David Raleigh and Friends - A New York Christmas! @ The Basement (Sydney)

 

Lucy Maunder

David Raleigh, a singer songwriter from New York City, is spending the holiday season in Sydney this year. To make the most of the Christmas spirit, he gathered a group of artists from the cabaret and theatre community to put on a special charity event David Raleigh and Friends - A New York Christmas! at The Basement.

Sally Cameron

The idea for the show was born over a coffee six months ago when he was in Australia to perform in the Hat’s Off benefit. “I had a coffee with David Campbell, who suggested that I put together a concert with some Australia’s best musical artists as a way to introduce my music to the music lovers of Sydney, and Australia.” He decided then that it should be a charity event.

Trevor Ashley

The next step was to choose a charity. “I had always intended to choose a charity that would be able to benefit from such a night. Not being from Sydney, I asked a few of the artists to suggest their favorite charity, and they all responded with a different one. While going over the list, we decided the event should benefit each of the performer’s favorite causes.”

Anne-Maree McDonald

The show will feature a number of Sydney’s top performers. David Raleigh had met quite a few of them over the last few years, and that helped him secure the special guests for this show. “My friend and record producer, as well as one of Sydney’s top artists Nathan Leigh Jones introduced me to Sally Cameron from The Idea of North. I had the pleasure of working with her during one of her visits in New York. She was my first ‘yes’.” Jeremy Brennan of Jersey Boys introduced him to his co-star Bobby Fox and he was the next to sign on.

Bobby Fox

Then a string of performers followed suite. Trevor Ashley (Fat Swan, I’m Every Woman, Hairspray, Liza on an E, ShowQueen)  whom he shared the stage with three years ago at The Opera House, Lucy Maunder (Dr Zhivago), whom he met at a benefit, and her mother Anne-Maree McDonald (The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, The Mikado, The Rocky Horror Show, Hats Off), whom he worked with at Hats Off are all on board.

Margi de Ferrenti

He’d met Margi de Ferranti (MAMMA MIA!, Grease, Les Miserables, Fame the Musical, ShowQueen) at the Voices For Peace benefit and she too, is performing on the night.

Having come to Australia to experience a hot, sunny  Christmas, David’s not sure if he’s on Santa’s ‘nice’ list with the recent cold, wet weather in Sydney  “I don’t know if I was good enough this year for Santa to grant me my wish…”

Nevertheless, the stage will be red hot on the evening. “I’m most looking forward to the duets I am performing with each artist. It should be very fun to perform with so many stars in one night! And look out for Bobby Fox’s tap solo during “Drummer Boy!”

David Raleigh Bio

DAVID RALEIGH became one of the best and brightest pop/R&B recording artists of 2010 with the release of his highly acclaimed album, Beginning Again. A born entertainer and bon vivant, Raleigh’s signature soulful vocals and piano wizardry combined with his powerful songwriting has long been a fixture on the New York City nightlife and music scene. His dynamic new album has received rave reviews from critics and fans alike across the globe.

He became an must-see performer, welcomed in major venues, as well as the most prestigious jazz and cabaret clubs, including The Bitter End, Don’t Tell Mama’s, Joe’s Pub, The Friar’s Club, Arci’s Place and The Metropolitan Room. He performed weekly with Mario Cantone and Joy Behar at Green Street Cafe, had nightly stints at Lola’s and later Lola Belle’s, Metropolis Cafe, Stringfellow’s, The Supper Club, Tatou, and was regularly featured at the Bull and Bear at the Waldorf Astoria. Soon after, ‘Club Raleigh at the Oaks’ opened in Greenwich Village to outstanding reviews. 

Raleigh’s newest album ‘Beginning Again’, produced by Australian singer / songwriter Nathan Leigh Jones, has caught worldwide attention with its innovative blend of piano-pop and R&B. Upon the album’s release, Raleigh embarked on a European tour through London, Rome, Amsterdam, Prague, and Berlin. After a successful string of shows around Hong Kong in which Time Out HK praised him as “a musical romantic”, he continued on to Australia and took the stage at the world-renowned Sydney Opera House. His latest music video, “I Do!” was directed by award-winning actor Alan Cumming and Ned Stresen-Rueter, striking the right chord with music channel networks and regularly featuring in the top ten of Logo’s Click List.

