The shows go on
The Cabaret and Performance Conference at the O’Neill begins
For 10 nights, audience members can witness performances of musical styles ranging from the Golden Age of Broadway to the sounds of Springsteen and classic rock. The Cabaret and Performance Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center will kick off on Aug. 1, boasting variety and some of the best artists in cabaret.
In 2012, the Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning musical director, arranger, orchestrator and conductor John McDaniel took over as artistic director for the conference, bringing a rejuvenated love for the program and its importance to the O’Neill.
“The Cabaret Conference has deep roots at the O’Neill,” McDaniel says via email. “It was founded by Betsy White and has given rise to all types of performers, and I was lucky enough to be entrusted with the reins six years ago, and I absolutely love my work here.”
McDaniel will step out from under his artistic-director hat at the Cabaret to present his own show with singer Barb Jungr. The dynamic duo have been working together for four years and will perform their cabaret piece “Float Like a Butterfly: The Songs of Sting” on Aug. 5.
“(Barb and I) love coming up with songs to sing and perform together,” McDaniel says. “Sting felt like a natural fit for us, as the songs of Sting had been explored a few years ago with our students at the O’Neill. One day, we looked at each other and realized we’d found a new and rich collection of songs to pursue together.”
McDaniel and Jungr reimagine Sting’s rock and reggae hits with more of a Broadway sound. Those songs include “Fields of Gold,” “Message in a Bottle,” “Every Little Thing” and “Englishman in New York.”
“We are celebrating the worldwide release of ‘Float Like a Butterfly’ on Amazon and iTunes and are looking forward to sharing the concert with the unique and supportive audiences at our Connecticut home, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center,” McDaniel says.
This year, the O’Neill will also become home to the 2017 Drama Desk winner for solo performance, Ed Dixon, on Aug. 3 in his one-man show about his 20-year friendship with English actor George Rose; the work is titled “Georgie.”
Penny Fuller and Sharon McKnight, greats in the cabaret world, will be returning to the stage at the O’Neill on Aug. 7 and Aug. 10, respectively.
“They both have history here, and that’s special,” McDaniel says. “It’s hard to underestimate the resounding ‘YES’ whenever I invite someone back — the O’Neill is truly a magical place that has a special meaning for artists.”
Fuller and fellow Broadway actress Anita Gillette will star in a piece reminiscing about the Golden Age of Broadway. McKnight, a MAC Lifetime Achievement Award winner, will salute some late, great female singers and comedians such as Pearl Bailey, Patsy Cline, Ethel Merman and Judy Canova.
Rebecca Parris was likewise a great artist who was expected to bring her Grammy-nominated jazz vocals to the cabaret conference stage in August. However, on June 17, Parris died at the age of 66, a little over a month before the start of the cabaret conference. No cause was given, but it was noted that her health had been declining after she had a heart attack and developed severe osteoporosis in 2004.
The news shocked McDaniel. However, he was able to obtain jazz singer Carol Sloane to fill the spot.
“She has long been on my wish list and, while we’ll miss Rebecca greatly, we are lucky to have Carol, who will undoubtedly charm us with songs from her astounding career, which began with her first recording for Columbia Records in 1961,” McDaniel says.
Along with veteran performers,
the O’Neill has six adult student Cabaret Fellows who will perform on Aug. 9. The fellows have been selected from nationwide auditions to take daily classes in song performance at the O’Neill to hone their craft.
“It’s always terrific to see what they’ve learned and how far they’ve come in their time with us,” McDaniel says.
Middle and high school Junior Fellows will perform their show “Born to Rock” on Aug. 8, showcasing the sounds of Springsteen, Mellencamp, Aerosmith and more. Directing will be Associate Artistic Director Brad Simmons, accompanied by a live band.
Simmons is also presenting a show of his own with Broadway and television actress Tonya Pinkins. They will reunite after a five-year hiatus; they were last on stage together in their hit “Bring On the Men” at Joe’s Pub in New York City.
McDaniel recalls his love for programming and organizing the cabaret conference each year as top-grade performers are brought together and singers new to the stage get to show what they have learned.
“We have created quite a lovely artistic family over the years, and everyone looks forward to these two blissful weeks in Waterford every summer,” McDaniel says.