400 INTERNATIONAL AND AUSTRALIAN CABARET ARTISTS TAKE PART IN THIRD ANNUAL ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL

From New York, London, Paris, New Zealand and across Australia to Adelaide come over 400 sensational cabaret performers for the third annual Adelaide Cabaret Festival, to be held at the Adelaide Festival Centre, from June 6th through 22nd. Full program details available in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival brochure. Get one free by calling the Adelaide Cabaret Hotline on 08-8216-8901 or go to http://www.adelaidecabaret.com/. Tickets on sale now around the country from BASS Dial-n-Charge 131-246 or online http://www.bass.net.au/. Interstate guests call BASS Special Events on 08-8400-2222 for details of accommodation packages.

An overwhelming response to the festival in 2002, with over 40,000 attendances and a number of sell-out shows, has prompted the programming this year of an even bigger festival with more artists on the bill than ever before. The 2003 Adelaide Cabaret Festival program will feature some 143 memorable performances, including 16 Australian premieres, over 17 fabulous days and nights. And it's one exclusive stop only, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, for the 30 international guest artists on the program, many in Australia for the first time.

This year's entertaining and engaging cabaret program, a heady mix of classic and contemporary shows, highlights a strong link with New York cabaret.

Announcing highlights of the program, Adelaide Cabaret Festival Director, Julia Holt said:

"Since 2001 we have brought to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival a spectacular cast of cabaret performers from overseas and across Australia. In 2003 we strengthen our ties with the popular international hub of cabaret, New York. In the 'New York Series' you can see a New York artist every night of the festival, including the divine Broadway Divas and the golden voice of sassy chanteuse KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler. And, in what is undoubtedly a major coup for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, we present the world premiere of the first full orchestral production of the brilliant music theatre piece 'Songs for a New World', by Broadway composer and musical director, Jason Robert Brown. In a unique Australia/US collaboration, the Tony Award winning Jason Robert Brown will be joined on stage by our very own 35-piece Adelaide Art Orchestra, all-star Broadway guest soloists Emily Skinner and Lauren Kennedy, as well as Australian television star Spencer McLaren (Secret Life of Us)."

"We are also delighted to announce the spectacular main stage event Testimony Ý The Legend of Charlie Parker featuring original music arrangement by Sandy Evans, musical direction by Paul Grabowsky with the Australian Art Orchestra. This acclaimed music theatre event is presented for one exclusive night only in the Festival Theatre in celebration of the Adelaide Festival Centre's 30th birthday, " Ms Holt said.

The fabulous variety of cabaret on offer over the seventeen days also includes wickedly funny comedy cabaret with Wil Anderson, and the even more wickedly funny Merrick & Rosso; the ever popular Fabulous Singlettes; legendary Australian performer Doug Parkinson; the mystifying mind games of America's Marc Salem, and the UK's fast, furious and frantic Tigerlillies, last seen here in the 2000 Adelaide Festival.

Further highlights of this year's amazing program include: from Paris, the darling, femme fatale and sultry hit of the 2002 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Caroline Nin makes a welcome return with the Australian premiere of 'Hymne Ì Piaf'; raconteur and internationally renowned author and critic, UK's Sheridan Morley; Britain's renowned West End performer Stefan Bednarczyk in 'An Evening with Flanders and Swann'; the intoxicating Christa Hughes (Machine Gun Fellatio) with 'Beer Drinking Woman'; one of our best known and respected jazz performers, Janet Seidel; celebrating the life and songs of Barbra Streisand, Avigail Herman with 'Hey World, Here I Am'; the Black Queen of the Kimberley, Mary G, as seen on the popular television show 'The Mary G TV Show'; musical comedy trio Tripod; Adelaide's Gentlemen Prefer Curves back with a brand new show; and killer cabaret starring the inmates and screws of Wentworth Prison including Queen Bea and Lizzie, Chic-Cargo Ý A Wentworth Penitentiary Cabaret, from the same talented crew who staged Roulin Mouge in 2002.

Off the main stages, behind the scenes and late at night, the 2003 Adelaide Cabaret Festival entertainment continues. The popular Kool Kat Festival Club is back, plus an expanded Masterclass Series bringing together dedicated cabaret aficionados with such acclaimed performers as New York's Jason Robert Brown and director Gordon Greenberg, Australia's Avigail Herman, and Adelaide Cabaret Festival patron Nancye Hayes. Adorning the walls of the Festival Theatre foyer will be a collection of photographs from the 2002 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, and the Performing Arts Collection of South Australia looks much further back in cabaret history with a magnificent display from the Vaudeville era.

New initiatives, affordable ticket prices and a new venue continue to keep the Cabaret Festival within everyone's reach:

« Back by popular demand is the fantastic offer, Bring A Friend Free on Wednesdays. It was a hit in 2002 with an estimated 7,000 people taking advantage of the 'purchase one full price ticket and a second for the same show is free' offer.

« Free Ticket Entry to the Kool Kat Festival Club Ý If you've been to see a show earlier in the evening, show your ticket at the entrance to the Club and get in free (normally $10 entry)

« Once again value for money with ticket prices for main shows starting from $23.

« Go underground to Catacombs, this year's newest Adelaide Cabaret Festival venue. Ordinarily a rehearsal space, it will be transformed into a quirky, intimate new cabaret venue seating over 100.

For more information, see http://www.adelaidecabaret.com/.

 

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