 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
2012 CABARET OF SOULS CAST Q&A |
| |
CABARET OF SOULS
Created by Richard Thompson
Words and Music by Richard Thompson |
| |
 |
Photo: ©Annaliese Moyer 2012
|
| |
|
| |
Active as a composer, conductor and bassist, Peter Askim is the Music Director and Composer-in-Residence of the Idyllwild Arts Academy. He was previously a member of the Honolulu Symphony and on the faculty of the University of Hawaii. As a conductor and performer, Peter has championed the music of our time, including premiering Richard Thompson's Cabaret of Souls and Interviews With Ghosts, as well as works by Rufus Reid, Richard Danielpour, Chen Yi and Chris Theofanidis and numerous others. He hold Doctoral degrees in both Performance and Composition from Yale and the University of Texas at Austin. His recordings are available on iTunes, cdbaby.com and Amazon.com.
What was your role in Richard Thompson's 'Cabaret of Souls' Broad Stage production?
Conductor, traffic cop and cat herder.
Please describe your CoS experience.
It's been amazing to be involved with CoS and Richard right from the beginning of the project. From a crazy idea hatched in a Corporate Coffee™ shop, through performances on both coasts and at Royal Festival Hall, to the new, improved, steroid-enhanced and larger-than-life Broad Stage version, it's been a fantastic wild ride. Working with Richard has been thrilling and inspiring through the whole process, and I'm continually blown away by the energy, creativity, professionalism, passion and altogether great-human-being-ness of everyone involved. The whole project is like a huge magnet for only the top of the top, both professionally and personally. Wish that EVERY project could be JUST like this! (Including the puppets...)
What other projects are you up to?
Writing a String Quartet Concerto for the amazing new music quartet ETHEL (premiere soon!), conducting the premiere of a new orchestra piece by whirlwind wunderkind Nico Muhly (April 2013), starting a new festival in June 2013 at Music Mountain in Connecticut (oldest continuous chamber music festival in the U.S.) with guest cello soloist extraordinaire Matt Haimovitz and playing bass with the St. Petersburg String Quartet (summer 2013).
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
Judith Owen
Lovelorn, Cosmetic Surgery Addict, Jealous Suitor,
Gangster's Moll & Ambitious Entertainer Vocals |
| |
| |
|
| |
Debra Dobkin
Malpensio
Vocals, Percussion |
| |
| |
|
| |
Pete Zorn
Grympale
Vocals, Flute, Saxophone |
| |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
Keythe Farley is the co-author of BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL which received the Lucille Lortel and Outer Critic's Circle Awards for Best Off Broadway Musical. The World Premiere production, which Keythe directed, was a winner of Best Musical, Direction and Writing honors as well. Keythe was voice director for the animated series RUGRATS and ADVENTURE TIME, and video games including GOD OF WAR, TRANSFORMERS and the upcoming SKYLANDERS: GIANTS. Keythe is a long-time member of The Actors' Gang and has toured the world with a new adaptation of 1984 directed by Academy Award Winner Tim Robbins. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Ann Closs-Farley and his two daughters.
What was your role in Richard Thompson's 'Cabaret of Souls' Broad Stage production?
I was the director of the piece.
Please describe your CoS experience.
I was brought on to CoS because my wife had the privilege of costuming the show when it was at Royce Hall. She loved the energy of the piece and thought Richard and Nancy were lovely people to work with. After the show, Ann was asked what she thought of the experience. She told Richard and Nancy that she had enjoyed herself, but that the experience was a bit chaotic and would benefit from a director at the helm. When they asked if she knew anyone, she recommended me (God bless her!).
My initial idea was to radically transform the theatre space and make it feel like the audience had stepped into the Underworld when they entered the theatre. Unfortunately, House Management had other ideas about that. They were, rightly, concerned with the ability of their patrons getting safely to their seats. We were able to do some small changes, but I'd still like to explore the limits of what we can do to create an immersive world the moment the audience sets foot across the threshold of the theatre.
