Category: Courses/Classes

Courses/Classes, Events, Opportunities, Review, Whats On

REVIEW: Drawing Straws at THE BUTTERFLY CLUB

Life drawing gets glamorous

By Christine Moffat

drawing_straws

Drawing Straws is a life-drawing class crossed with a burlesque salon that takes place in the downstairs parlour of The Butterfly Club.  Surrounded by knick-knacks and trinkets, seated on comfy cushions, the friendly organiser Sarah Pemberton takes the group through some ‘drawing star jumps’.  This is right and left-hand drawing exercises of fully-clothed quick poses from Sarah and sometimes volunteers.  It’s a workout for your hands and eyes to get you limbered up for the main event.

These sessions are for people with varied levels of artistic skill and experience.  You are asked to show your drawings to the group, which can be daunting at first.  Be brave, they’re kind!  You may be surprised at what people admire in your work, as difference is valued.  Also, the room is an intimate space and it starts to feel quite private after a few minutes.

The next part of the evening is the ‘main event’.  A fabulous burlesque artist performs a song for the group, and is then your life model for the rest of the evening.  There is a different performer every week, and our group was graced with the beautiful and talented Autumn Evergreen.

It’s not exactly a drop-in class – you need to let them know you’re coming – but you are not tied into going every week.  This reviewer recommends that you go with a friend, grab one of The Butterfly Club’s many delicious cocktails, and be prepared for an entertaining night.  The feel of the evening is very low key, with drawing and chatting with the model and each other being the main focus.  It’s a lot of fun, and a good way to give your creativity a night out on the town in style!

Tuesday nights 7 – 9pm

The Butterfly Club

12 Carson Place (off Little Collins St) Melbourne

Cost $15.00 (includes help of professional tutors, drawing materials plus a performance)

All bookings & enquiries phone 0434 555 075

Cabaret, Courses/Classes, Opportunities, Whats On

MELBOURNE CABARET COURSE: February/March 2011
 Applications are closing soon for the next Melbourne Creating Solo Cabaret course  in 2011
  
Kitty Bang

 Treat yourself to cabaret!   With graduates such as sell-out comedian Kitty Bang (Kate Boston Smith), the enigmatic Madame Natalia of the Burlesque Bar, and amazing Tom Dickins from The Jane Austen Argument, the Melbourne Creating Solo Cabaret course continues to gain in professional and industry reputation.  

Run in Australia’s premiere cabaret venue The Butterfly Club by coordinator Dr. Kim Edwards, this intensive six-week course is open to all performance artists looking to explore the world of cabaret and create unique, marketable, and eclectic showcases for themselves and their work. 
 
Graduates of the course are going on to full-length shows to packed houses, award-winning festival performances, touring gigs, and corporate and professional cabaret work.  
 
Watch out for new Melbourne shows by recent alumni Christine Moffat and Eleni Avraam early in 2011, while the Box Hill TAFE students who completed the course as part of their music theatre degree will be making professional cabaret appearances later in the year.
Tom Dickins

 The next Melbourne Creating Solo Cabaret course begins on Tuesday February 15, with the final performance season at The Butterfly Club running from 24-27 March.  

If you’ve always wanted to get into cabaret and never known where to start, click HERE for all the course details, including the curriculum outline, fee structure, and application details.   As always, places are strictly limited due to the individual focus of the course, so apply now.

Madame Natalia
Cabaret, Courses/Classes, Events, Opportunities, Performances, Whats On

Mastering the Art: September Cabaret Master Class

“Frankly, I don’t think you can afford not to see what’s going on if you’re really serious about performing…”

 – Bob Harrington, The Cabaret Artist’s Handbook

 

Melbourne Cabaret Masterclass

with Dr. Kim Edwards 

Learn:

* How to choose repertoire for cabaret

* How to perform songs cabaret-style

* How to analyse song lyrics

* How to workshop audition pieces

* How to improve your performance skills

See behind-the-scenes of crafting cabaret, as performers learn how analyse, develop and recreate songs in this public workshop.

