CHICAGO
- MIDWEST CABARET REVIEWS
HOTLINE CRITIC GOES TO (CABARET) CAMP
Report
by Carla Gordon
Carla
Goes to Summer Camp (con't)
Faculty members are good diagnosticians and provide each singer with
constructive recommendations. The opera trained singers face the unique
challenge of relying on lyric rather than voice. The musical theater
crowd is challenged to find the intimacy of cabaret. Others are challenged
to project. While there is no browbeating in classes, the quality
bar is set high.
Evening seminars explored marketing and publicity, arrangements,
and a host of topics with meaning to rising cabaret artists.
The participant program includes a cabaret concert that
is open to the public. The faculty collectively structures the show,
assigning each participant one particular tune. Usually, when I have
the opportunity to sing only one song in a showcase, I prefer to sing
something I wrote (to strut my songwriter chops, of course). However,
I was happy to be asked to sing "I Don't Want to Get Thin" by Jack
Yellen and Milton Ager which was commissioned in 1929 by my muse,
Sophie Tucker. It's a funny number, and I was glad to fill one of
the few comedy spots. Following my turn, it was great to introduce
Nicole Dillenberg and link our mutual interest in vintage tunes. Dillenberg
presented a pairing of "Keep the Home Fires Burning" (lyrics by Lena
Ford and music by the prolific Ivor Novello) and an unusually wistful
interpretation of "K-K-Katie" with which the audience was eager to
sing along in order to "bring Jimmy home."
The participant show had a lovely arc, beginning with
Hillary Hogan singing "Take Me To The World" (by Stephen Sondheim
from the musical Evening Primrose) and ending with Pam Peterson's
powerhouse rendition of "Defying Gravity"(from the musical Wicked
with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz). Amy Alvarez' rendition
of "It's Amazing the Things that Float" about optimism in the face
of the loss of post-Katrina damage remains with me weeks later. Each
vocalist's presentation showed meaningful growth after a mere week
of study. While the concert ended with a communal rendition of the
Gershwins' "Our Love Is Here to Stay," none among us could face the
prospect of the Rockies crumbling. But we knew our sense of fellowship
was to last a "long, long while."
The last day of the workshop is devoted to debriefing.
The morning is a group session in which both participants and faculty
reflect on the week and on the previous night's concert. It is an
emotional sharing of gratitude. I, for one, felt that the Professional
Cabaret Workshop well honored my treasured art .
The afternoon session allows for short one-on-one one
participant conferences with each faculty member. (That Mark Fifer
put together the scheduling tells me he can handle the Invasion of
Normandy.) . It was tough to say goodbye to Norma Curley for whom
I felt a particular affection. It was a thrill to have fellow Chicagoan
Shelly Markham gently and generously dissect a lyric idea I brought
to him. The opportunity to examine songwriting craft with Markham
was a privilege.
I could have spent the whole day with Andrea Marcovicci
discussing the American Songbook, music research, vintage music, and
the state of the art. Marcovicci recommended that I put together a
program of vintage music from the 1920s and before, citing that it
is an underserved area of American music in the cabaret vein. I plan
to do just that.
One last pleasure happened on my walk back from debriefing
when I saw two bear cubs scamper between some trees. Not the Chicago
Cubs .... these are the real deal.
Most sessions in which all participants took part were
held in a glass-walled pavilion with views of the mountains dressed
in rich summer greenery. All found sweet music and fellowship there.
Much of the time, a tiny hummingbird buzzed in the rafters. It called
to my mind the old humming bird riddle. It was clear to me that why
this humming bird was hanging out with us was, yes, he wanted to learn
the words.
THE PERRY-MANSFIELD PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL
& CAMP can be reached at 40755 RCR 36 Steamboat Springs,
CO - 970-879-7125 - http://www.perry-mansfield.org/ad_cab.html
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Entire Article Copyright,
2007 by Carla Gordon
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