Sunday, February 15, 2015

Full Dark Rehearsal Stills! Feb 11th in the St. Lawrence Centre Rehearsal Hall.


A Cabaret Written and Performed 
by Sharron Matthews

Directed 
by Andrew Kushnir

Musically Direction and Arrangments
by Steve Thomas

Associate Musical Direction 
by Wayne Gwillim

Guitar 
  Jason Chesworth

Drums
 Bob DiSalle

Production Associate
Michael Hughes

Production Stills and Poster Image
Mike Bickerton

February 18th, 19th and 20th
At the Rhubarb Festival
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre


Inspired by Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Stephen King, artists like Usher, Pink, Beyonce, Billy Joel, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Ani DiFranco, Sharron Matthews, Canada’s most traveled and successful cabaret artist, looked into the dark forest, like Little Red before her and decided to leave the path most traveled. On this crazy, thrilling, terrifying musical journey Sharron encounters evil monsters, struggles with fears, revels in sexy/dirty thoughts, searches for her dead father and asks her catholic aunts what they think happens after you die...among the other things one might find in a dark forest. The answers and the discoveries made in the shadows might surprise, uplift, take the breath from you and...maybe scare you...maybe...and will leave you feeling...well, Sharron will talk to you about THAT after.

All rehearsal shots taken in the St. Lawrence Centre Rehearsal Hall on Feb 11th, 2015.





 





















FULL DARK has been FUNDED by the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, BMO and private funders. Full Dark was presented in it's first incarnation at Sheridan College as a part of their 2014-15 season. Full Dark has been created and workshopped as a part of the Buddies in Bad Times Artist Residency Program.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Some people just have "resting bitch face", Darkness, Mini Eggs and Kindness...

Photos from the first workshop of FULL DARK in March 2013 taken by Gavin Hope.

There is a darkness.
This phrase has been running around and around my head for days...since I began workshop rehearsals on this last phase of FULL DARK... I dream these words...they just occur to me at odd times...I find myself mouthing the phrase to myself on the subway....the subway...now, let us talk about darkness...personal grooming on the subway?...when the fuck did THAT start happening?...was it always happening when I actually lived in town?...AH but as usual, I digress....THERE IS A DARKNESS...now, in the past, there usually is an ellipsis at the end...like this....
There is a darkness....
But today, I put a period at the end.
There is a darkness.
Because it seems like the right thing to do.
Because... there just is.
Oh, don't be afraid everyone...calm your jets...and cool your heels...and don't start messaging and emailing me...stop freaking...There is ALSO a lightness.
BUT...by choice... I have been wrestling with that first phrase and concept for the last few years in this piece that is part of my amazing residency at Buddies. 
I realized, with a bit of shock, that as of next week I have been committed to this piece for two years...BUT I have also been working on it since I wrote "SNAP" in 1998 (my first solo show ever...) and also since 10 days before I turned two years old in 1970...to help you figure THAT shit out you actually have to come to the workshop showing...it makes sense, really.
The most amazing thing is how quickly and honestly I gravitated towards the light in this life and in the work that I was attracted to doing...and seeing...and that the DARK was just always there...waiting...sometimes quietly...sometimes not at ALL quiet...waiting for me to  acknowledge it's presence. 
"Don't worry..." the Darkness said, "we have got all the time in the world..."
Sometimes...it is sultry...and attractive...and dreamy...and sometimes?...it is terrifying...and freezing...and life altering...and day ending.
When I began work on this show? 
I had no idea what it would end up being...and now? It is all clearer...more will reveal as I put it again in front of people...one of the most important elements of cabaret....this is different than anything I have ever done...and yet it is cabaret and therefore it is in my heart...it is alive and changing...but it is a practice...that is what Andrew calls it...and THAT feels right and good and solid.
Working with Andrew Kushnir has been a thrill...and it feels like I have my hand held for some of the way...and then a witness and helper on the rest of the way... when I have to continue on my own.
And then there is Steve Thomas at the piano, and with arrangement...who gets what I do so completely...and encourages me when I need it...and bows his head when I don't... and leads the players with a cabaret/theatrical strength that is calming.
The team, as I have said in many Facebook posts, is stellar...with Michael Hughes, not dropping any balls and making sure the production side keeps floating along...and with Jason Chesworth BACK on strings...and the sensitive and wonderful Bob DiSalle...who came and joined us at a minutes notice on drums...when Jason found out Bob played for Bruce Cockburn for years, he plotzed. : ) And, when we get to performance, Wayne Gwillim with take the piano, as Steve goes off to other work...and Wayne...well, he gets it too...and has been around the world with me.
How thrilled can a gal be...to have all these people standing with her at the entrance to the forest...this girl is excited, nervous, scared...filled with many many many feelings and thoughts...as one does in a process like this...
I know this sounds all serious...and maybe fancy...maybe not...but this is truly something...something that I have been moving forward with for years...and it is strong...and it is chaotic...and it is cabaret. AND it is evolution!
I think it would be so interesting to have you come and be a part of this practice...what do you say? 
Feb 18th, 19th and 20th at...wait for it...10:00pm...so late. BUT I love it.
Get your tickets...come and take a ride....or a walk with me...and my wonderful team. 
I am very thankful to Mel and Cole for being included in the amazing 35th year of this groundbreaking festival. THE RHUBARB FESTIVAL!! It only took me 46 years. Better late than never!

