Melbourne Cabaret Festival Announces Professional Development Program

The second annual Melbourne Cabaret Festival (Tuesday 19 to Sunday 24 July) today announced its professional development program which runs alongside it.

The program is funded by the Ron and Margaret Dobell Foundation and this year features a masterclass, workshop and public forum.

The Festival's Artistic Director, David Read, said "This year we're throwing open the doors to the public so they can view the masterclass / workshop / forum in action. Entry is by a gold coin donation to our official charity, the South Melbourne Community Chest."

"Through the generosity and support of the Ron and Margaret Dobell Foundation, we're able to provide fantastic opportunities for performers, audiences and the local community," he said.

Details follow and low resolution images are attached. For any queries or high resolution images please email masterclass@melbournecabaret.com or call Katrina Fleming, Professional Development Coordinator, on 0407 866 169.

Masterclass with Avigail Herman: ‘Storytelling through Song'
In this masterclass, NIDA's former Head of Music Theatre, vocal teacher, performer and passionate advocate for the performing arts, Avigail Herman, will undertake to demystify songs and offer 10 invited participants a method of approaching a song, as text, with a sense of respect, wonderment and joy.

Saturday 23 July, 2pm-5pm (3 hours)
In the ‘Liber Room' (behind the Emerald Hill Library, opposite the South Melbourne Town Hall)

Workshop with Tim Smith: ‘Stop Doing It The Hard Way! Singing Better and Easier Than Ever Before'
Tim Smith is a classical pianist, singer, orchestral conductor and educator. He is an award-winning musical director working on over 30 musicals and other events ranging from MTC's ‘Bombshells' with Caroline O'Connor to ‘Beauty And The Beast' to Barbra Streisand's ‘Timeless' Australian tour. He has just returned from a European tour giving vocal technique workshops in London, Paris, Edinburgh and Dublin.

In this workshop, the founding Coordinator of VCA's Music Theatre course will help up to 20 invited participants explore cross-style singing that originates solely from the actor/person/performer.

Tim is Artistic Director of vocalalchemy.com.au, a ground-breaking online voice lessons website and live workshop initiative.

Sunday 24 July, 1.15pm-4.15pm (3 hours)
In the ‘Lamond Room' (the Theatrette in the South Melbourne Town Hall)

Public Forum: ‘How to sell out, in a good way'
This public forum will give performers tips and tools about traditional, virtual and fool-proof ways to publicise shows, build an audience and create a fan-base. Facilitated by Fiona Scott-Norman, a columnist, satirist, comedian, deejay, cabaret director and broadcaster, and featuring:

Venessa Paech: An experienced social strategist who can help performers manage their online presence and reputation, build a cross platform community of fans, and amplify their message and projects via social media
Moira Funicane: "Seductive, utterly subversive and bursting at the seams with monstrous talent" - Sunday Age
Magda Petkoff: Our very own publicist talks about press releases, print, radio and other traditional forms of publicity and marketing

Sunday 24 July, 4.30pm-5.30pm (1 hour)
In the ‘Lamond Room' (the Theatrette in the South Melbourne Town Hall)

South Melbourne Community Chest
The Festival is proud to give back to the neighbourhood by aligning with the South Melbourne Community Chest (often known better as the Op Shop on Bank St). The first community chest established in Victoria and possibly Australia, the South Melbourne Community Chest has raised millions of dollars for worthy local causes over the past 60 plus years. Our audiences will be given the opportunity to donate even more throughout the Festival.

Melbourne Cabaret Festival
The festival will present a feast of local, interstate and international cabaret artists across seven venues, with new cabaret shows starting every 15 minutes from 6.15pm till late.

With a stellar line up of cabaret performers, there will be 11 world premieres and five Melbourne premieres.

Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Tuesday 19 to Sunday 24 July within South Melbourne's historic Emerald Hill arts and cultural precinct. Tickets: from $15.

Info & bookings: http://melbournecabaret.com

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