David Campbell Unveils the Full Schedule and Program for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival

David Campbell, well known in the United States and in Europe for his stage appearances, concerts and cabaret performances, as well as his recordings, is a big star in his native Australia. He hosts a very popular Radio Show out of Sydney and recently wed actress Lisa Hewitt. His father is equally a legend, Jimmy Barnes, a popular Australian rock singer with the highest number of hit albums of any Australian artist. The newest feather in Campbell's hat is that he is the newly named Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, hosted annually by the Adelaide Festival Centre. He was determined to tempt Bernadette Peters to come open his inaugural season and she agreed and both her performances are nearly sold out already. The stage concert is directed by her longtime collaborator Richard Jay-Alexander and will be conducted by Marvin Laird.

The performance is being filmed for television by the Foxtel Network, who are also prinicipal partners in the festival. We also hear that the concert may appear on our shores, as well as on DVD.  There are so many 'highlights' over this two week affair, from June 5-20, and you can click here to look at an exclusive 'page by page' layout of the entire program, which features acts from all over the world and hosts many Americans such as John Bucchino, Julie Wilson, Steven Brinberg as Simply Barbra, Lillias White and many more.

Another already 'sold-out' highlight is something called "The Dad and Dave Show" with Jimmy Barnes and David Campbell. This festival could be referred to the cabaret equivalent of The Sundance Film Festival and is music and cabaret from morning to night and even into the wee hours. 

David Campbell has continually been described as a world-class performer since he first burst onto the New York cabaret scene over a decade ago. Since then he has continued to go from strength to strength internationally and in Australia having had platinum sales for hisSwing Sessions albums and Good Lovin. David has also starred in a number of stage roles includingJohnny O'Keefe in the record breaking rock n'roll musical Shout!,winning top musical honours at the 2006 Helpmann Awards as Best Male Actor in a Musical for his performance in Sunset Boulevardand won acclaim from Sondheim himself for his performance of Bobby in a Sydney production of Company.

The festival will open with the Variety Gala Performance on Friday 5 June, at 7.30pm in the Festival Theatre. Hosted by David Campbell the Gala Performance offers a diverse sample of the 2009 Festival program featuring local and international stars, with the full line-up revealed on the night! This gala is for one night only, nowhere else in the world will you see an array of Cabaret artists performing in a gala of stunning proportions, with tickets starting from only $25.00.

Cabaret as an artform has evolved over the years from the Moulin Rouge days in Paris, to the English music halls and the New York cabaret clubs. And so it continues, once a year in the city of Adelaide where Cabaret is celebrated, offering audiences the chance to experience small intimate performances as well as main stage extravaganzas.

In America, 'cabaret' is a misnomer compared to the way that Australian's interpret the word, and Peters will be performing with a full 28-piece orchestra. No news of what songs will be in the program for these shows, but since it's been 12 years since her last television special, we can expect that the show will be similar to the knockout shows that she's been giving across America over recent months. Peters also appeared recently at the Kennedy Center for a Birthday tribute to Ted Kennedy where she knocked it out of the ballpark singing Rodgers and Hammerstein's "There is Nothing Like a Dame" in her own inimitable style. The evening featured other highlights including Colm Wilkinson performing 'Sweet Rosie O'Grady', Brian Stokes Mitchell singing 'The Impossible Dream' and more, with President Obama and his wife Michelle in the audience.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival is the best and most comprehensive Cabaret festival in the world and has attracted more than 340,000 attendances and hundreds of sold out performances during its eight years. With its long-term philosophy of offering the best local and International Artists at very accessible ticket prices, patrons can see a variety of performers including world class entertainers and also have the opportunity to take a chance, be adventurous and explore something new to the Cabaret scene.

The festival also has a reputation for discovering new talent and works in development. Just last year Shane Warne The Musical had its first airings at the festival and has since received much media and public attention. So come and be the first to witness a star in the making!

Bookings: BASS on 131 246 or online at www.bass.net.au

Ticket and Accommodation packages for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival are also available through:

South Australian Visitor and Travel Centre

Phone (within Australia) 1300 655 276 (outside Australia) 61 8 8303 2220

informationandbookings@tourism.sa.com

 

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