 

Date: Wednesday Sept 1

Time: 8pm

Venue: The Butterfly Club, 204 Bank St, Sth Melbourne

Duration: 70 mins

Tickets: Conc $17.00, Full $22.00, Group $17.00

Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=148690575157426

 

  

Cabaret Course Performance Nights

A taste of cabaret…!

Box Hill TAFE graduates of the Creating Solo Cabarets course present extracts from their developing shows: an eclectic, unexpected and entertaining evening of performances from emerging cabaret artists.

Featuring:  

Thur: Stephanie Price, Kate Osborn, Jennifer Coles
Fri: Tracy Tarr, Cassie Elliget, Jennifer Coles
Sat: Stephanie Price, Kate Osborn, Elizabeth McFarlane
Sun: Tracy Tarr, Cassie Elliget, Elizabeth McFarlane

 

Accompanied by: Rowland Brache

 

Date: Thur – Sun Sept 16-19

Time: 7.00pm (6pm Sun)

Venue: The Butterfly Club

Tickets: $22

Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111521225570446&ref=mf

Cabaret, Courses/Classes, Events, Festivals, Opportunities, Performances, Whats On

Cabaret Personal Development Opportunities

Exciting opportunites to develop your cabaret skills, networks and profile…

1. FREE PUBLIC PANEL DISCUSSION

Melbourne Cabaret Festival is hosting a FREE public panel discussion about ‘making it’ as a cabaret performer,  featuring Paul Capsis, Wes Snelling, Geraldine Quinn and facilitated by Fiona Scott-Norman.   Panel members will share industry wisdom and experience on what worked and didn’t throughout their years as an emerging performer.
Date: Sat 24 July
Time: 5pm – 6pm
Venue: South Melbourne Town Hall
Cost: FREE

2. SO YOU WANNA . . . DO SMARTER, MORE EFFECTIVE MARKETING

WHAT: Auspicious Arts Incubator  seminar/training workshop on value based marketing for creative arts businesses. Learn how to do smarter, more effective marketing with a focus on what your potential customers want, and build a real value-based marketing plan.  Improve your marketing results in selling tickets, getting funding, and building a client database.   (Highly & personally recommended for any self-promoting artist)

WHERE: South Melbourne Town Hall
WHEN: 9am – 4pm, Thur 29th July
HOW MUCH: $90 (but receive a $70 rebate on arrival!)   BOOK HERE

3. MELBOURNE CABARET FESTIVAL

The best way to learn how to perform excellent cabaret? –  watch excellent cabaret performers!   Catch some of the finest local & international cabaret artists on stage this week for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival:

‘Best of the Fest’ Nightly Shows
See a bit of everything and tickets are only $22.

Toni Lamond AM – 8.30pm Sat 24 July
Toni is cabaret royalty and an Australian entertainment icon. 
 
Yummy (Sally Bourne & Susan-ann Walker) – 8.30pm Fri 23 July
From Shane Warne: The Musical, Jerry Springer: The Opera and Menopause: The Musical to Mum’s the word…

Yana Alana & the Paranas in Concert – 8.30pm Thur 22 July
Mutli-award winning show – very edgy, political and sexy!

Book here, and join the festival on Twitter for some rumoured last minute deals…

4. SHORT+SWEET CABARET

This festival will be held at Chapel Off Chapel, Thur 18 – Sun 28 Nov: great opportunity to get noticed in the cabaret & theatre community.   Call for submissions in Aug.  

Email butterflyperformer@gmail.com & check HERE for more details.

Cabaret, Courses/Classes, Events, Opportunities, Performances, Whats On

GRADUATE GOSSIP : July News

‘Ello, Friends!

