MUSIC
▼
Haughty and naughty
F
rom the Port
land Gay Men s
Chorus to Boris
& Natasha.
Gershwin at Ameri
can Heritage to Sinfer-
no at Dante’s. Perform
by
ers of all kinds— and
lots of them queer— are
the Tony-winning actor from
stepping up to share
Broadway’s Les Misérables.
their songs and their sto
“When I came here nine
ries amid Portland’s grow
years ago, it was shocking to
ing cabaret scene.
me that Portland didn’t
“Audiences are starved
have a cabaret,” recalls
for musical entertain
Lewis, who is gay.
ment,” says Alan Ander
“Cabaret was the only
son of Broadway Rose The
thing that was missing in
atre Company in Tigard.
Portland’s artistic scene."
“The g(xxl news is some of
But the city’s cultural
our best musical theater
base is getting stronger, he
performers in town are
says. Artistic alternatives
now creating their own
are becoming more varied
opportunities and devel
and audiences are willing to
oping cabaret acts.”
take more risks.
Known primarily for
So are performance
its summer-stock musi
venues such as W ilf’s Restau
cal theater, Broadway
rant & Piano Bar at Union
Rose expanded its
Station. In fact, Wilf’s began
season last year by
setting Portland’s new standard
adding a holiday
for traditional cabaret more
show and playing
than a year ago when Jo-Anne
host to three one-
Nofield took a chance on book
night cabarets.
ing local performers for regular
Anderson says the
Tuesday night gigs.
series, which began
While many entertainers
its second season last
at Wilf’s are gay and have a
month, is especially
musical theater background,
appealing because
their cabaret shows are not as
it offers an inexpen
narrowly defined. An artist’s
sive evening of
repertoire sometimes
entertainment.
includes music from a
Rick Lewis is a veter
Broadway show but
an music director, per
more often features
former and playwright
standard ballads, jazz or
who has worked with
lesser-known, poignant
Anderson at Broadway
selections that give each
Rose and at other venues
act a distinctly personal
in Portland for a number
touch.
of years. He also recently
And there’s always
began producing his own
humor, remarks Nofield.
cabaret aboard the Port- &
“The cabaret at Wilf’s
land Spirit cruise ship on
doesn’t get raunchy, but
the Willamette. Dubbed
there’s innuendo.”
“River of Stars,” the
Nearby in the Old Town
series presents high-
district is Hobo’s, a longtime
profile entertainers in
queer fave for more infor
an intimate setting.
mal cabaret-type entertain
ment, featuring a gay-
The shipboard
From top: Alan Anderson, Rick Lewis,
cabaret opened in
manned piano bar comple
Jo-Anne Nofield and Harriet Guthrie
mented occasionally by
February with
bring cabaret to Portland audiences
vocalists. Here the scene is
Michael McGuire,
Portland rekindles an intimacy with hard-to-
define, easy-to-love and oh-so-gay cabaret
¡ www. r cgf b. or g ]
T imothy K rause
subdued, and the music tends toward light
jazz, old favorites and a lot of show tunes.
"People get tired of canned music,” says
Hobo’s owner Harriet Guthrie. “So, it’s nice to
have someone at the piano to talk with, to ask
for a song.”
It’s that sense of intimacy, spontaneity and
personal connection between performer and
audience that define^ cabaret. The “fourth
wall"— an imaginary division between audience
and cast that allows a willing suspension of dis
belief—isn’t found here. A cabaret artist doesn’t
just perform for the audience, but recognizes it.
“You can go to a theater and see a fabulous
show, but there’s still that distance there,”
explains Nofield. “This singles it down to one
person and brings them to the focus.”
Comeback for cabaret,
old chum
ere are just a few upcoming opportunities
to see cabaret in Portland. Watch the Just
Out events calendar for additional listings.
Broadway Rose Theatre Company pre
sents local fevorite chanteuse Susannah Mars
in her cabaret “Mars on Life" at 8 p.m.
March 22. Then, on April 26, Terry Palasz,
the “Polish Diva from Milwaukee,” appears.
Performances are at Tigard Community
Friends Church, 15800 S.W. Hall Blvd. Tick
ets are $12 from 503-620-5262,
Ml
W ilfs Restaurant & Piano Bar,
800 N.W. Sixth Ave., presents a special
Variety Show cabaret March 25 featuring
the best entertainers o f the past year. Jerry
Stuart performs April 1 and 8, followed
Susan Overcast on April 15,22 » i d 29.
All shows begin at 7 3 0 p.m. $10 cover
charge and reservations are suggested at
503-223-0070.
march 21. 2003»
A t the same time, a cabaret venue with
food and drink provides an atmosphere in
which patrons can feel comfortable to
socialize with friends and even mingle with
performers.
Every cabaret show is different, Lewis
adds. “ It’s the intimacy o f somebody just
talking with the audience. Because the
audience can talk back, it’s really honest
entertainm ent.”
Although most performers find their bread
and butter in larger shows with longer runs,
cabaret gives them the opportunity to go solo
for a night or two. They can perform as them
selves, try out new material and put together a
show in which they really connect with their
audience.
That relationship may explain the cabaret
community’s Will & Grace casts of predomi
nantly gay men and straight women. “The gay
male performer wears his heart on his sleeve a
little easier than a straight man,” suggests
Lewis. "A nd, with a propensity for a gay audi
ence, where are you going to find more adora
tion as a straight woman?” JTH
Oui. Board near Southwest Salm on Street and
Front Avenue. Reservations at 503-224-3900.
Hobo's, 120 N.W. Third Ave., presents gay
pianists most nights; a few vocalists will return
in April. Music generally begins at 7 p.m.
weekdays, 8 p.m. weekends. N o cover.
Jodi Benson
croons on a
river boat
cruise
March 28
and 29
' "■ ✓
The “R iver o f Stars'* cabaret series
aboard the Portland Spirit continues
March 28 and 29, with Jodi Benson, the
voice of Disney’s Little Mermaid. Debbie
Gravitte, Tony winner for Jerome Roly
bins' Broadway, follows April 25 and
26. Call for times. Regularly $36, tick
ets are half-price if you mention Just
1
The Rose City Gay Freedom Band
Glitter and Be Gay!
Music both frivolous and serious
Rice Majors, Conducting
8:00pm Saturday, April 12th 2003
Rose City Park Cnitcd Methodist Church
.5830 NE Alameda St. • Portland, Oregon
near the intersection ot Sandy Blvd and N E ,57th
proudly presents
Featuring:
CANDIDE
FANFARE for the COMMON MAN
The ADAGIO for STRINGS
Selections from
—an arrangement for wind instruments
BULLDOG MARCH
—by Seattle com poser Sean Osborn
P L U S works by other gay American com posers:
SAMUEL BARBER
AARON COPLAND
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
$5 Seniors A Students
Available at Gal Pied or call
5 0 3 /7 9 0 .2 1 7 0
✓ i-