Dean Bryant, Tom Sharah, et. al. Set for Melbourne's fortyfivedownstairs

fortyfivedownstairs has announced concerts and art exhibitions featuring Dean Bryant, Tom Sharah, and more for the upcoming month. See below for the full listing:

In Vogue: Songs By Madonna
Dean Bryant
Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 January

Written by Dean Bryant, one of the brightest of the new generation of Australian music theatre makers, In Vogue: Songs by Madonna is his third production at fortyfivedownstairs. Performed by Michael Griffiths, In Vogue is receiving fantastic response from audiences and critics alike.

Dates: Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 January
Times: * Please note varied performance times
Wednesday 25 & Friday 27 9.30 pm
Thursday 26 & Saturday 28 7.30 pm
Tickets: Full $29, Conc/Group 8+ $25

Book online here or call 9662 9966

Tom Sharah in Que Sera, Sharah
Tom Sharah
Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 January

Michael Griffiths is playing the piano twice a night, with In Vogue: Songs by Madonna alternating with Que Sera, Sharah, accompanying Sydney performer Tom Sharah. Tom won the 2009 Sydney Cabaret Showcase competition, and has since performed with great success at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Noosa Long Weekend Festival, as well as several sell out Sydney seasons. It's a very personal show, focusing on his own musical icons, including The Spice Girls, and music of the 90's.

Dates: Four shows only! Wednesday 25 - Saturday 28 January
Times: Wednesday & Friday 7.30 pm, Thursday & Saturday 9.30 pm
Tickets: All tickets $20

Book online here or call 9662 9966

Small Gallery: Pamela See
White Wash
Until 4 February

Pamela See has studied contemporary Chinese paper-cutting in regional centres across China, but her exhibition is far removed from the folk images we're familiar with. Instead See has reproduced the brush strokes of white wash paint that are used in China to obliterate unauthorized, mainly commercial postings of notices in public places. In Brisbane, where she lives, whitewash is also used to cover graffiti.

White Wash deals in the most subtle manner with issues of dominance of the individual voice, with intricate and elegant white on white papercuts, and laser-cut stainless steel sculptures. Pamela See is represented in numerous public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, Parliament House, and the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Large Gallery: Kristin Diemer
A Dingo Fence and Mallee Roots: Victorian Farming on the Fringe
Until 4 February

Kristin Diemer's poetic photographic essay began as a one year project to document a family farm. It was to be a record for the fourth generation, which would not continue the family tradition. It turned into a 6 year project, ending with the sale of The Farm last year. It is a moving and often beautiful documentation of a way of life that is increasingly threatened. Ironically, 2012 is the Australian Year of The Farmer.

Free Public Event: Kristin Diemer and Helen Davey
Artist Talk and Concert
Saturday 4 February - 2pm

Kristin Diemer grew up in rural Minnesota, and travelling in Australia has marvelled at the similarity of character and stoicism of people building lives in remote communities. She will be incorporating photographs and memorabilia from the McKenzie family property in her talk on Saturday week.

Following the discussion, musician Helen Davey will interpret the exhibition with a special solo performance featuring direct interpretations of the work in the gallery.

Admission is free.

Leggings Are Not Pants
Women's Circus Pty Ltd
Wednesday 1 – Sunday 5 February

The Women's Circus comes to Flinders Lane with Leggings Are Not Pants. Again, one week only, as part of MidSumma Festival, so get in early! The Women's Circus brings their distinctive take on gender politics, the divide between masculinity and femininity – being queer in a contemporary world… all told with laughter, acrobatics and muscles, and a completely original take on pole dancing!

Dates: Wednesday 1 - Sunday 5 February 2012
Times: Wed-Fri 8pm; Sat 4pm & 8pm; Sun 6pm
Tickets: All tickets $28

Book online here or call 9662 9966

Two by Two
Little Ones Theatre
Thursday 9 - Sunday 19 February

Developed with support from the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, Two by Two is a remarkable new play from young writer Dan Giovannoni. Set in Melbourne in the near future, following a mass flooding, and inspired by the Noah's Ark story, Two by Two weaves together the political and the personal, the domestic and the apocalyptic. Directed by Stephen Nicolazzo, the cast includes Gary Abrahams, Paul Blenheim, and Zahra Newman.

Dates: Thursday 9 - Sunday 19 February
Times: Tuesday - Saturday 8pm, Sunday 5pm
Tickets: Full $28, Conc $23, Preview (9 & 10 February) $18

Book online here or call 9662 9966

Small Gallery: Morganna Magee
Motherhood
7 - 18 February

The mother and child is one of the oldest and most constant images in art: Morganna Magee's photographic project focuses on motherhood in a post-feminist world when decisions about motherhood have never been more closely scrutinized.

She's photographed mothers and children in the style of classical portraiture, showing modern mothers captured in a timeless way. Each portrait is accompanied by an interview in which every mother is asked to respond to the same list of questions.

Large Gallery: Jean Lyons
Earth's Shadow
7 - 18 February

Jean Lyons' new oils on canvas are reminiscent of Zen Buddhist brush and ink landscapes, creating enchanting, dreamlike scenes with harmonious representations of earth, fire, water, air and space.

fortyfivedownstairs Anniversary Showcase
Saturday 25 February

We're celebrating ten great years on 25 February with a performance party featuring many of the early musical performers here including Fiona Roake, Faye Bendrups & Guillermo Anad (tango piano & violin) Michael Dalley (Urban Display Suite) Benn Bennett (Black Bag, Melbourne Comedy Festival), singer Henry Manetta as well as the inimitable Moira Finucane, star of GotharamaThe Burlesque Hour and Carnival of Mysteries.

It's going to be a night of revelry and we'd love to see you there. Tickets are $45, and include a welcome drink on arrival. More acts to be announced, details to follow on the website shortly...

Dates: Saturday 25 February
Times: 7:30pm
Tickets: $45 (includes complimentary drink on arrival)

Book online here or call 9662 9966