Here, just for shits and giggles, are some of the things that have occurred to me since I began this WHOLE process:

Sometimes, people's feelings about cabaret (positive or negative) really influence my spirit...and sometimes, people's misunderstanding or disdain of the art form makes them put out to the world that it is not enough...or not serious art. NOW! Maybe I am projecting...I am working in a very sensitive and close place to my heart right now...so one can become paranoid....and one can let that effect them and their work. (Though, after you have done many hours of cabaret work in rooms with very drunken people, you learn to steer your own ship and find your own peace.) 
OR...HOW ABOUT THIS GOAL? I strive to see it...whatever their words or actions are saying...ask myself 'does it concern what I am doing right now'...and move on with your work, Sharron. 
Move on with the practice. (It really is the perfect word)
BUT (most important) DO NOT let that distance you from the audience, the world you are working in and the rooms...just let the "shit that mars" roll over you like a river....not a fast river...a slow and lazy one.
Cabaret is so connected to the people you are working with (in the audience...and cabaret artists are working WITH you...that is how the show can change so drastically every night) that sometimes the negative...or perceived negative can cut you to the quick.
Use that. And move on.
LORD!! SO FANCY!!

POSSIBLE CRASS SHORTFORM OF ABOVE: Sometimes audience members just have "resting bitch face"...it really can mean nothing....move on. (I learned this in Scotland and Mexico...oh, and everywhere else...) And if it does mean something...fuck it...use it...

Mini Eggs can really make a day better.

There are SO many wonderful supporters out there. People you know and a great many you don't. Support, help, joy, and positivity comes from a lot of different places and directions. BE OPEN to the positivity. Listen AND hear. And stop for a moment and be thankful for these times and people. 

People can judge romance novels all they want...but, especially during a process like this...I LOVE THAT SHIT. (I feel that I need to say I love other books too...)
  
When people place themselves above others in arts (and in the world), whether through good fortune, lucky breaks or hard work, creation and independence dies a little. (I twittered that late last night...I really believed it needed another look.)

The TTC really is the better way...except the grooming...the rushing... and the meanness that occurrs sometimes.

I love cabaret. I love art...and I feel that it saved my life...many times.

HERE are a couple of videos from the first workshop of FULL DARK in March of 2013.
The wonderful Chris Tsujiuchi was on keys, the handsome and talented Jamie Drake was on percussion and the foxy Jason Chesworth rocked it out on guitar and mandolin.
I am so thankful to ALL the musicians I have worked with on this project...Matt Marccocia, Michael Doherty included!
THESE Two songs are not in the show...but give them a listen and have good days ALL!!



Tuesday, December 02, 2014

The Holiday 411, PEOPLE!! SO MANY THINGS! AND ONE NEW EXCITING THEATRICAL VENTURE!!

Hey ALL!!
Hope this December finds you ALL as well as well as can be! (SO MANY AS's!!!!)
It has been a while, my good people, but I have a number of shows coming up this festive month! ALL is very exciting 

So, to choose from on the holiday menu I HAVE (and please, choose more than one option) :
1.  Something OLD(ER) - Sharron's Christmas Party!
2. Something New  - Sharron's Canadian Superstar Variety Roadshow on NEW YEARS EVE in Richmond Hill!
3. Something GREEN AND RED: Sharron and George's SUPERFUN Christmas Sing A-Long! ON TOUR!

 
"Sharron and George's SUPERFUN CHRISTMAS Sing A-Long" at Buddies in Bad Times in TORONTO

....on December 19th, 20th and 21st @ 7:00pm (we are starting earlier this year!!). 
Song sheets!
Cookie BUFFET (maybe you will bring a couple of your special homemade cookies to add?) !
The yearly food drive (bring your non-perishable item!)
Maybe new friends...maybe old acquaintances...a bunch of awesome, kookoo people you never met! 
The guests this year include:

December 19th: Lisa Atkinson, Bruce Dow, Louise Pitre and Joe Matheson

December 20th: Joni Henson and Virginia Hatfield, Shawn Hitchins and Matthew Hines

December 21st: BRAVURA (George Masswohl, James Levesque and Curtis Sullivan), Thom Allison and Micah Barnes

EVERY NIGHT Includes country raconteur, John Austin and the amazing Christmas Carols: Michael Hughes and Ari Weinberg!!

It is a panic AND ALREADY (as of this minute) 2/3rd's SOLD OUT!!
So, put on your fave Christmas sweater, grab your kazoo,  get your TICKETS AND COME ON DOWN!!

HERE IS THE LINK!!
TORONTO Sharron and George's SUPERFUN SING A-LONG

AND

THIS year we are packing up our friggen jingle bells and taking the show to BURNABY, BC!!
Imagine!
So if you live out that way OR know anyone who does who might dig a night of holiday cheer, #WESTCOASTSHARRONANDGEORGESTYLE pass this info on, if you would!!


Sharron and George's SUPERFUN Christmas Sing A-Long in BURNABY AT the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in BC!!

December 11th and 12th @ Shadbolt Centre for the Arts at 8:00pm!

AGAIN:
Song SHEETS!
Cookie BUFFET (maybe you will bring a couple of your special homemade cookies to add?) !
Maybe new friends...maybe old acquaintances...a bunch of awesome, kookoo people you never met! 
Sharron and George bring up an AMAZING array of special guests from the Vancouver area!
The revolving list of guest include their west coast pals (guests change each NIGHT!) Jennifer Copping (award winning star of TV and Film, cast of Jersey Boys, The Who's Tommy and will be playing Jesus in the Arts Clubs upcoming production of Godspell), David Adams (currently playing Lockstock in the Firehall Arts Centre’s Urinetown, he has also performed at The Arts Club, Vancouver Opera, in Phantom of the Opera, and Showboat), Jovanni Sy (acclaimed playwright, director and Artistic Director of the Gateway Theatre in Richmond), Graham Myrfield ( one of the contestants from the most award winning and acclaimed episode of Global TV’s Canada Sings), and well known Vancouver theatre couple Rebecca Talbot (thrilling musical theatre star of Suessical, Ruthless, the US Tour of Footloose) and Todd Talbot (among being one of Canada’s premiere song and dance men, Todd is one of the stars of the hit TV show, Vancouver's "Love it of List It"). 

Here is the link for tickets:
BURNABY Sharron and George's SUPERFUN Christmas Sing A-Long!!!

AND, have you stopped reading yet!?!? FORGE ON, CAMPERS!!

It is not often that I get to do this anymore BUT Stirling Festival Theatre (near Belleville, Ontario) has asked me to do my:

SHARRON'S Christmas Party 

at their beautiful theatre on December 14th @ 8:00pm!
And they want the NAUGHTY VERSION!! WHAT!?!? I never get to do this show as much as I want to...SO I AM SUPER EXCITED!!!
SUPER!!
AND my guests are....ME!!!
YAY!!

So, if you are near there or know someone who might be, I would love to see you OR them!
GET your tickets HERE! 
Sharron's Christmas Party in STIRLING!


AND (JESUS, are you exhausted? Imagine how he felt...)

MY NEWEST VENTURE!!! ARE YOU READY!?!?!
Wanna spend New Years with some awesome peeps!??!?
Well, how about:

Sharron's Canadian Superstar Variety Roadshow in Richmond Hill, Ontario!

December 31st at 10:00pm @ Richmond Hill Centre for the Arts

Please check out the follow press release...yes...I wrote it...but a gal has to promote!!

In her quest to entertain ALL the people Canada, Sharron Matthews, acclaimed world wide comedy cabaret superstar, has put on her high heels and combed this country in an exhaustive search for OTHER Canadian Superstars to take out on the road!
Sharron's Canadian Superstar Variety ROADSHOW features STARS from the worlds of Comedy, Cabaret, Opera, Theatre, Musical Theatre, Jazz, and Concert Performance!
Appearing on screens big and small, from recording studios to the stage, this bonanza of WORLD CLASS entertainers have either starred on and/or written, performed, and produced for every major Canadian TV network, and every important theatre festival in Canada.
Sharron's Canadian Superstar Variety ROADSHOW has something for every audience member, young, old and in between!
Sharron's Canadian Superstar Variety ROADSHOW will make you laugh, will make you swoon, will amaze you, and will leave you spent...Feeling like you have wrung every cent out of your entertainment dollar!
Sharron's Canadian Superstar Variety ROADSHOW is simply a night you will never forget!

Compére/Host/Curator
Sharron Matthews
During Sharron’s 25 year career in musical theatre she has gone from performing in the original company of Harold Prince’s award winning revival of Showboat to portraying Madame Thenardier in a North American tour of Les Miserables with Colm Wilkinson as Valjean and Sutton Foster as Eponine. Sharron has toured her acclaimed comedy cabarets from New York City to Scotland, London to South Africa, all to rave reviews. She was named “Woman of the Year” by the New Current UK, in anticipation of her third Edinburgh Fringe show, “GOLD”. In 2013, Sharron accepted the position of the first Cabaret-Artist-in-Residence at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto. For two seasons she starred on Global TV’s hit show, Canada Sings. On the big screen, Sharron played ‘Joan the Secretary’ in Tina Fey’s iconic Mean Girls and was featured in the movies Cinderella Man and Hairspray: The Movie. In the 2014-15 season, Sharron will premiere two new cabarets, one at Soulpepper’s Global Cabaret Festival and the other at the groundbreaking Rhubarb Festival. In the spring she will embark on a tour of Alberta and the East Coast on a double bill with Canadian icon, Mary Walsh. 

Musical Director
Steve Thomas 

Steve has written or arranged over 25 productions for the stage. He has collaborated with award winning playwright Norm Foster writing the musicals ‘Jasper Station’, ‘Race Day’, ‘Sitting Pretty’ and ‘One Moment’. Other writing projects include, ‘Monsieur d’Eon Is A Woman’, ‘The BBQ King’ ‘Ice Time’ and ‘Stabbat Martha’ with Mark Brownell and ‘Rum Runners’ with Derek Ritschel.
Steve has also provided Musical direction for over 100 productions throughout the United States and Canada, including Theatre Aquarius, The Elgin Theatre, Lighthouse Festival, Drayton Festival Theatres, Vancouver Playhouse, Charlottetown Festival, Showboat Festival, Sunshine Festival, Muskoka Festival, Stage West, Theatre Brockville, Canada’s Wonderland, and Theatre Sheridan.
Steve has toured Canada extensively with Sharron Matthews as an accompanist and musical director, as well as being one of her chief musical arrangers since 2007.