Meet the glamorous con-woman extraordinaire alter-ego of stunning Lisa Nightingale, who’s set to wreck havoc and hilarity in Melbourne this week with Ana Lucia and the Baron: Episode One…

Ana-Lucia has lost her memory but is being hunted down by the Evil Baron, who may or may not be her one true love, for diamonds that she can’t quite remember stealing. She can’t remember who you are, or more importantly who she is, so hopefully with your help Ana-Lucia can unravel her mysterious and fabulous past…!  

“Zis one will be…’Ow you say?… A ‘Oot!”

Thurs 15 July to Sat 17 at 7.00 pm, Sun 18 at 6.00 pm
$22 full / $17 conc: www.thebutterflyclub.com

Written by Lisa Nightingale
Directed by Kim Edwards

(with TREVOR JONES as JUAN PABLO!!)

 

Absolutely Gabulous!

After sell-out Comedy Festival shows, explosive cabaret performer Kitty Bang (aka Kate Boston Smith) is back with  a show for all those who love, but are also often mystified by, their mum…

Mama Gabs herself is rumoured to be making an appearance or two, and as ever, Kitty’s shows are selling out, so book fast at www.thebutterflyclub.com.

8pm Tues 13 / Wed 14….and again on
8PM Tues 27 / Wed 28 JULY

Accompanied by the ever-gorgeous and oh-so-wonderful Peter Lubulwa!

 

Mastering the Art: Cabaret Master Class

Put Wednesday, Sept 1st in the diaries for the next in the popular Melbourne Cabaret Master Class series…

Learn:
* How to choose repertoire for cabaret
* How to perform songs cabaret-style
* How to analyse song lyrics
* How to workshop audition pieces
* How to improve your performance skills

Tickets on sale soon!

Cabaret, Courses/Classes, Events, Festivals, Opportunities, Performances, Whats On

GRADUATE GOSSIP: April News

Cabaret Course Applications Closing

Applications are now closing for the 2010 Melbourne Creating Solo Cabaret course.   Final submissions are due THIS FRIDAY (April 30), the course commences Monday May 3, and as always, places are strictly limited.  

New or experienced artists eager to explore performing cabaret can read the course curriculum here, apply online or contact playright@optusnet.com.au for more information.

Don’t miss out! 

Atrocity Unleashed…

What better way to celebrate the end of the weekend than with a little bit of controversy?   Burlesque Bar proudly presents ATROCITY- Burlesque du Grand Guignol: a dark journey into the mind of man that has already seen audience members laughing, crying, fainting (!) – and coming back for more…

Atrocity Unleashed is the first in a series of shows that will leave audiences stripped bare of virtue, prejudice and inhibition. Come into the dark world of Anton De Lorde, Goddesses Forma (Beauty), Veritas (Truth) and Atrocitas (Horror), and Helliquin Guignol – where the only thing taboo is judgment.

Featuring cabaret course graduate Natalie Ristovska (Femme C Madame Natalia), the show is restricted to patrons 18+ years.   It contains scenes, themes, concepts and images that may offend.

So come and join the revolution… if you dare.

Every Sunday @ 9pm May 2 – June 6
Burlesque Bar: 42 Johnston Street, Fitzroy 3065

Tickets:$20
http://www.stickytickets.com.au/burlesquebar

Adelaide Cabaret Festival On Sale

Adelaide Cabaret Festival is an exciting opportunity for artists and fans to see the very best in international and Australian cabaret, and the June pilgrimage to see our favourite acts is becoming a must for any serious cabaret performer!

Students (and all of us watching the pennies!) should check out the Bring a Friend offer: 2 for 1 tickets to lots of amazing shows, including Butterfly Club regulars spreading their cabaret wings interstate and overseas.   Check out gorgeous Kim Smith, wonderful Queenie van de Zandt, and Mark Jones and Karlis Zaid (The Beautiful Losers) with Geraldine Quinn (Short+Sweet Cabaret winner)!

Plus this year also sees exclusive performances from Natalie Cole (“Unforgettable… With Love“), Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame) and Pasek and Paul (Broadway’s hottest young songwriters) for starters…

Adelaide, here we come!