Find David Raleigh’s new album ‘Beginning Again’ on iTunes, and discover why he continues to reach audiences across the globe with his extraordinary talent, captivating persona, and unforgettable songs.

www.davidraleigh.com

David Raleigh and Friends - A New York Christmas!

Date: 21 December

Venue: The Basement 7 Macquarie Place
Circular Quay

Time: 9.30pm

Tickets: General admission standing $25 + booking fee presale, or $30 on the door, if available

Dinner & Show tickets: $73.80 per person (bookings only available by phone. Call the Basement Box Office to book on Mon - Fri 10.00am - 5.30pm)

Bookings: Click here or call 02 9251 2797

*Calling all Adelaide Fringe 2012 cabaret performers! If you are interested in having your Fringe show featured on Cabaret Confessional, click here for more information.

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Trevor Ashley in Fat Swan @ The Seymour Centre 7-17 December 2011 (Sydney)

2011 has been Trevor Ashley’s year - he kicked it off with a sold out season of Liza on an E! at Midsumma Festival, won the Best Cabaret Production category for I’m Every Woman at Sydney Theatre Award, shined on stage as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, and recently performed with Maria Venuti as her musical director at Slide. 

He tops it off with a new cabaret panto Fat Swan at the Seymour Centre for 10 nights only. 

The world of ballet can be dangerous. Between pink pointe shoes, tutus and tulle lies the brutal truth that people would actually kill for a role… Based on Black Swan, the year’s biggest movie was dark, gripping and psychologically disturbing… but if you thought that was disturbing, just wait for… Fat Swan: an adults-only Christmas Panto. It’s everything the film was… only with songs, audience participation and men dressed up as women.

Fat Swan is a laugh-a-minute musical romp with an all-star cast featuring Trevor Ashley (Hairspray, Priscilla, Liza on an E!, I’m Every Woman), Tara Morice  (Strictly Ballroom, Dance Academy), Lisa Adam (Jersey Boys, Rocky Horror, Amy Housewine) and Brendan Moar (Host of TV’s The Renovators), together with a fabulous live band.

Written by Phil Scott & Trevor Ashley

Lighting design by Matt Marshall

Set and costumes by James Browne

Choreography by Cameron Mitchell 

Musical direction by Daniel Edmonds 

Directed by Garry Scale 

Trevor Ashley in Fat Swan

Dates: December 7-17 December 

Venue: Reginald Theatre Seymour Centre,  City Road Chippendale

Times: Wed & Thu @ 8.00pm, Fri @ 7.00pm, Sat @ 6.00pm & 8.30pm 

Tickets: Cabaret Seating (General admission) $48.50, General Reserved Seating $45, Group Reserved Seating (+8) $42.50

Bookings: Click here or call (02) 9351 7940

Fat Swan will also be part of the Famous Spiegeltent season in Melbourne in March 2012. Click here for details.

*Calling all Adelaide Fringe 2012 cabaret performers! If you are interested in having your Fringe show featured on Cabaret Confessional, please email lena@cabaretconfessional.com

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Interview: Maria Venuti and Trevor Ashley

Exuberant legendary Australian showbiz icon Maria Venuti has enjoyed a long and illustrious career on stage, TV, and film. She’s worked with Duke Ellington, performed around the world in countless cabaret shows and played a hit role in the SBS TV comedy series Pizza. This year Venuti celebrates two important anniversaries.

Her musical director, Trevor Ashley is a cabaret and musical theatre star in his own right. He has played charismatic female entertainers from Liza Minnelli to Tina Turner and recently starred as Edna Turnblad in the Australian production of Hairspray.

These two multi-talented performers will present I Am What I Am at Sydney’s premier cabaret venue Slide on October 26th. Cabaret Confessional had a chat to the tight knit duo.

