Submissions Open for 2015 Your Theatrics International Cabaret Contest; Deadline Dec 24

The Your Theatrics International Cabaret Contest (YTICC), previously the Australian Cabaret Showcase, will once again undertake heats in major cities across Australia and New Zealand in January 2015. The 12th annual contest will offer contestants a number of exciting developments including a number of new sponsors who will contribute to the ever growing prize package.

Executive Producer Jeremy Youett said "I'm thrilled to announce that our submission period has opened, with the addition of Grayboy Entertainment as a Principal Sponsor and Hal Leonard as a Major Partner this year! We are also pleased to welcome back our line-up of returning partners and sponsors, who have each been incredibly supportive of the contest and new talent over the years!"

The contest provides artists with the opportunity to further develop their skills in the cabaret genre in front of a panel of industry professionals, including producers, agents and artistic directors, as well as family and friends. This year, contest producers have launched a brand new YTICC-dedicated website, as well as a YouTube channel featuring footage from the Grand Finals of the past 3 years.

Youett said, "We wanted to create additional tools to give potential contestants a better sense of what the judges are looking for from an 8 minute cabaret "snapshot" -- which is no easy task."

YTICC will again hold heats in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Auckland, as well as both Brisbane and Noosa this year.

"The winner of the 2012 contest, Bradley McCaw, made his way in the Noosa heat, so to have the city back on the roster and allow both Brisbane and Sunshine Coast contestants a chance to compete, is an exciting opportunity for Queensland residents," said Youett.

Previous contest winners include Tom Sharah, James Millar, Marika Aubrey, Nick Christo, Gillian Cosgriff, Sheridan Harbridge, Elenoa Rokobaro, and Toby Francis who have all made names for themselves on both stage and screen since their respective successes.

2014 winner Melody Beck who recently completed her extensive tour of Australia and New York said, "YTICC has been a completely wonderful experience! Winning this amazing prize package has opened doors and presented opportunities I never dreamed possible!" Beck's show, Unseen: A Tribute to Marni Nixon, toured multiple festivals to high praise. YTICC Producers were able to connect her with her chosen biographical subject, Marni Nixon, who not only came to see Beck's show, but also gave her vocal coaching while in New York.

In 2015, a runner-up prize will be reintroduced, and both the Grand Prize winner and runner-up will be eligible to be offered performance opportunities from our Major Festival Partners. These will include invitations to perform at the Cabaret Festivals of Adelaide, Melbourne, Ballarat, and Queensland, as well as the Festival of Voices in Tasmania and the Noosa Long Weekend Festival, which all guarantee flights and accommodation.

In addition, we are able to offer an Australia/Pacific cruise ship booking as part of the Grand Prize package, thanks to new Principal Sponsor Grayboy Entertainment. The Grand Prize winner will also have the opportunity to present their show at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, with flights and accommodation for their appearance to the value of $3000 generously contributed by The Ron and Margaret Dobell Foundation, a cash prize of $1000, a photographic and marketing package from Blueprint Studios valued at $1000, a Music Theatre and Cabaret music and book package from Hal Leonard, as well as tour publicity from AussieTheatre.com which will spotlight the winner's creative process as they develop and tour their show. The runner-up will also receive a $500 cash prize, and a photographic package from Blueprint Studios valued at $500.

Youett states "I am always heartened by the support of our industry sponsors and partners. To be able to provide this unique platform for artists to be seen, as well as a career changing prize for the contest winners is truly my favourite part!"

Performers will once again be asked to perform an eight-minute 'preview' of the hour long show they would like to have produced including music and interlinking dialogue (patter). The winners of all heats are then invited to the Grand Final in Sydney, with flights and accommodation provided, so they may compete for the largest prize package to date to be held Saturday 17th January at Sydney's acclaimed live music venue The Basement.

This year's contest is open to performers 18+, although performance spots in the heats are limited; Submissions close Wednesday, December 24th at 5pm and performers of all experience levels are encouraged to enter. For more information or the official YTICC 2015 Contestant Entry Form, visit www.yticc.com.

Adelaide Heat:
The Promethean
116 Grote Street, Adelaide SA
Monday - 5 Jan
7:00pm

Brisbane Heat:
Brisbane Powerhouse; Visy Theatre
119 Lamington St, New Farm QLD
Wednesday - 7 Jan
7:00pm

Noosa Heat:
Noosa Arts Theatre
163 Weyba Road, Noosaville QLD
Friday - 9 Jan
7:30pm

Melbourne Heat:
The Butterfly Club
Carson Place (Off Little Collins), Melbourne CBD VIC
Saturday - 10 Jan
6:30pm & 8:30pm

Auckland Heat:
The Theatre at ACG Senior
66 Lorne Street, Auckland NZ
Tuesday - 13 Jan
7:30pm

Sydney Heat:
Slide Lounge
41 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW
Thursday - 15 Jan
Doors: 7:00pm; Contest 7:30pm
*Dinner and Supper Packages Available

Cabaret Contest Grand Final (Sydney):
The Basement
7 Macquarie Place, Sydney NSW
Saturday - 17 Jan
Doors: 6:30pm; Contest 8:00pm
*Dinner and Show Packages Available

Bookings For All Shows: Tickets for all events on sale from December. For more information visit: www.YTICC.com. For contestant enquiries: info@yourtheatrics.com.

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