By Don Church & Tony Schillaci

Tony Award-Winner Leslie Uggam

The two Connecticut theaters that stand out as top professional training grounds for the most promising new cabaret talents are The O’Neill’s Cabaret Conference in Waterford and the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University in New Haven.

The first cabaret – in alphabetical order – is at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.

It opens on Wednesday, August 4 and thisperformance is FREE to the public. There are eight additional performances, including two featuring Cabaret Fellows – the most promising new entertainers chosen through auditions. The season concludes Saturday, August 14 with faculty and Fellows headling the Grand Finale Cabaret.

Michael Bush, the cabaret and performance conference’s artistic director, said of this year’s theme, “‘Say It With Music’ inspired by the Irving Berlin song…we certainly have a lot to say. Our work is now being recognized on Broadway and in the top cabaret rooms and concert halls, not only in America, but also internationally.”

August 4; FREE opening ceremonies and previewperformances.
August 5: Tony-winner Leslie Uggams in her critically acclaimed show “Uptown Downtown.”
August 6: Tony-nominees Penny Fuller and Anita Gillette, “Sin Twisters.”
August 7:  This year’s talented Cabaret Fellows in performance.
August 8: O’Neill Follies and Picnic, two-act evening featuring talents of entire conference, as well as Allen Harris, Aja Nisenson, Jay Rogers, and Lois Robbins with dinner break; picnic basket can be ordered in advance.
August 10:  Nicki Parrot: “Peggy Lee, Big Instruments and Other Weapons of Mass Distraction.” August 11: Broadway and West End leading-man Brent Barrett.

Jason Graae is a Broadway song and dance sensation.

August 12: Cabaret Fellows show how much they have developed their performance skills this season.
August 13: “Stoned Soul Picnic: “The Songs of Laura Nyro.”
August 14: The Grand Finale Cabaret – always ashow-stopping evening of great performances.

For tickets call 860.443-1238 or online at www.theoneill.org.

The other 2010 cabaret is the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University.

Auditions were held in throughout this country and overseas for the intensive nine-day teaching program in the art of cabaret performance.

The prestigious faculty includes Tovah Feldshuh, Rita Gardner, Jason Graae, Carol Hall, George Hall, Laurel Massé, Sally Mayes, Amanda McBroom, Sharon McNight, Pamela Myers, Erv Raible, Pamela Tate and Julie Wilson; piano faculty included Ron Abel, Tex Arnold, Michele Brourman, Mark Burnell, Steven Lutvak, Shelly Markham, Michael Orland, Alex Rybeck and Paul Trueblood.  And Erv Raible is the executive artistic director and master teacher who is also a director, coach, publicist, consultant and talent representative.

Saturday, July 24: Acclaimed cabaret singer, Broadway and West End leading lady “Julie Wilson in Concert,” award-winner Tovah Feldshuh in “Tovah: Still Out of Her Mind.”
Sunday, July 25: “Cabaret in Concert: Our Illustrious Faculty: Tex Arnold, Tovah Feldshuh, Jason Graae, Carol Hall, George Hall, Shelly Markham, Laurel Massé, Sally Mayes, Sharon McNight, Pamela Myers, Michael Orland, Faith Prince, Erv Raible, Alec Rybeck, Pamela Tate, Paul Trueblood and Julie Wilson.
Thursday, July 29: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way…,” One of Broadway’s greatest song- and-dance performers, Jason Graae in “Magically Delicious!” and Theater World Award-winner Sharon McNight’s “The First Thirty Years – From Moose Hall to Carnegie Hall.”
Friday, July 30: “FABULOUS BROADWAY BABIES: Theater World award-winner “Sally Mayes in Concert,” Tony-winner Faith Prince in “Total Faith.”
Saturday, July 31: The talented Cabaret Stars of Tomorrow in concert.

All performances are at 7:30 p. m. in the Iseman Theater, 1156 Chapel Street, New Haven. Ticket are $35 General, $25 Seniors, $15 Students. Call 203-432-1234. www.thecabaretconferenceatyale.com.

Jason Graae photo courtesy of Jason Graae Facebook Page.
Leslie Uggams photo courtesy of Leslie Uggams Pressroom Website.

Bookmark to: