2013 Adelaide Cabaret Festival Enters Final Weekend

The 2013 Adelaide Cabaret Festival is set to burn brightly on the final weekend, with performances that will dazzle from a bevy of incredible artists. Don't miss stunning cabaret chanteuse Lady Rizo, Aussie larrikinsBrian Cadd and Russell Morris, or Magosopher Sunny Leunig (he's a magician and a philosopher). Everyone's favourite hotpant-clad German, Hans, will strut the Banquet Room stage with his Lucky Bitches, while pseudo-Mexicans Puta Madre Brothers will tear up the Space Theatre. Kate Ceberano and Teddy Tahu Rhodes will cross the boundaries of classical and contemporary in Meet Me In The Middle, Tony Award winner Adam Guettel will treat audiences to his adventurous musical theatre tunes, and the incomparable songstress Idina Menzel will literally stop the show as she performs on the closing night of the Festival.

The week has already seen captivating performances from leading ladies Marika Aubrey and Sarah Louise Young, while Martha Wainwright played with raw emotion to an appreciative sold out crowd on Thursday night. Caustic crowd-pleaser Paul McDermott lured patrons to his Dark Garden on the Festival Theatre Stage while Phil Scott's Cabaret Survivor was full of satirical wit. Tyran Parke's Compositions: A Musical Close Up was a charming mix of multimedia and heartfelt song, and Michelle Nightingale's Bruce Springsteen-inspired show Born to Run took audiences on an emotional journey through the Boss's music and lyrics.

The Festival's box office is up 21 per cent on last year's festival and 40 shows have sold out.

Artistic Director Kate Ceberano says, "Our Festival has been a stunner this year, Adelaide really has the best audiences who understand the essence of the festival and love to support it. From talented Class of Cabaret kids, to blow-the-roof-off performers like Kristin Chenoweth, we've stretched the definition of the cabaret genre and will continue to challenge the audiences - and the artists! - as we crack on with programming the 2014 Festival!"

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and Artistic Director Douglas Gautier says, "The 2013 Adelaide Cabaret Festival has been a real hit with audiences, and Kate and the Festival team have done a sensational job in putting together a festival full of world-class artists and musicians. The atmosphere has been terrific and I look forward to seeing what Kate will bring to the Festival in 2014."

2013 Adelaide Cabaret Festival highlights have included:

- Two glorious Variety Galas, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Festival Centre and the opening of the Cabaret Festival

- Broadway royalty and self-described 'pocket diva' Kristin Chenoweth performing to a packed Festival Theatre of ecstatic fans

- Teen queen turned jazz singer Molly Ringwald with an accomplished performance of tunes from the Great American Songbook

- Eclectic diva Meow Meow pouted and purred her way through two sultry performances

- Brilliant Australian performer Tommy Bradson with his extraordinary tribute to Reg Livermore

- Tom Burlinson's sold out tribute to The Kings Of swing in his show Now We're Swinging

- The 2013 Class of Cabaret performance - funny and touching, these are the cabaret stars of the future

- Catherine Alcorn channelling Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac in Go Your Own Way

- And who can forget the shocking and hilarious impromptu performances in the Backstage Club - the club will continue to satisfy late-night audiences throughout the final nights of the Festival.

- Tickets for final weekend shows are on sale through BASS 131 246 or online www.bass.net.au.

- The 2014 Adelaide Cabaret Festival will be held from 6 - 21 June.

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