The Global Cabaret Festival Kicks Off Today

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced details of the sixth annual Global Cabaret Festival. From today, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts once again becomes home to over 150 of Canada's leading performance artists staging over 15 original one-hour songbooks and cabarets.

Artists in this year's festival include Waleed Abdulhamid, Colleen Allen, Micah Barnes, Ins Choi, Molly Johnson, Dennis Lee, SharRon Matthews, John Millard, Sophie Milman, Miranda Mulholland, Andrea Nann, Patricia O'Callaghan, Gregory Oh, Jackie Richardson, Mike Ross, Retrocity, and many more.

The 2013 Soulpepper Dance Awards will also be announced at the Festival as part ofWhirl, a cabaret showcasing the nominees. Established last year, these awards recognise Toronto-based artists for their contributions to the city's dance scene.

The 2013 Soulpepper Dance Award nominees are: Lauren Cook, Laura Desiree, and Alice Irene Whittaker-Cumming for Emerging Dance Artist; Kate Alton, William James, and Santee Smith for Senior Dance Artist; Roshanak Jaberi, Yvonne Ng, and Michelle Silagy for Community Dance Artist; and Julia Aplin, Luke Garwood, and Brandy Leary for Multi-Disciplinary Artist.

From rock to jazz, from innovative dance to original theatre, see up to three shows an evening or six shows a day. The Global Cabaret Festival runs from Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27. Visit globalcabaret.ca for more details.

THE GLOBAL CABARET FESTIVAL LINEUP:

SONGBOOKS

Bob Dylan Songbook
Toronto's most exciting singer-songwriters reinterpret the work of one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th-century. Produced by music director and Soulpepper Resident Artist Mike Ross, and featuring Jamie Drake, Bret Higgins, Amanda Leblanc, Miranda Mulholland, Andrea Nann, Andrew Penner, James Quinn, and special guests.
Oct. 24 at 9:30 p.m. & Oct. 27 at 2 p.m.

"Rebel Rebel" The Music of David Bowie
David Bowie is to pop music as MiLes Davis is to jazz: An innovator, an icon and an infidel. His unique artistic voice traversed decades, firmly embedding him as one the most important musical and creative voices of the 20th-century. This cabaret will celebrate the classic hits and iconic Bowie repertoire as well as some explorations and re-interpretations of his roads less travelled. A show to satisfy the die-hard fan and the tried-and-true hit-lover. Produced by music director and Soulpepper Resident Artist Colleen Allen and featuring Russ Boswell, Davide Direnzo, Steve Hunger, John Southworth, Kurt Swinghammer, the Young Centre City Choir, and special guests.
Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. & Oct. 26 at 4:30 p.m.

Oh Canada Songbook
A retrospective and tribute to some of Canada's musical giants, from Joni Mitchell to the McGarrigles to Veda Hille, this genre-bending show will shed light on the great music of our home and native land. Produced by music director and Soulpepper Resident Artist Suba Sankaran and featuring Dylan Bell, Alana Bridgewater, Ed Hanley, Bryan Humphreys, Levon Ichkhanian, Retrocity, Denzal Sinclaire, the Young Centre City Choir, and special guests.
Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. & Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.

CABARETS

Dido and Aeneas - 21st-Century Remix
One of the most beloved operas of all time is re-imagined through the lenses of bluegrass, Cape Breton fiddling, country, pop and South Indian classical music. With a band that swings from harpsichord and string quartet to banjo and electric guitar, it's opera in a new light. Produced by music director and Soulpepper Resident Artist Gregory Oh and featuring Ken Aldcroft, Mary-Katherine Finch, Mike Follert, Matthew Fong, Larissa Koniuk, Lucas Marchand, Soulpepper Resident Artist John Millard, Miranda Mulholland, Soulpepper Resident Artist Patricia O'Callaghan, Zorana Sadiq, Alex Samaras, Soulpepper Resident Artist Suba Sankaran, Joe Sorbara, and Cindy Won.
Oct. 24 at 8:15 p.m. & Oct. 26 at 9:30 p.m.

Brief Lives
In its first co-production with Soulpepper, Toronto Masque Theatre presents Patrick Garland's acclaimed show based on John Aubrey's beloved (and wonderfully gossipy) journals. With popular music and ballads from Aubrey's 17th-century London, the production features Soulpepper Founding Member William Webster, Katherine Hill (soprano & viola da gamba), Terry McKenna (lute and guitar) and Toronto Masque Theatre's Artistic Director Larry Beckwith (violin). Directed by Derek Boyes and designed by Gabriel Cropley and Ken Mackenzie.
Oct. 25 at 8:15 p.m.; Oct. 26 at 3:15 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.; Oct. 27 at 3:15 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.

Dennis Lee's Lost Songs of Toronto
Poet and Soulpepper Resident Artist Dennis Lee and the Soulpepper Resident Artist collective of Waleed Abdulhamid, John Millard, Patricia O'Callaghan, music director Mike Ross and Suba Sankaran present a musical journey through traditional songs of Toronto's past, composed in our time. A tuneful new take on the city's vibrant 200-year history.
Oct. 25 at 9:30 p.m. & Oct. 26 at 3:15 p.m.

Jackie Richardson and Micah Barnes Together!
This concert promises to be a rollicking good time as two of Canada's most celebrated performers join forces for an intimate evening of soulful jazz and blues, with some special guest appearances from the best of the jazz world.
Oct. 27 at 5:45 p.m.

