Several DC Cabaret Network members will be performing @ Artomatic

Be sure and check out several DC Cabaret Network members who will be performing the next two Sundays at Artomatic, Washington, DC’s month long arts festival. They’ll be on the Cabaret Stage at 5 PM, Sunday, May 31, 2009, and Sunday, June 7, 2009, at 5:30 p.m..

These shows, known as Cabaret Heaven, feature Terri Allen, Ron Squeri, Maris Wicker, Kathy Reilly, Andrea Klores, Christy Trapp, Justin Ritchie and Beverly Cosham. Musical direction is by Reenie Codelka.

Artomatic is free to the public and features nine floors of visual and installation art, as well as musical and theatrical performances. Artomatic is located at 55 M Street, SE — next to the Washington Nationals Ballpark.

Thanks to Michael Miyazaki for highlighting this info on Miyazaki Cabaret Update: DC & Beyond.

Cabaret Is My Life (Part 4)

by Beverly Cosham, January 2008 Guest Blogger

I am writing what may be my penultimate offering for the blog. I hope to scribble something else before February 1st. I am currently having my second bout with the flu and hoping that it is the 24-hour version.

I spent my weekend attending three diverse musical events: harp soloist, musical revue, and a symphony with a bassoon soloist. It is amazing the amount of entertainment available in this area. The musical revue consisted of tunes from Broadway shows and is a good example of how, with an overall theme, to bring disparate material together.

  Interesting article in the Washington Post about theaters discovering that they can make money on “Bio” plays due to the lower overhead costs associated with one-person shows. This seems to be a perfect time for cabaret artists to submit their (completed and tested) revues to artistic directors in the area. H Street Playhouse has a cabaret offering coming up as does the Atlas. Does anyone know how to get in touch with retirement homes? That’s another venue.

ALSO: I will be performing with the McLean Symphony on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 7:30 at the Alden Theatre in McLean, VA
February 23rd I will be performing at INDIGO

Cabaret Is My Life (Part 3)

by Beverly Cosham, January 2008 Guest Blogger

Been awhile since my last post – LIFE sometimes gets in the way of art. Have a couple of concerts with orchestras coming up so I’ve been devoting time to those.
Since I’m not sure of my audience and there have been no comments, don’t know if I’m preaching to “the choir” or persons who just want to know what this “cabaret” is all about.

Over the weekend, I went on a Board retreat and spent a great deal of time “educating” my fellow companions on cabaret. Some admitted that when they see it advertised that they immediately think of Liza Minnelli!

Have been mainly just trying to stay healthy since singing is such a physical activity, the body needs to be in top form. Not unlike an athlete. Had the flu over the holidays and lost my voice completely (and don’t get me started on the COUGH), so have been taking my vitamin supplements, returning to my cardio work-out routine, and practicing breathing.
I have just returned to the Chorale as an alto to keep my voice “warm” when I am not performing. The last concert of the season will be a “Pops” concert and the next concert includes TE DEUM (Mozart), NUNC DIMITTIS (John Boatner), THE MAGNIFICAT (Pergolesi), and a new MAGNIFICAT (David Ott). This is music that I truly enjoy and it’s so different from cabaret.

Which brings me to a question: what music do you listen to? Only cabaret? Only Pop? Only one performer or composer? How diverse is the pool from which you choose your material? I particularly like country music because a majority of the songs are complete stories with universal messages. Heard any new CDs? Let me know.

Cabaret Is My Life

by Beverly Cosham, January 2008 guest blogger

Well, there is no way to start but to do it so here goes.

Let’s talk about cabaret – not the play or the film but the genre. First let me say that I have been a participant in this form of entertainment since I appeared in a revue, “Get Happy – The Music of Harold Arlen”, in 1979. Before that I was part of an eight person troupe, The Celebration Singers, and after performances with the troupe I would go to an after-hours club where I had the advantage of “on-the job” experience of creating my cabaret act. So with my Equity Cabaret Contract at the now defunct Hayloft Dinner Theatre I was introduced to the world of cabaret! Since then I have performed my cabaret act across the USA and have every intention of continuing until they drag my limp body from the stage! MORE later about the early days when there were more venues and opportunities for aspiring performers, etc.

Until then… Ciao, Beverly C.