Cabaret, Courses/Classes, Opportunities, Whats On

A Unique Opportunity for Performers: CABARET MASTERCLASS

On Tuesday April 20…

 Want to do a better audition?

 Give a better performance?

 Create a better show?

Want to learn how to prepare a song for cabaret?

 

Choosing and workshopping cabaret songs is one of the things new performers seem to find difficult and stressful when creating their own shows.   On Tuesday April 20 at 8.00 pm we’ll be running another of the popular cabaret masterclasses at The Butterfly Club: a chance not only to hear useful techniques for selecting and arranging cabaret repertoire, but also see performers in action analyzing, workshopping and performing their songs in progress.

The class is designed for:

1. Singers developing audition songs or looking to improve their performance skills

2. Performers workshopping new material for upcoming shows

3. New artists who are interested in finding out about cabaret

 

If you’ve been interested in the Creating Solo Cabaret course, but are not ready to take the plunge, this is a great chance to come along and see how a cabaret workshop is run.  

Plus, you only pay normal Club ticket prices ($22/$17) rather than class fees.   Bargain!

This is an unusual opportunity to see cabaret creating in action!  

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL: www.thebutterflyclub.com

For expressions of interest to actually perform in the class, contact playright@optusnet.com.au

You can also RSVP on Facebook: Cabaret Workshop

 

Play Right Theatre Productions  

 

*A masterclass is an open cabaret lesson where you, the audience, get to learn about the craft by:

1. Hearing artist and director Dr. Kim Edwards talk about the cabaret genre and demands of cabaret performing

2. Seeing cabaret artists perform songs they’re working on

3. Experiencing a unique public workshop as the artists are taught how to develop and improve their cabaret material

Cabaret, Courses/Classes, Opportunities, Whats On

CREATING SOLO CABARET COURSE: Summer Classes

Are you going to be starved for a creative outlet over the Christmas break?   Will you desperately need some envigorating theatre experience?!

By request, there will be a final series of 2009 classes for the Creating Solo Cabaret course – this is your chance to escape the Christmas carols (thank goodness!) and make the most of that stagnant performance-less period (hooray!), so you can get your own solo showcase up and running for 2010.

Give yourself and your theatre career an early Christmas present, and get creative with cabaret this summer!

The six-week course at The Butterfly Club in South Melbourne includes a cabaret ‘Starter Pack’ and ‘What Next?’ information kits, week-by-week worksheets, three two-hour workshops of intensive cabaret developing, writing and editing, a two-hour song masterclass and a three-hour rehearsal session.  

Cabaret-course-web-1

The curriculum culminates in two Performance Nights (with lighting technician and accompanist provided) where participating artists sell tickets and perform a fifteen-minute extract from their developing show as part of a professional paid cabaret experience, followed by a feedback session and discussion class.

Dates:

Workshops (2 hrs)
Session 1      7.30-9.30pm Mon Nov 30
Session 2      7.30-9.30pm Mon Jan 7
Session 3      7.30-9.30pm Mon Jan 14

Masterclass (2 hrs)
Session 4      7.30-9.30pm Mon Dec 21

Rehearsal (3 hrs)
Session 5      7:30-10:30pm Mon Jan 4

Performance Nights (2 one-hr performances + follow-up discussion)
Session 6       8-11:00pm Tue/Wed Jan 12/13

Total Cost: $480 inclusive.

Contact: Course Co-ordinator Dr. Kim Edwards at playright@optusnet.com.au for your application form, more information or the next round dates for 2010

Theatre People
In Focus: Kim Edwards
http://theatrepeople.com.au/feature_articles/2009/may/20090524_tp_infocus_kimedwards.htm

Arts Hub
Creating Solo Cabaret
http://www.artshub.com.au/

Facebook Group
Creating Solo Cabaret
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=793560557#/group.php?gid=60549178072

Cabaret, Courses/Classes, Whats On

Applications Closing: Three Places Left For Cabaret Course

Last chance for Creating Solo Cabaret course in 2009

Applications are now closing for the August-September course at The Butterfly Club, Melbourne’s premiere cabaret venue.   Creating Solo Cabaret is the only intensive short course in Australia on developing professional cabaret, and co-ordinator Dr. Kim Edwards is an expert in her field of cabaret and an experienced director, dramaturg, writer and performer.