As for the show itself, the songs really sparked my imagination, and images and ideas began popping up almost instantly as I listened to the record. MY DAVE suggested that dancers would be a great addition to the piece, and I quickly found other sections where dance could be incorporated. Laura Karlin took my ideas for dance elements and brought them to life brilliantly. I felt that Judith's characterizations were so clear that I wanted to bring her front and center in fully-realized images, and just let her show off. Ann Closs-Farley and I dreamed up glorious images for each of her characters, and Judith - ever the Game Broad - took to them instantly. The Underworld suggested, to me, that not all of the singers in the cabaret would be human in scale - particularly the iconic Glutton, War Profiteer and Priest - and I began to imagine giant puppets singing these pieces. John Burton did a beautiful job bringing these larger-than-life characters to actual life.
The only piece I didn't latch onto, at first, was RUN JUDAS RUN. I couldn’t hook into the narrator of that piece. When Richard told me that it was the creepy fan of a rock star ("the sort of fellow who wears a parka year round") I hooked in immediately, and staged the number with four performers in identical parkas who appeared all over the theatre (and in the lobby before the show) and ran away from their idol once they'd said their peace.
Richard and Nancy were supportive of my vision from day one. Everyone on my crew delivered gorgeous product that enhanced and elevated the amazing music that Richard and his crew were making.
I look forward to the next chapter of CABARET OF SOULS.
What other projects are you up to?
I'm voice directing a few video game projects for SONY, ACTIVISION and UBISOFT, I just finished narrating a book called GREAT BASEBALL STORIES, and I'm slated to direct a new one-man adaptation of Joseph Conrad's HEART OF DARKNESS at The Actors' Gang this spring. Ann and I are also developing a show called THE HAPPINESS PROJECT which is a giant mytho-spectacle for the whole family about a princess and her dog who go on an epic search for Feelings.
|
| |
| |
|
| |
MB Artists / Kevin Bailey (Production Manager) is a Los Angeles based producer and manager, founded with partner James J. Mellon. Recent productions include: The Red Room (NoHo Arts Center) and The Gronholm Method (Falcon Theatre). MB Artists is the Executive Producer for Ann, Holland Taylor's critically acclaimed play about legendary Texas Governor Ann Richards, heading to Broadway this spring of 2013. MB Artists represents and produces "Greater Tuna Texas" star Jaston Williams, and his new solo show, Camping With Gasoline. In their twenty-year history MB Artists has created and managed over 50 theatrical productions, three films and dozens of industrials, and last year premiered the on-line network, GTN - The Global Truth Network. MB Artists uses its Los Angeles home, the award winning NoHo Arts Center, as a launching pad for many of its theatrical and media productions and this November will mount the new Joshua Ravetch play, One November Yankee.
What was your role in Richard Thompson's 'Cabaret of Souls' Broad Stage production?
Production Manager
Please describe your CoS experience.
I have now become a huge fan of this piece and its ingenious musical creator. The many remarkably and uniquely talented performers and musicians on this project make it one in 10 million! I'd do it again and again.
What other projects are you up to?
I am the Executive Producer for the Broadway production of ANN, written and starring actress Holland Taylor, which will open at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater in March of 2013. I have spearheaded this Broadway production from its inception. Additionally, with my producing partner, James Mellon and through our production company we presently manage four theatrical productions, as well as owning and operating the award-winning NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood. Our present play - One November Yankee - stars Harry Hamlin and Loretta Swit.
|
| |
| |
|
| |
Recent credits include Eric Idle's What About Dick?, The Pee-wee Herman Show: Broadway, Disney's Toy Story: The Musical, An Evening Without Monty Python, Gronholm Method, Beat Goes On, Around The World in 80 Days, Margo Veil, Pinocchio, Girls Talk, Having It All, The Receptionist, Bewildered Herd, The Fool and The Red Queen, Naked Before God, Land of the Tigers, and James and the Giant Peach, as well as The Projectionist. She received a 2009 Ovation Award for Ken Roht's 99-Cent Only Calendar Girl Competition, and L.A. Weekly and Garland Awards for her work on Bat Boy: The Musical, When Tigers Smoked Long Pipes, and Echo's Hammer, among manyothers. Closs-Farley is a long time member of the Los Angeles Actors' Gang and evidEnce room companies. She currently designs for many Disney projects, styles the World Poker Tour on television, is an Art Director for Big Machine Productions and teaches costume design for the HeArt Project, Turning Pages and local Los Angeles elementary and High Schools. Ann has won the Center Theatre Group's 2010 Richard E. Sherwood Award for emerging Artists.
