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Home , Acid Queen, Bathhouse Betty, Bette Midler, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, High Priestess of Soul, How Blue

Jannie Jones, Meredith Jones, Juliana Davis Ditmyer. Photo by Mathew Holler .

Please do not take the Book. Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director You may download a complete copy at: www.floridastudiotheatre.org Table of Contents

What is Cabaret?...... 3

To Walk in Their Shoes...... 4

Gypsies, Tramps, & Theatre...... 5

Music Milestones...... 6

Featured Artists...... 8 - 11 .

2 What is Cabaret?

It began in Paris on November 18, 1881, the year in which the first and most famous cabaret of all, the Chat Noir (Black Cat), was established. Paris, during what the French like to call the Belle Epoque, was the cultural capital of Europe; the mecca of the arts to which admirers and young hopefuls flocked from one end of Europe to the other, and indeed from still farther away. If something caught on in Paris, the immense reputation of the city as the source of fashion and innovation ensured its rapid diffusion across the continent and beyond.

Besides giving rise to many in Paris itself, in its own time and after it became history, the Chat Noir also inspired the introduction of cabaret in major cities throughout Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

In the beginning, cabaret arose as an informal grouping of artists - painters, poets, musicians, and theatre people - who felt the need to . It was intended as something essentially private. From 1881 to 1917, audiences were made up predominantly of artists, their friends, and a variety of cultural fellow-travellers. In post-World War I Europe, the cabaret ceased to be a novelty and by and large fulfilled its function as a locus of an emerging avant-garde. Cabarets became places of entertainment; their facilities were expanded and enhanced, their doors thrown open to the public.

When developing FST’s Cabaret we took the diverse and rich history of the form to create the atmosphere you see today. Set in a turn-of-the-century Parisian Cafe and offering fresh baked food, the Cabaret is an intimate space for an intimate form of entertainment. Turn-Of-The-Century Cabaret by Harold B. Segel Artwork by Théophile Steinlen

3 In To Walk in Their Shoes From Motown Records in the 1960s to today’s modern pop, the music industry has always been abundant with influential female singers. These women were known to both write and perform their . Over the decades they have reinvented themselves and crossed into a wide variety of genres. During the 1960s became the Queen of and led the way with songs such as “Respect” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” went from to a leading actress and Broadway star that continues to wow audiences and make them laugh. The brought artists such as and Gloria Gaynor. Fans hit dance floors and boogied to songs Turner.

such as, “She Works Hard for the Money,” “,” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” Also in the ‘70s, was on the rise, producing hits such as “” and “.” This led to other female artists, such as Reba McEntire, gaining popularity. Reba’s early songs “How Blue” and “Whoever’s in New England” topped the charts and made her into a household name in the music world. This era saw artists such as and Cher break ties with their former spouses, and start their rise to fame as solo artists. Tina Turner became the Queen of Rock, and established herself as a major force in . Donna Summer.

4 Gypsies, Tramps, & Theatre: The Ladies on Broadway

• Bette Midler has had several credits on Broadway, including concerts like Bette Midler (1973) and Bette! Divine Madness (1979-80). She made her Broadway debut in (1967- 69). Other credits include: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (2011-12), I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat With (2013), and the Hello, Dolly! revival scheduled for 2017.

• Donna Summer’s songs and lyrics are featured in the short run of Rock N’ Roll! The First 5,000 Years on Broadway in 1982. Known as the Queen of , Donna Summer started her career right after her high school graduation, auditioning for a touring production of Hair, which brought her to Germany.

• Dolly Parton was the composer and lyricist for the 2009 Broadway musical 9 to 5. The musical is based off the 1980 movie with the same name, in which Dolly Parton starred alongside and Tomlin. She is also currently working on a second Broadway musical based on her life story.

• Reba McEntire starred in the 2001 Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun.

• Tina Turner played the in the 1975 film . The film became a musical and hit Broadway in 1993. While there have been many attempts at putting Tina’s story on the stage, a true Broadway musical has yet to come to fruition, though a production is rumored.

• Cher starred in the 1976 Broadway play Come Back to the Five and Dime, , Jimmy Dean. Reba McEntire in “Annie Get Your Gun.”

5 Artist Milestones

1978 1965 Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park” recorded the was #1 on the for “” for her three weeks and was nominated for the . Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 1970 Cher had a string of hits during The Sonny & Cher Show, with songs like “Half-Breed,” “Dark Lady,” and “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves.”

1975 1967 Tina Turner released her first solo Aretha Franklin earned the title the album following her split with Ike Queen of Soul for many of her hits, Turner, Acid Queen. including the single “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

The female artists of the 1960s and 1970s are known for creating the soundtrack of social progress. Nina Simone.

6 Artist Milestones

Not only did these women create music hits in the 60s, and 70s but they continued to stay 1984 relevant through several decades. Tina Turner hit album, , is released with hit songs 1998 like “What’s Love Got to Do with One of Cher’s most famous songs, It”, “Private Dancer”, and “Better Be “Believe,” was released and won the Good To Me”. Grammy for Best Dance Recording. 1987 This song also placed Cher in the Aretha Franklin becomes the Guinness Book of World Records as first female artist to be inducted the oldest female solo artist to top into the Hall of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Fame.

