EVENT: Madwomen's Late-Nite Cabaret (Fringe 2011)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:  April 27, 2011 Kill Date:  June 19, 2011

Contact:  Julie Barber, 765-212-9198

MADWOMEN INVADE CABARET MILE-END

Original Cabaret from US Will Take the Stage June 11-19 as part of St. Ambroise Montreal FRINGE Festival

“Madwomen’s Late-Nite Cabaret,” a new musical comedy by US-based playwright Julie Lyn Barber, has been selected for performance at the St. Ambroise Montreal FRINGE Festival.   The performances will take place at Cabaret Mile-End, 5240 avenue du Parc.  Scheduled performances are June 11 at 5:45pm, June 12 at 7:45pm, June 15 at 8:00pm, June 17 at 6:00pm, June 18 at 4:15pm and June 19 at 7:45pm.  Tickets and information are available through the FRINGE at 514.849.FEST or at www.montrealfringe.ca.  More information about the show can be found at www.mainstarts.com.

Julie Lyn Barber’s play, “The Madwomen’s Late-Nite Cabaret,” is a quick-change cabaret show featuring over a dozen characters including Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, Medusa and Sybil, portrayed by Indiana actors Erica Dumond, Linda Gilchrist and Ms. Barber.  The cast is rounded out by “Ethel Merman” as emcee and “Lizzie Borden” at the piano.  The characters sing classic cabaret songs paired with each of the historic characters to comic effect.  For example, Joan of Arc sings “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” Medusa sings “Hair,” and Sybil sings “I Am My Own Best Friend.”  The show has been previously produced by American Heritage Theater Project in Portland, Oregon, Main Street Studio Theatre in Muncie, Indiana and last year at DivaFest and the IndyFringe Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana.   

Julie Lyn Barber is a native of Carleton Place, Ontario and attended the Universities of Western Ontario and British Columbia before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Masters degree in Opera and Music Theatre.  Her plays have been produced in Oregon and Indiana including the juried festival DivaFest, Indianapolis for the past two years.  As an actor, Barber has performed with Ottawa’s Orpheus Operatic Society, Vancouver’s Theatre Under the Stars, Portland Center Stage in Oregon and many others.   She is active as a director and choreographer, teaches at Taylor University in Upland, IN and will begin doctoral studies in music at Ball State University, Muncie in the fall.

Other performers include Erica Dumond who received her BFA from the University of Oklahoma, Linda Gilchrist who has held the title of the Indiana Gospel Music Association’s Soloist of the Year, and award-winning actors Stevie Ray Hahn & Darrin Murrell. 

Madwomen’s Late Nite Cabaret is intended as a celebration of women, and their ability to work through their problems by communicating them, in this case, through speech and song.  In the absence of their real or perceived oppressions, they indulge in the freedom of expression that is available through the power of music and song in this safe haven where they can be their true, uninhibited selves.   What makes the show work, is the superimposition of strong, familiar characters over really great cabaret singing.   The piece serves as a showcase for talented female performers and may pique people’s interest in learning more about the characters portrayed.  

For tickets and information call 514.849.FEST, visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.montrealfringe.ca/"www.montrealfringe.ca or  HYPERLINK "http://www.mainstarts.com/"www.mainstarts.com.