Maria Venuti

How would you describe your show I Am What I Am?

Darling, this is the perfect show for me. This year I’ve had two milestones in my life - celebrating my golden anniversary in show businessand my LXX birthday.

In addition to singing some of my favourite jazz standards and show songs, I’m including ‘Be Italian’ from the musical Nine. That has prompted me to pay homage to my Italian heritage. This show sees me delving a little deeper into a more serious side of myself, and there are more soulful ballads and a total ‘he’s done me wrong and I’ve survived to be a successful woman of the 21^st century” section. Of course I couldn’t have a show without a couple of irreverent parodies…I guess I like to put a different ‘slant’ on a song. I Am What I Am allows me to do just that.

What inspired you to write the show?

My life’s journey…my ‘La Dolce Vita’.

My motto has always been ‘Live for Today and let life surprise me tomorrow’ so it’s surreal to actually have recently published my autobiography, “A Whole Load of Front” (written with author Christine Hogan). I hope you’re smiling at that title but there is a serious side to that name – we all need a whole load of front to survive in this crazy world…I guess that’s what I’m about – serious fun.

It was a journey of discovery even after working solidly as an entertainer in all facets of this tough, cutthroat, competitive industry. It’s the best of all professions…so putting this together gives me an exciting ‘way over the top’ feeling - the adrenalin starts pumping and inspiration lands…and there’s a show!

Trevor Ashley is your musical director for this show. What is it like to work with him?

Oh! He’s definitely Daughter #2…and I’m his Mama #2. Quick lunches, deep and meaningful conversations, interruptions, loads of drama, and that’s just the rehearsal!

On stage, it’s so spontaneous. That’s the thrill of the performance. We sing songs together with vocal harmonies. We chat on stage and there is unpredictable ‘banter’. I never know what he’s going to come out with… that’s what I love.

I met this amazing bundle of exceptional talent for the first time at a consulting session for The Talent Development Project at The Entertainment Centre. Trevor was a cheeky 15-year old singing the macho song ‘I Feel Pretty’ from West Side Story. When it was time to give my advice…I couldn’t think of anything to say, except “Trevor that was just perfect!” Just as well, as I certainly could not have imagined that a few years later we’d be working together, let alone having him as my musical director.

How did you discover cabaret?

I think I invented it! (joking!) You know what? Cabaret discovers YOU. In the Oxford Dictionary the word cabaret is stated as ‘an entertainment’. It’s the purest form of entertainment. In the early part of my career I was doing the late, late, late show – yes, at around 2am at THE Sydney night club of the time, Chequers in Goulburn Street. It was a small room. I would arrive early after my first gig and be mesmerised by the headliners such as Shirley Bassey. Sarah Vaughan actually started a song off key and had to start again. That taught me that even the greatest of singers can do wrong.

Who/what has been your biggest influence in your career?

It’s impossible for me to choose just one who or what.

I started singing at 17 and at the beginning of my career, it was jazz singers and musicians that I would listen to incessantly. Later on I realised that to achieve success in this business I so yearned for, I had to be unique and had to strive to be an individual, to be first rate. I’ve never had a mentor as such. I’ve done it the hard way, but of course I enjoy being one to young performers. Duke Ellington – I worked with him in Asia. Frances Faye, Liza Minnelli, the English jazz singer Cleo Laine..oh! so many singers to listen and learn from. I wish I had seen Mae West perform live.

Lately, I’ve been inspired by Richard Branson, who funnily enough, combines a lot of ‘show’ with his extraordinary ‘biz and his outlook on life and healthy lifestyle.

You became a household name in Australia with the hit TV comedy series Pizza. How did that experience change you as a performer?

What a thrill it was to be part of this ground breaking, irreverent, sometimes stomach churning and politically incorrect series. We also did a movie Fat Pizza, which was a huge success and was kinda like Pizza on steroids. A series had just finished and I was watching an episode. I was stunned to see my character Signora Gina Gigliotti, lovingly known as ‘Bobo’s Mama’, being so fiery, ferocious and physically violent!

