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CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P74. Cont'd from P73

STARS TO REMEMBER

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from L to R: Peggy Lee, Lotte Trouble, Elaine Webster.

 And now, let's put everything in perspective. A case study would be very a propos. Let's take for example the "ultra-modern" Cabaret theater and musicals vedettes who starred in the Broadway's Cabaret show and  try to depict their persona. First, who are they?  Many artists took the lead, played Sally Bowles and  shined in a modern Cabaret production,. But who are the ones we are most likely to be remembered? I have some names for you: Natasha Richardson, Marisa Berenson, Susan Egan,  Deborah Gibson,  Jane Leeves, Molly Ringwald, Katie Finneran, Lea Thompson, Mary McCormack, Kate Shindle,  Jennifer Jason Leigh,  Sally Martin,  Joely Fisher,  Amy Downing.  And of course CABARET IS THE cabaret show of all time in America.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL POLLS: AMERICA'S BEST CABARET SINGERS-ARTISTS-ENTERTAINERS

WORLD ART CELEBRITIES JOURNAL conducted in 2003 an international poll on America’s All Time Best Cabaret, Concert, Recital, Musical and Torch Female Singers. Here are the results : #1 Cher, #2 Madonna, #3 Barbra Streisand, #4 Doris Day, #5 Liza Minelli, #6 Dianna Ross, #7 Bette Midler, #8 Peggy Lee, #9 Barbara Cook, #10 Debbie Reynolds, #11 Linda Ronstadt, #12 Vicky Carr, #13 Mary Rose Clooney, #14 Gloria Estefan, #15 Ann Margret, #16 Rita Moreno, #17 Julie London, #18 Joan Baez, #19 Judy Collins,  #20 Diane Worwick, #21 Lena Horne,  #22 Keely Smith, #23 Nina Simone, #24 Ertha Kitt, #25 Bernadette Peters.

    

  Lorraine Serabian                       Deborah Gibson                    Claire Martin                                       Andréa Marcovicci                       Julie Wilson

 

 

 

CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P75

Julie London                                                     Lena Horne                                         Patricia O’Callaghan

 

WORLD ART CELEBRITIES JOURNAL  2003 International Poll on  Cabaret Best Performers/Entertainers/Players of the Year. Here are the results: #1.Amanda McBroom, #2.Andrea Marcovicci, #3.Anna Bergman, #4.Anne Kerry Ford, #5.Simone Marchand, #6.Julie Wilson, #7. Lorraine Serabian, #8.Kim Zimmer, #9.Claire Martin, #10.Deborah Gibson, #11.Lorna Dallas, #12.Pam Bricker, #13.Julie Wilson, #14.Naomi Newman, #15.Marilyn Scott, #16.Julie Budd,  #17.Rebecca Kilgore, #18.Linda Purl, #19.Stacey Kent, #20.Lisa Lauren,  #21.Claire Martin, #22.Patricia O’Callaghan, #23.Sophia Bilidis, #24.Kim Nalley, #25.Dottie Burman.

 

 

 Photos from L to R: #1. Kim Zimmer with Deidre Hall. For many years, Zimmer was an international household name in Europe, particularly in France and Scandinavia. It is pity, Ms. Zimmer is no longer as active as she used to be. #2. Ginger Gonzaga, Amanda Abel, Lynne Alexander and Susan Asbjornson. Ms. Abel is a magnificent artist who excelled in musicals, theater and cabaret acts.  #3. The versatile and creative Dottie Burman with impresario extraordinaire, Sidney Myer, manager/booking agent of "Don't Tell Mama" cabaret in New York City. Ms. Burman is noted for her wit, comedy acts and cabaret savoir-faire. A very talented and funny lady, indeed.

 

 

 

Photos from L to: Linda Ronstadt, Kim Zimmer, Rita Moreno.Rita Moreno is the only female performer to have won all four of the most prestigious show business awards: the Oscar, the Emmy, the Tony and the Grammy. She has, in fact been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for this achievement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P76

CABARET IS NOT AN ACADEMIC SUBJECT

Photo: Danielle Darrieux.

EVEN PIAF WAS NOT A CABARET SINGER!

Edith Piaf started as a very poor and obscure cabaret singer at the very beginning of her career, when she was homeless and penniless.  At a very early age, when she was unknown, she sang in low class “boites de nuits”. Once discovered, she categorically refused to sing in Cabarets and strongly refused to be called a “Cabaret Singer”. All her future performances will take place at France’s most prestigious theaters and stages. Never again, to sing in a Cabaret! To “understand” and “feel” what a CABARET IS, one must be a part of it or at least must have frequented it in its traditional, original and authentic aspect and setting. Cabaret is not an academic subject we study in a university. Cabaret as a theme and as a “human reality” cannot be studied, understood and felt by reading about it or, occasionally attending one of its contemporary acts in ritzy nightclubs and spots in New York or California.  For, we are going to see and learn that the majority of American Cabaret artists, performers, singers, musicians, critics and public alike in America did not grasp the true essence, spirit, business, objectives, mechanism and troubles of the REAL and TRADITIONAL CABARET  which was created and originated in France and Germany! The folks in the United States misinterpreted and misunderstood what an original cabaret was or is. In fact, there is no “true” Cabaret in America. Through out this essay, you will realize that what is portrayed and defined as a CABARET in America is in fact everything but CABARET! The majority of artists, performers and writers in America believe that if a singer is singing songs by Edith Piaf, Yves Montand, Jacques Brel, Juliette Greco, Catherine Sauvage, Mistinguet or Barbara, her repertoire by itself would de facto create a Cabaret ambience, and her act would become a Cabaret act. Unfortunately, this is not quite accurate, for Cabaret (as we shall see later) demands more than singing French songs and communicating with the audience in an intimate and cozy setting and manner!

Photos: Edith Piaf

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