THE FIRST ANNUAL BOSTON CABARET FESTIVAL SET FOR APRIL 7

For the first time, Boston will have its very own festival devoted entirely to cabaret, when the Boston Cabaret Festival debuts on Sunday, April 7th, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm, at SCULLERS JAZZ CLUB (400 Soldiers Field Road, Allston, MA - 617-562-4111 - http://www.scullersjazz.com/). Ten of Boston's finest vocalists will demonstrate the art, intimacy, and magic of cabaret, along with the attention to lyrics that defines this style of singing. Modeled after jazz festivals, but with its own glittering cabaret ambience, the Festival will feature fifteen-minute solo sets by each performer, in a 3-hour celebration of the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. The event caps off March as National Cabaret Month.

Sophia Bilides, wearing several hats as producer, performer, and host, initiated the Festival as a way of highlighting the exceptional concentration of cabaret talent in the area. She's hoping this can become an annual event, given the vibrant cabaret scene in Boston these days.

"The cabaret talent pool in Boston is both deep and wide, and so is the repertoire. I thought it was time to bring them together in one setting, to provide a gathering where the audience can experience what happens when a singer, with only a pianist and a microphone, creates an entire world of emotion from a 3-minute song," says Bilides. "Multiply that emotion and romance and laughter times ten performers, and you can't help but feel enriched. That's the power and magic of a good song and a good singer: besides being entertained, we become reacquainted with our own emotions."

Bilides enlisted the talents of performers whose work she admires and whose combined reputations would make any city proud: Brian De Lorenzo was named Talent America's 2001 "Performer of the Year," Belle Linda Halpern has been called "Boston's best singing actress," and Carol O'Shaughnessy is dubbed "Boston's First Lady Of Cabaret."

Communication, the essence of cabaret, is also a hallmark of programs by these performers: Erica Leopold, John O'Neil, Jan Peters, and Ida Zecco are all known for their skillful and moving interpretations of both older and newer songs. Dedication to uncovering the gems that make up the cabaret repertoire is another aspect of this genre: Ben Sears is a music historian and commentator on the Gershwins and Irving Berlin, Will McMillan is exploring new works by Boston area songwriters, and Bilides herself is preparing a show on the songs of lyricists Comden and Green.

Piano accompaniment will be provided by Doug Hammer, Tom LaMark, Brad Conner, and Ron Roy.

Tickets are $30 and reservations can be made through the Scullers box office at 617-562-4111 or online at http://www.ScullersJazz.com/.

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

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