produces the Cabaret Convention as an important major event of Sydney cultural calendar.

The SYDNEY CABARET CONVENTION is primarily a showcase for cabaret performers. There aren't a lot of cabaret venues in this town, although two have opened up this month: LA BAR in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst and the TOWN HOUSE ROOM at the Sebel of Sydney in Elizabeth Bay; but there is s lot of work out there in the corporate world.

Performers from all over the country are invited to apply to the convention and from these applications about 50 are chosen to perform before an audience of potential employers ("bookers") and the cabaret-loving public. Each performer gets seven minutes to perform two songs.

FORMAT:

Each weeknight features about 13 showcase performers and a local "guest" tops the evening.

Friday afternoon will feature an industry seminar for the "bookers" and the topic this year is a cabaret touring circuit, which has just begun in Queensland with COMBO FIASCO on the initial tour. How was this set up? How can it be maintained? What are the pitfalls?

Saturday afternoon will feature a Masterclass with arguably the best singer in the country, Kerrie Biddell and four young singers being taken through their paces. This session is open to the public but Convention performers can get in for free.

All of the above will be in the Cabaret Room in Lower Town Hall which is set up in cabaret mode for about 350 people at table. Food and wine will be available.

Saturday night will feature a Gala Finale with some of the best in the business and featuring our two New York guests, Elena Bennet and Fred Barton.

THE PRIZES:

Two awards are presented on the Saturday night Gala.

The City of Sydney Award.

This will go to a solo singer who will receive a return trip to New York, five nights accommodation, and an invitation to sing at the 1999 New York Cabaret Convention. The City of Sydney gratefully acknowledges the support it receives from Donald Smith and the MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION, producers of the New York event.

The Ted Davis Award.

This is offered from a cabaret lover, Mr Ted Davis, and gives someone in the showcase a return airline ticket to New York.

THE GUESTS:

Nancye Hayes.

Nancye was one of the first Australians to headline a big musical back in the sixties. Up until then we had American imports. Nancye's big break came with SWEET CHARITY. She has been a star ever since. She was the Showcase host for the 1997 Sydney Convention and has just finished 18 months as the mother in the Hal Prince's production of SHOW BOAT. She also hosts a showbiz radio program on Eastside Radio and will be topping the opening night, Tuesday.

Toni Lamond and Tony Sheldon

Toni comes from a long line of performers. She joined her parent's vaudeville act when she was two. She was also one of the first Australians to get a lead role. Her break came in 1958 with THE PYJAMA GAME. She was the first woman in the world to host her own tonight show on television, IN MELBOURNE TONIGHT. She spent 20 years in L.A and is the older sister of Helen Reddy. Her son Tony Sheldon is a bit of a star in his own right performing the lead roles in the Australian productions of TORCH SONG TRILOGY and the musical I LOVE MY WIFE. More recently he writes and directs. He will also be directing the Gala. They will be topping Wednesday night.

Margi de Ferranti and Leone Page.

Margi was the Convention winner in 1997. She was in the original Australian production of LE MIZ, the girl friend in THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY and has just landed a role in the soon-to-be-in-Sydney musical FAME. Leone's big break came as the lead in the Australia production of 42ND STREET (with Toni Lamond and Nancye Hayes) which lasted over two years. She and Margi have just done their own cabaret show "Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes?" They will be topping Thursday night.

Genevieve Lemon.

Genevieve's big break came with the role of Dawn, the slightly retarded but very funny daughter in the original Australian production of STEAMING. She played the leading role in Jane Campion's first feature SWEETIE and was nominated as Best Actress for that year's Australian Film Instutute (AFI) Awards. She lost out to Meryl Streep. She was also in Jane Campion's THE PIANO and her latest movie HOLY SMOKE (yet to be released).Genevieve was also the lead in the Sydney Theatre Company's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG two years ago and was the showcase host for last year's Convention. Genevieve will be topping Friday night.

THE GALA PERFORMERS

Julie Anthony.

One of Australia's best-known faces due to a long running ad campaign for a major bank. Star of the Australian and London revival of IRENE some years ago she is always in great demand from the corporate world. Seems to always sing the national anthem at large televised events. She performed at the 1998 New York Cabaret Convention.

Bernadette Robinson.

Nurse Bernadette was discovered singing in her shower by her rock-star next-door-neighbour. She has managed to forge a career as a cabaret performer, with a little bit of television thrown in. Has remarkable vocal-mimicry ability from Maria Callas to Judy Holiday. Has recently toured her own show on Patsy Cline.

Collin Salter

Usually works as an accompanist and arranger and just recently started performing solo. Writes wonderfully witty parodies which he performs at the piano. He received last year's Ted Davis Award and spent two months in New York.

Maree Johnson

Operatically trained Maree has played the female leads in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, WEST SIDE STORY. Again only recently has she gone solo. Maree was the winner of the City of Sydney Award last year and performed at the 1998 New York Cabaret Convention. She has sold her house here in Sydney and plans to move to New York.

Phil Scott

Is the host for the Gala. A wonderful piano player, wicked lyricist and very funny man. He has just published two comic novels and starred recently in a Sydney Theatre Company production of his own show about Libarace, Simply Wunnerful.

The musical director for the event is Ron Creager. Originally from Kentucky, Ron is now resident in Australia. He was recently in New York playing for a young Australian performer Tim Draxl. Ron has written the score for a musical based on a famous Australian novel Careful He Might Hear You which is getting its premier in Canberra (our national capital) in October.

Daily Reports on the 2000 Sydney Cabaret Convention

Daily Reports on the 1999 Sydney Cabaret Convention

Daily Reports on the 1998 Sydney Cabaret Convention

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