Guests

Bravura
Celebrated Baritone Trio: From the Palace at Versailles, to the City Centre in New York City, the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, to the Four Seasons in Toronto these three thrilling artists have performed all over the world. Bravura takes songs from every genre and makes it there very own, singing in a three part harmony that can only be described as thrilling. Bravura has just completed recording their debut, self titled album)

Kevin Fox
Cellist/Composer/Solo Performer: Although Kevin Fox has been spending the last few years composing arrangements for the likes of Justin Bieber & Kathleen Edwards, recording with artists as diverse as Raine Maida & Celine Dion, & touring extensively with musicians ranging from Chantal Kreviazuk & Steven Page to Tom Cochrane & Olivia Newton-John not to mention touring in support of his own critically acclaimed 2008 release SONGS FOR CELLO & VOICE  he has somehow found the time to write & record his third album, SET RIGHT.

Thom Allison Cabaret/Concert Artist
Thom Allison is a Canadian treasure, having performed in theatres large and small all across Canada. From his critically acclaimed performance as Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime at the Shaw Festival to his many appearances in the Stratford stage in Into the Woods, Three Penny Opera and The King and I, as well as his renowned turn as the MC in Cabaret and Theatre Calgary, Thom is one of the most talented and versatile musical theatre artists in this country. Well known for his turn as one of the three judges on CBC's "Over The Rainbow", Thom recently was honoured to be a part of the original musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which took him to Broadway. Thom is a go to concert artist all across North America.


Micah Barnes
Jazz Vocalist/Performer/Recording Artist
Micah was a part of the accapela vocal group, The Nylons. After the Nylons, Micah launched a very successful solo career touring the U.S.which led to his #1 international club hit "Welcome To My Head" and coverage in Rolling Stone Magazine as "an Indie artist to watch".
Micah's upcoming collection "New York Stories",(due fall 2014), pays homage to the rich musical history of the Big Apple. On this recording The Micah Barnes Trio is joined by special guest Michael Shand on keys and features a duet with the legendary Jackie Richardson. The results are an assured collection of deeply personal and sophisticated songs that remind us that, like Micah's musical heroes Tony Bennett, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Ray Charles, the deepest of musical traditions are always contemporary.

Gavin Crawford
Comedian/Performer/Solo Artist
 Crawford appeared in eight seasons of This Hour Has 22 Minutes to much critical acclaim. He won several Gemini Awards over the years for his work on the show, as well as a Writers Guild of Canada Award. Crawford also co-wrote and starred in the award-winning series The Gavin Crawford Show, which aired on the Comedy Network from 2000 to 2003. In 2008 he hosted CBC’s reality show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? Crawford won a 2011 DORA Award for his work on stage in The Situationists and a Gemini Award for a guest star role on The Murdoch Mysteries. He also won the 2012 Canadian Comedy Award for Best Performance by a Male in Film for his role in French Immersion. The pilot for Gavin Crawford’s Wild West, co-created, co-written by, and starring Crawford, aired in July 2013 on CBC.
Gavin has performed at numerous showcases and festivals, including: the Vancouver International Comedy Festival; the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival; and the Edmonton Comedy Festival. Crawford has produced three one-man shows, Standing/Mis, You Shouldn’t Be Watching This, and Menage.
 
HERE is a link for TICKETS!!!
Sharron's Canadian Superstar Variety Roadshow in Richmond Hill, Ontario!

I Would LOVE to see you at any of these gigs!
As always, your support is greatly appreciated AND I hope you are all rocking it!
Love
Sharron xoxoxo

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Sharron and George's SUPERFUN Christmas Sing A-Long VIDEO 2014

Yes.
I have a video for our show.
I know.
It is in HD.
Right?
Who do WE THINK we ARE!?!?!?
Check it out.
COME OUT TO THE SHOW!!!


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Musical Dreams, indeed Patricia O'Callaghan.