It provided me with a whole new audience, but any Maria Venuti glamour went out the window along with any vanity I may have had. I had more make up on when I was born than I wore for that character. Being that far out of my comfort zone changed me as a performer.

What have been your funniest moments on stage to date?

One moment I’ll never forget…I had an enormous hairpiece on the top of my head singing a big number with dancers. As the big finish came, I flicked my head back then forward again with a vengeance. You can guess what happened. My hair landed in the front row…I likened it to a little poodle whistling for it’s return.

I learnt about Hollywood tape after I was on stage and surprised by Chanel 9’s Mike Monroe on This Is Your Life. After he said those magic words “Maria Venetia - This Is your Life” I uttered, “Does that mean I will have to cover my cleeeeeeeeeeevaaaage?” and promptly did a bow (always happens on my bows!). Then came the wardrobe malfunction of the highest order. I’m looking forward to more!

Trevor wants to write my next show…and have me come out in a slinky black dress au naturel. 

What is cabaret to you?

Cabaret creates love, intimacy and interaction with your audience. That is unique…it’s real time…it’s now…it’s a high! It can be cruel and tear your heart out, but there’s nothing more invigorating to a performer.

Trevor Ashley

You’re back in cabaret as a musical director after your big role as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray.  How has getting back into it with Maria been like?

It’s always a blast - after all, she is my Mummy #2! Working with Maria is always a laugh, and since we’ve done the show so often together it’s an easy ride. It’s a nice change after a long run.

As someone who has been on both sides, what do you think makes a good musical director/accompanist in cabaret, and what are you mindful of for this show?

The best MDs are ones who understand and anticipate what the singer is about to do. I always try and keep one step ahead of Maria - she likes to ad lib and pull things around in her show. I’m always on my toes.

Maria starred in the ShowQueens series, Sydney’s popular cabaret showcase night that you created, produced, starred in and hosted. It has been on hiatus while you were busy with Hairspray.  Will you bring it back?

Yes - it’s looking very likely that we will be back soon. I’ve missed it, and I think Sydney needs it back. There’s really no one doing anything like it anymore.

What is it about cabaret that appeals to you the most?

I like the immediacy and the intimacy of it. Performing to small houses that are so appreciative makes you often feel like you’re working a stadium! I also love that you can pretty much do anything in your show and audiences will go with you.

You’ve portrayed various famous women in your cabaret shows from Liza Minnelli to Shirley Bassey to Tina Turner. How do you relate to and capture the essence of those female performers so well?

I honestly couldn’t tell you. I guess my love for them as performers comes out of me. I have listened to and watched their work for so long I find it very easy to capture the essence of them.

How do you find the cabaret scene in Australia?

I think it’s very mixed. You have amazing highs like the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, but then not much going on in Sydney at the moment. Thank God for places like Slide and El Rocco for keeping it going.

What’s in store for you next?

I’m about to start on my brand new show FAT SWAN. It’s a cabaret but done in the style of a panto. It’s very adults-only however - no kids at this one!

Maria Venuti in I Am What I Am 

Date: October 24, 2011

Venue: Slide Bar 41 Oxford Street Darlinghurst

Time: 7.00pm - dinner and show, 9.00pm - show only

Ticket price: Dinner and show $73.95/ Show only $33 

Bookings: Slide:  Call 02 8915-1899

 Ticketek: Click here or call Ticketek on 13-2849

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Midsumma 2011: Liza (on an E) reviewed

The fabulous Trevor Ashley opened his smash hit show Liza (on an E) for Midsumma 2011 in Melbourne on the 23^rd to the capacity crowd. The rave reviews are pouring in.  Read them all here, and grab your tickets while you can - they’re selling fast!

*Extra show has been added on the 6^th of February due to popular demand*

Reviews from the Midsumma 2011 season

The Age

…parody is not the show’s main drawcard, and the altered lyrics aren’t what had the audience eating out of Ashley’s hand. That honour belongs to Ashley’s lung-busting big notes, and the way he channels Liza’s raw need to be adored. Ashley will jump through any hoop to keep you entertained, and he always keeps the outline of the awkward, emotionally frail girl shimmering behind the star.

