Venice Theatre Seeks Performers for Summer Cabaret Festival

Venice Theatre is seeking entertainers for its 7th Annual Summer Cabaret Festival which will run July 12 through  Aug. 25, 2019. Performances will be Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. in the 90-seat Pinkerton Theatre. Selected acts will perform two or three times during the run of the festival. Allan Kollar, the theatre’s Artistic Director, is accepting submissions from interested acts through Wednesday May 15, 2019. Chosen acts and a festival schedule will be announced June 1, 2019 at which time tickets will also go on sale. 

New this year, the theatre is hosting a workshop to help performers work on their cabaret ideas. Veteran cabaret performer and Venice Theatre General Manager Kristofer Geddie will be teaching “Sing For Your Supper – Create Your Cabaret!” on Saturdays April 6 and 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuition is $45. Geddie asks, “Has doing your own show always intimidated you? Don’t let it. This class will guide you in putting together and creating your own cabaret. Beginning with choosing material and putting together the act, you will also gain insight into stage presence, song interpretation and fun specific banter – in your voice. Ideas on how to resourcefully market offstage to an audience will be included.”

It should be noted that participation in this workshop does not guarantee a performance slot in the 2019 festival.

Those interested in being considered for the festival must submit:

A brief description of the show including title, style, and theme
A sample song list
A video highlighting vocal and performance abilities
Performance resume
Head shot
Schedule conflicts between June 15 and Aug. 25, 2019
Acts selected to participate will need to provide:

Two sets (35-45 minutes each) of music-driven cabaret entertainment
Sheet music for the accompanist in the correct key
Assistance in promoting the show
High-resolution digital photos and promotional materials
Any costumes or props required
Venice Theatre will supply:

Performance space in the Pinkerton Theatre (90-seat black box)
Piano
Accompanist (if needed)
Up to four cordless hand-held microphones
Four stools, one cocktail table
Basic lighting (warm wash, cool wash, center special, piano special)
Stage Manager / Light Board Operator / Sound Operator
Marketing of the cabaret festival as a whole
Performers should fill out a submission form at VeniceStage.com/audition or mail a packet to:

Venice Theatre
140 Tampa Ave. W.
Venice, FL 34285
Attn: Allan Kollar, Artistic Director

Please note: The theatre is not able to consider “book shows” (scripted shows either published or unpublished); shows that violate copyright law (i.e. “An evening of Disney songs”); shows that require scenery; shows that require projections / video.

Questions about submission requirements should be directed to allankollar@venicetheatre.net.