From the first year I participated in the Global Cabaret Festival, seven years ago, I knew I was lucky enough to be part of something very special. I have written over and over again every year how thrilled I am to be involved...what a joyous time I have and how I always do things there that I never get a chance to do anywhere else...and work with people who I have never worked with before. It also, as a sidebar, really built up a quest to collaborate more often.
SO, I know...I AM NOT gonna wax all poetical and fancy... you already have all THAT information.
BUT I was reminded today, reading an article in The Star about the festival and specifically the wonderful Patricia O'Callaghan, (who I met and had the honour of working with because of the Festival) that we all feel the same way.

"For the artists taking part in Soulpepper’s annual Global Cabaret Festival, it’s about fulfilling “musical dreams” as much as performing.
 The cabaret veteran (O'Callaghan) has been taking part in the festival since it started seven years ago and still finds it “absolutely amazing. Albert (Schultz, Soulpepper’s artistic director) keeps giving all of us artists the power to create shows that fulfill our musical dreams." - R.O. in this article in today's Star
Here is the Full Article:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2014/10/21/patricia_ocallaghan_indulges_love_of_leonard_cohen_at_global_cabaret_festival.html

This festival, really is a place where Albert gives you the space, TRUST, and time to try out new ideas. And for THAT I am eternally grateful. And after years of happily trying out new musical pieces mixed in with tried and true songs I am going to do a whole new show there.
A NEW SHOW!!
And my show, as you may have figured out by now, if any of  you people are on social media is not just a cabaret...but a show that I have dreamed of doing since I was 14. It is very personal...and the music featured is music that (when I was in college at the grand old age of 17 being told that I was a musical theatre singer and to stay away from popular music) I wanted to sing and yell out from the rooftops from the very bottom of my little young heart and my cheap but fashionable boots. And, now, many years later... with the help of Steve and Brendan, I am doing just that. So, to list it all again...this show is new, it is raw for me, this will be the first time I will perform it without crutches in front of people...and that is THRILLING and SCARY AS SHIT. AND I would love...love love love...to fly this ship with you...and a gal cannot be too coy...but...do you have something to do on Friday at 8:45pm or Saturday at 3:45pm? I know that as of right now, there are some tickets left...let's go for a ride
And while you are at it, get tickets for some other shows too...these are some special performances...        www.globalcabaret.ca

Here are some Prince videos to get you in the mood...but, again, you don't have to love Prince to be a part of this show. I promise.
DISCLAIMER: Not like, I promise and if you don't like it you will get your money back!! So, there is THAT!! You gotta take a chance people.

 PRINCE with BeyoncĂ© because, why not?



Prince KILLS the guitar solo in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and then throws his guitar in the air....never to be seen again...starts at about 3:30


PRINCE Sings Joni Mitchell...and kills that too.





Friday, October 17, 2014

I wanna know...where were you? What Were You Thinking?

I wanna know people...Where were YOU!? What did YOU THINK? 
Last night, I went to the Soulpepper in the pelting rain, to meet with the young Steve Thomas and younger Brendan Wall in the Tank House, which is the theatre where we will premiere my newest show next week at the Global Cabaret Festival. (THAT is longest run on sentence in the world...) We rehearsed for 5 hours.
I gotta tell you, without being too lordy, that this show is a dream of mine.
So, yes, it is called Prince and Me.
And I know Prince is a pretty polarizing figure...and people really like him or do not like him at all...which is awesome, really.
Who wants to be in the middle? Who?
But seeing and listening to someone like Prince, a person who was exactly who he wanted to be, was pretty life altering for girl growing up in Hamilton at a time when your friends all called each other to find out what the other was wearing to school the next day, because god help you if you stood out...or sang too loud, as Christine (Insert Last Name Here) told me I did one day in choir in G.L. Armstrong Middle School.
Eff that.
The first time I saw him? He was singing this...and I have known EVERY word to every song he has sung since then..
Love him or hate him...where were you when you saw Prince sing Purple Rain? And what did you think?
OH, and this version is in a medley...with Beyoncé because, well...why not?





   


GET YOUR TICKETS to my show Next Friday and Saturday www.globalcabaret.ca