1993 Dolly Parton’s song “I Will Always 1986 Love You” was covered by R&B With songs like, “Whoever’s in New for the film The England” and “How Blue,” Reba Bodyguard. This recording set a then- McEntire dominated the country record of fourteen weeks at number music scene, winning Best Female one on the Billboard charts. Vocalist at the Awards four years in a row.

Dolly Parton.

7 Featured Artists Nina Simone Nina Simone became infatuated with American music standards through and . In her autobiography Simone wrote about how her function as an artist is “…to make people feel on a deep level. It’s difficult to describe because it’s not something you can analyze; to get near what it’s about you have to play it. And when you’ve caught it, when you’ve got the audience hooked, you always know because it’s like electricity hanging in the air.” Her renditions of “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl” and “Feelin’ Good,” recognized her as the High Priestess of Soul. She became the voice of Civil Rights Movement and her voice “put a spell” on the music of the 1960s. Her cover of “I Loves You, Porgy” from the musical Porgy and Bess, Nina Simone. spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Aretha Franklin Growing up in a Baptist Church, Aretha Franklin has been established as one of the greatest voices in American music. Despite her beginnings as a gospel singer, she has produced hits in every genre from blues to rock to jazz. She set standards for R&B which earned her the nickname the Queen of Soul. Her most famous hit is the penned classic “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” During a recent performance of the hit at the , Franklin received a mid- performance standing ovation from the audience. listed Aretha Franklin as number one on the list of the Greatest Singers of All Time. Aretha Franklin.

8 featured artists Bette Midler Bette Midler began in the , a gay bathhouse, in the 1970s. Because of this she earned the nickname . “Despite the way things turned out [with the AIDS crisis], I’m still proud of those days [when I got my start singing at the gay bathhouses]. I feel like I was at the forefront of the gay liberation movement, and I hope I did my part to help it move forward. So, I kind of wear the label of ‘Bathhouse Betty’ with pride.” Midler released her debut album, The Divine Miss M, in 1972, earning her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Her cover of “” became Midler’s first Bette Midler. No. 1 Adult Contemporary hit. Donna Summer Though she started her career in an American blues band, Donna Summer moved to in the early 1970s after booking a German production of Hair. Her career in theatre led her to perform in shows such as Godspell and Show Boat while abroad. She eventually became a hit disco singer in Europe, but it wasn’t until her song “Love to Love You Baby” was released in 1975 that her popularity spread back to her home in the USA. Summer became the first artist, male or female, to have three double hit #1. Donna Summer.

9 Featured Artists Cher Since beginning her career in 1965, Cher has asserted herself as one of the edgiest and most creative artists of all time. Throughout the years she has experimented with various musical styles including folk, pop, disco, new wave and rock n roll. She become a style icon with her controversial outfits, long hair, and tattoos. Cher also found success in acting, winning an Academy Award for the film Moonstruck. Outside of music, fashion and acting, she is known for her outspoken political views, philanthropic endeavors and social activism, including LGBT rights and HIV/AIDS prevention. Cher. Cher is the only artist to date to achieve a #1 single on Tina Turner a Billboard chart in each of the past six decades. Born Anna Mae Bullock to sharecropping parents, Tina Turner began her career after moving to St. Louis at age 16. She was discovered by , who added her to his band, the , suggested her stage name and married her. Tina’s career took off with Ike, despite their marital strife. In 1978 she left Ike with “36 cents and a gas station credit card” and worked her way back to the top as a solo artist. Performing with , , and Paul McCartney, Turner established herself as the Queen of Rock N Roll. Tina Turner has sold the most concert tickets Tina Turner. of any solo performer in history.

10 Featured Artists Dolly Parton Best known for her pioneering of pop-country music, Dolly Parton is also a prolific . She almost exclusively writes her own material, including “I Will Always Love You”, the remake of which was made famous by Whitney Houston. In 2001 she was inducted into the Hall of Fame; Dolly has said herself that she’s written over 3,000 songs since the age of seven. Parton has also composed a hit musical, 9 to 5, and was nominated for an Academy Award for her song “Travelin’ Thru” from the film Transamerica. Parton‘s song ‘I Will Always Love You’ has hit #1 on the Dolly Parton. charts on four different occasions Reba McEntire With songs like “Whoever’s in New England” and “How Blue,” Reba dominated the country music scene, winning Best Female Vocalist at the Country Music Awards four years in a row (1984-1987), and becoming the most nominated artist, passing Dolly Parton in 2010. Beginning with the 1990 film, Tremors, McEntire was bitten by the acting bug. She forayed into television with her popular sitcom Reba, and also made her Broadway debut in the 2001 revival of Annie Get Your Gun. Since then, she has acted in the concert of South Pacific, and has even done cartoon voiceover work. McEntire is the only country female solo act to have a No. 1 hit Reba McEntire. in four straight decades: the , ’90s, ’00s and ’10s.