The Judgment of Paris
As the thunderclouds of the Great War pile up and burst, the musical revolutionary Claude Debussy and his one-time follower Maurice Ravel compete for the love of their proud, fickle, darling, Paris. The Judgment of Paris is a mix of cabaret, history and story-telling with timeless music by Debussy and Ravel, as well as original songs by the performers. It is new and old, heroic and tragic, history and fiction - and may the best composer win. Directed and performed by Soulpepper Resident Artist Patricia O'Callaghan with Tom Allen, Kevin Fox, Lori Gemmell, and Bryce Kulak.
Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Ins Choi's Subway Stations of the Cross
A performance of songs and spoken words that ventures through the mind of a homeless vagabond into the heart of God. Written and performed by Soulpepper Resident Artist Ins Choi.
Oct. 24 at 8:15 p.m.; Oct. 26 at 5:45 p.m.; Oct. 27 at 5:45 p.m.

Molly Johnson and Friends
First rate jazz musicians - some of the top players in Canada - perform classic standards from the American Songbook, with special guest Albert Schultz. Featuring Molly Johnson, Soulpepper Resident Artist Colleen Allen, Robi Botos, Mike Downes and Larnell Lewis.
Oct. 25 at 9:30 p.m.

SharRon Matthews - Something Completely Different
After five years straight of touring her raucous, hit comedy cabarets all over the world (to great acclaim and even greater experience) this Hamilton gal has decided to do something completely different for the 2013 Global Cabaret Festival. Hence the title. She is going acoustic with the simple, but wonderful, accompaniment of guitar and percussion. With stories straight from the heart, she will cover artists that may just surprise you. Featuring SharRon Matthews, Jason Chesworth and Jamie Drake.
Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. & Oct. 27 at 4:30 p.m.

Sophie Milman - Dream a Little Dream: Music for the Child Inside
Straight from the soul of a new mom, a joyride of jazz and children's classics (adult style, of course) that recall those early moments when kids first encounter music: in the cozy comfort of a tiny bed, with the lights turned way down, through a mother's voice. Featuring Sophie Milman and Paul Shrofel (piano).
Oct. 27 at 3:15 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.

Spoon River Cabaret
An original musical interpretation of Edgar Lee Masters' seminal 1915 collection of haunting poems from the grave. In this cabaret, a town forgotten comes back to life in music and poetry. Produced by music director and Soulpepper Resident Artist Mike Ross. Featuring: Ben Carlson, Jason Chesworth, Frank Cox-O'Connell, Mikaela Davies, Raquel Duffy, Peter Fernandes, Katherine Gauthier, Hailey Gillis, Gordon Hecht, Richard Lam, Anthony MacMahon, Oyin Oladejo, Colin Palangio and Gregory Prest. Designed by Lorenzo Savoini, Anahita Debonehie and Shannon Lea Doyle with direction by Albert Schultz assisted by Erin Brandenburg.
Oct. 24 at 8:15 p.m.; Oct. 25 at 8:15 p.m.; Oct. 26 at 5:45 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.; Oct. 27 at 3:15 p.m. & 5:45 p.m.

The Whole Shebang Cabaret - STONED
The Whole Shebang Cabaret - STONED is an experiential and visceral celebration of life's intoxicating highs and lows, centred around Canadian dance pioneer Danny Grossman's seminal work HIGHER for 2 dancers, 2 chairs and a ladder, performed to a suite of tunes by Ray Charles. This multi-arts cabaret features music, dance, theatre, poetry, video and experiential art expressing STONED as a sensation of the welcomed weightiness and levity of life's experiences and the "pursuit" of things that make us feel. Created by and featuring Soulpepper Resident Artist Andrea Nann, Kate Alton, Danny Grossman, Michael Redhill, Brendan Wyatt, Soulpepper Resident Artist Patricia O'Callaghan, members of Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, the Young Centre City Choir, and the Sam Cash Band.
Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. & Oct. 27 4:30 p.m.

Whirl, The Dance Cabaret & the Soulpepper Dance Awards and Dance Party
Produced by Soulpepper Resident Artist Roberto Campanella, Whirl will showcase the work of all 12 2013 Soulpepper Dance Award nominees and announce this year's winner for each award category. Soulpepper Dance Award recipients will each receive a Discovery Lab valued at $8,000 including two weeks of studio or theatre space, 40 hours of technician services, front of house services for an "open studio" (public showing of work), use of lighting/video/projection equipment, and a $3,000 commissioning budget. The nominees are: Lauren Cook, Laura Desiree, and Alice Irene Whittaker-Cumming for Emerging Dance Artist; Kate Alton, William James, and Santee Smith for Senior Dance Artist; Roshanak Jaberi, Yvonne Ng, and Michelle Silagy for Community Dance Artist; and Julia Aplin, Luke Garwood, and Brandy Leary for Multi-Disciplinary Artist.
Oct. 26 at 9:30 p.m.

Following Whirl, celebrations will continue at the Soulpepper Dance Awards Party in the Atrium of the Young Centre; all Festival guests and artists are invited.

Full Festival Pass (6 tickets): $120
Day Pass (3 tickets/in one day): $63
Advance Single Ticket: $22
Day-Of Single Ticket: $25
TD Comfortable Price for Students: $15
*All tickets include service charge and HST

Tickets are available by calling the Young Centre box office at 416.866.8666 or by visiting globalcabaret.ca. Soulpepper Theatre Company is located at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane, in the Distillery Historic District, Toronto, ON.