Trevor Ashley is a born performer, and his Liza (on an E) is the most charismatic drag cabaret since Paul Capsis’ Boulevard Delirium.

Click here to read the full review by Cameron Woodhead.

Australian Stage

Trevor… has worked long & hard to capture, and grossly exaggerate, the mannerisms and speech patterns of a showbusiness legend. The local references and family jokes went down a treat to the capacity opening night throng of adoring fans. Many of the jokes are howlingly funny, some a little cruel (Lorna Luft: when she puts on a show, nobody comes). But at all times the crowd is in the palm of the hand of the lady centrestage, as Trevor moves effortlessly evoking not just Liza, but also Judy Garland (at times).

Click here to read the full review by Vito Mattarelli.

Star Observer

Trevor Ashley’s Liza on an E has cemented itself as one of the highlights of the Midsumma Festival after an opening night performance of pure star quality.

The crowd ate up every one of Ashley and co-writer/director Dean Bryant’s skillfully-written reworking of Minnelli’s classics and infused the intermittent banter with charming comedy that could easily have been lazily lumped together.

Click here to read the full review by Drew Sheldrick.

Herald Sun

He does not impersonate Liza. Rather, he channels her spirit: her inane giggle, affected sibilance, crusty vocal quality, rambling chatter, forgetfulness, boozing, awkward dancing, glittering costumes, wardrobe malfunctions and pixie hairstyle.

Click here to read the full review by Kate Herbert.

Theatre People

Simply put, Liza (On an E) is a sensational show. The combination of hilarious verbal and physical humour with tour de force renditions of an amazing catalogue of songs makes for non-stop entertainment. Ashley has the crowd in his hands for the whole show, which runs two hours plus, and one dare not look away for a second for fear missing the batting of an eyelash or the stumble of a high heel. Totally immersed in the character and spellbinding to watch, Ashley expends massive energy bringing Liza to life, thrilling the capacity crowd all the way.

Click here to read the full review by Simon Parris.

Liza (on an E) will be on at the Hi-Fi Bar & Ballroom, Melbourne for two more performances on January 30 and February 6. Click here for show and booking information.

Lena Nobuhara

Cabaret Confessional Associate Editor

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Trevor Ashley wins 2010 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Cabaret Production

The winners of 2010 Sydney Theatre Awards were announced last night on the 17th of January at the Paddington RSL auditorium.

Out of four nominees, a renowned cabaret artist Trevor Ashley was awarded Best Cabaret Production for his show I’m Every Woman, which he performed as part of Sydney Opera House’s House Cabaret series in July 2010.  In the show, Trevor Ashley pays tribute to a dozen divas from Judy Garland to Lady Gaga, sings up a storm and makes multiple costume changes on stage.

He currently stars in the Melbourne production of Hairspray as Edna Turnblad, and  is about to perform his smash hit show Liza (on an E) for 2011 Midsumma Festival.  

The Sydney Theatre Awards are run by a group of theatre critics to celebrate the strength, quality and diversity of theatre in Sydney. The Sydney Theatre Reviewers are Elissa Blake (Sun Herald), Jason Blake (Sydney Morning Herald), Deborah Jones (The Australian), Alex Lalak (Daily Telegraph), Jo Litson (The Sunday Telegraph), John McCallum (The Australian) and Diana Simmonds (Stagenoise website).

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of 2010 Sydney Theatre Awards!

Best Cabaret Production Nominees

Winner: I’m Every Woman – Trevor Ashley (Sydney Opera House)

Newley Discovered – Hugh Sheridan (Sydney Opera House)

Smoke and Mirrors (Sydney Festival)

The Man in Black (Folsom Prison Productions at the Sydney Opera House)

Click here to see the complete list of nominees and winners.

Official website: www.sydneytheatreawards.com

Lena Nobuhara

Cabaret Confessional Associate Editor

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