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12 Su RICHARD HOPKINS is the Producing Artistic Director of Florida Studio Theatre. Since 1980, Mr. Hopkins has guided the company from a small touring group to a professional regional theatre. He began his professional theatre career as a resident actor with the Asolo State Theatre in Sarasota. In 1974, he founded the Palisades Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., which subsequently moved to St. Petersburg and is now called American Stage. He served as its Producing Director from 1974-1980. Additional experiences include President of the Florida Professional Theatres Association, Panelist for Theatre Program of Florida Arts Council, and Director/Instructor for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus’ Clown College. His many directing credits include: Inspired Lunacy, The Best of Enemies, Next to Normal, Race, Ruined, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Boleros for the Disenchanted, Permanent Collection, Metamorphoses, The Bully Pulpit, God’s Man in , Hysteria, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, 2: Goering at Nuremberg, Six Degrees of Separation, Execution of Justice, Death by Misadventure, Hi-Hat-Hattie, Invictus, Agnes of God, Beyond Therapy, True West, La Ronde, and Betrayal among numerous other plays and Cabaret projects including Laughing Matters (vol. 5) Lock the Gates, Never Marry A Girl With Cold Feet, The Prima Donnettes, Too Darn Hot, Laughing Matters, Night Train to Memphis, , Inspired Lunacy, Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits, Over the Rainbow, and Let’s Twist Again: with the Wanderers. Mr. Hopkins is the recipient of numerous awards including the Arts Leadership Award from the Sarasota Arts Council, the Richard G. Fallon Award for Artistic Excellence from the Florida Professional Theatre Association, and the Cultural Champion Award from the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.

14 13 FST Cabaret: A History 1995 – 1996 Season 1998 – 1999 Season Hot ‘N Cole Harry Who? My Castle’s Rockin’ by Larry Parr A Brief History of White Music conceived Back to the 40’s with the Boiler Sisters by Dee Dee Thomas and David Tweedy Forever Ivory Rowe by Mark Hunter and Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits Barbara Bates Smith 1999 – 2000 Season An Evening Wasted Three Girls Berlin! Song and Dance by Sophie Tucker: American Legend by The Jazz Club Jack Fournier & Kathy Halenda 1996 – 1997 Season The All Night Strut By Gershwin I am an American by Kurt Weill 2000 – 2001 Season Motown Cabaret By Mercer Harry Chapin and Friends Always... by Ted Swindley Brassy Broads 1997 – 1998 Season Honky -Tonk Highway by Richard Berg 2001 – 2002 Season and Robert Lindsey-Nassif The Rhythm of Life: O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music by Patrick The Songs of Dorothy Fields Ball and Peter Glazer The Songs of Jaques Brel License to Bash Laughing Matters Over the Rainbow Sophie Tucker Gunmetal Blues Last of the Red Hot Mamas Inspired Lunacy (revised) 2002 – 2003 Season Rendezvous with Marlene My One and Only Gershwin Carreno Girls Clearly Invisible by Carl Seiger A Vaudeville Cabaret Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross 2003 – 2004 Season Too Darn Hot: A Tribute to Cole Porter On the Road One-Hit Wonders Liz Power in Dancing In the Street. Photo by Maria Lyle. 14 FST Cabaret: A History 2004 – 2005 Season 2010 – 2011 Season G.I. Jive The Wanderers The Rise and Fall of Western Civilization Brassy Broads: The Next Generation According to Tom Lehrer Laughing Matters Three Friends, Two 2011-2012 Season (and a broken tambourine) That’s Life, Again! 2005 – 2006 Season Shake, Rattle, & Roll : A Musical Tribute to Frank Reel Music Sinatra by David Grapes and Todd Olson 2012-2013 Season Men Let’s Twist Again: With the Wanderers Flip Side Urban Cowboys By Gershwin: A Tribute to George and Ira 2006 – 2007 Season Over The Rainbow, A Tribute to Harold Arlen 2013-2014 Season The Prima Donnettes The British Invasion Poems, Prayers and Promises Laughing Matters…Too Too Darn Hot 2007 – 2008 Season Harry Who? The Lullabye of Broadway 2014-2015 Season Dancing in the Street European Cabaret American Pie Outlaws and Angels Never Marry A Girl With Cold Feet: and 2008 – 2009 Season other life lessons from Vaudeville Steppin’ Out Hula Hoop Sha-Boop 2015-2016 Season Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville Laughing Matters ’09 Yesterday 2009 – 2010 Season Laughing Matters (vol. 5) Lock the Gates! That’s Life Reflections Night Train to Memphis

Arthur Marks in That’s Life, Again. Photo by Maria Lyle. 15 Susan Angermann Michael Pasquini Darren Server Darren Thom Beaulieu Lighting Designer Sound Designer Music Director Costume Designer Directed by Directed by Catherine Randazzo Catherine

Jannie Jones, Meredith Jones, Juliana Davis Ditmyer. Photo by Mathew Holler.