What was your role in Richard Thompson's 'Cabaret of Souls' Broad Stage production?
Costume Designer
Please describe your CoS experience.
This was a joyful and brilliant experience. The cast was incredible and so was the design team. It was a beautiful blend of both that created such a unique evening of storytelling.
What other projects are you up to?
Opening Coney Island Christmas at the Geffen this month, styling the World Poker Tour, and working on several large projects overseas that I cannot talk about but are AWESOME!!!
|
| |
| |
|
| |
Bobby Eichorn
The Grim Sweeper, Instrument Technician
Bobby Eichorn is a producer, studio engineer, songwriter and, most importantly, a musician. As a jack of all trades he has been involved with Richard Thompson's various projects (RT Band, 1000 Years, Cabaret of Souls) for the past 14 years as Stage Manager and Instrument Technician, as well as additional guitar or bass player when needed. Aside from Richard, Mr. Eichorn has worked with many other musicians including Carly Simon, Bon Jovi, Ian Hunter, Ben Taylor, and Hall & Oates.
What was your role in Richard Thompson's 'Cabaret of Souls' Broad Stage production?
Traveling company's Stage Manager/ Instrument Tech etc. I also played the supporting character "Grim Sweeper" (name coined by Nancy Covey) and that was a blast.
Please describe your CoS experience.
COS is so much fun to be a part of. Richard's writing and scoring is nothing short of brilliant. Performances by Richard, Harry, Judith, Danny, Debra and Pete are wonderful to behold. Peter Askim and the zombie string section complete the package along with the dancers, Puppeteers and additional performers. Ann Closs-Farley and all involved in costume & makeup were top notch and fun to be around. Keyth and company for production / direction and Simon for FOH sound put the icing on the cake. Special thanks for the fine assistance from Francie, Ivan and all involved. I can only hope we get to do this again soon!
What other projects are you up to?
I have just recently released a new CD titled Bobby Icon/Alias Nation featuring the notorious Django Placebo (RT) along with performances by Danny Thompson, Pete Zorn, Michael Jerome, Cindy Cashdollar and way too many others to mention.
I am currently working on a follow up to that as well as writing and producing several other projects. Looking forward to touring with RT's Electric Trio and the release of his new CD "Electric" early in 2013.
|
| |
| |
|
| |
Simon Tassano
Sound Design / FOH Mix Engineer
Tour manager and house audio mix engineer, Simon has worded with Richard Thompson for over 30 years. He co-produced Richard's last 3 label releases and has worked on many projects (both studio and live) with him over the years. This year he co-produced and mixed the recently released recordng of Cabaret of Souls. Mr. Tassano lives in Austin, TX where he mixes and produces for a variety of creative and commercial clients. Clients include Shawn Colvin, Carly Simon, John Hiatt, Los Lobos, The McGarrigles, Stephen Kent, Clint Black, and the emerging artsist from Wales, Rob Lear. He also composes, records, prouduces, and releases his own material.
What was your role in Richard Thompson's 'Cabaret of Souls' Broad Stage production?
Tour Manager and FOH Mix Engineer.
Please describe your CoS experience.
As always, it's my great pleasure to be part of a team of such talented, professional & caring individuals who continually strive to move Cabaret of Souls to new heights, both in performance and production.
|
| |
| |
|
| |
April Fitzsimmons is a writer and performer. After serving as an intelligence analyst in the Air Force she moved to Hollywood to "make a difference in the world." April adds, " I'm still working on it."
What was your role in Richard Thompson's 'Cabaret of Souls' Broad Stage production?
Puppeteer with John Burton's team. The head of the fat man. The priests left hand woman.
Please describe your CoS experience.
This was one of the most professional and enojoyable experiences I've ever had working in theater. I felt so lucky to be a part of it. Everyone was at the top of their game and it was a true delight to experience the superior music and talent and humor over the weekend. Also the snacks were good.
What other projects are you up to?
Writing a post-election play and some TV pilots, teaching creative writing to military veterans and looking for work. I am not currently invading any countries at the moment.
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Soundscape created by Simon Tassano
|
| |