There are currently only three places still available for this unique opportunity.   Moreover, the successful applicants for this month’s course enjoy the bargain of two special bonus features*, while paying the regular price.

1. The Creating Solo Cabaret course now runs over six weeks, rather than five.   That means a bonus workshop focussed entirely on developing songs, and designed specifically around the repertoire of students involved.

2. There are now two Performance Nights instead of one, whereupon students have the opportunity to perform their developing work twice with the benefit of additional feedback.

SoloCabaretCourse

Dates:
Workshops (Two hours)
Session One  7:30-9:30pm, Monday Aug 17
Session Two  7:30-9:30pm, Monday Aug 24
Session Three  7:30-9:30pm, Monday Aug 31
Master Class (Two hours)
Session Four  7:30-9:30pm, Monday Sept 7
Rehearsal (Three hours)
Session Five  7:30-10:30pm, Monday Sept 14
Performance Nights (A 75-minute performance plus follow-up discussion)
Session Six  8.00-11:00pm, Tuesday/Wednesday Sept 22/23

Cost: $480 inclusive

Contact: playright@optusnet.com.au for an application or for more information

Theatre People
In Focus: Kim Edwards
http://theatrepeople.com.au/feature_articles/2009/may/20090524_tp_infocus_kimedwards.htm

Arts Hub
Creating Solo Cabaret
http://www.artshub.com.au.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/au/news.asp?catId=1069&sc=0&sId=169464

Facebook Group
Creating Solo Cabaret
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=793560557#/group.php?gid=60549178072

* The curriculum and structuring changes have been made in response to enthusiastic student feedback, with requests for additional class and contact time with the co-ordinator.   They are also the result of audience demand, whereby Performance Nights were continually selling out, and friends and family were missing out on the debut of Melbourne’s newest cabaret artists.

Cabaret, Courses/Classes

Creating Solo Cabaret Course: Next Round Dates

Are you ready to take the next step in professional performing?

All the participants will come out of this intensive six-week course with a fundamental understanding of how to put together a solo cabaret, and the foundations of a working script, song list and unique show concept.   They will also have had the opportunity to produce, promote and perform some of their developing material in Australia’s premiere cabaret venue, and the chance to earn a professional fee for their ticket sales and receive constructive criticism from industry professionals.

Course Venue:

All sessions and the Performance Night will take place at:
The Butterfly Club
204 Bank Street
South Melbourne

Dates:

Workshops (Two hours)

Session One   7:30-9:30pm, Monday Aug 17
Session Two   7:30-9:30pm, Monday Aug 24
Session Three  7:30-9:30pm, Monday Aug 31

Master Class (Two hours)

Session Four   7:30-9:30pm, Monday Sept 7

Rehearsal (Three hours)

Session Five   7:30-10:30pm, Monday Sept 14
 
Performance Night (75-minute performance plus follow-up discussion)

Session Six   8.00-11:00pm, Tuesday/Wednesday Sept 22/23

Cost:

$480 inclusive

logo

 

From the 2007-2009 graduates…

“I’ve always wanted to do a course about putting on a cabaret show but I didn’t imagine that it would be so successful on a personal level.”

“Most courses don’t live up to expectations, but this one exceeded them.”

“I found the course to be very useful and user friendly.   I particularly enjoyed and appreciated working with Kim, drawing upon her vast skill and knowledge of the genre, and of the mechanics of writing, scripting, and executing a show.   Awesome.”

“A brilliant course for everyone who wants to do a cabaret show.”

For an application form and more information, contact:

(Dr) Kim Edwards (Course Co-ordinator)
playright@optusnet.com.au