Please Do Not Take the Cabaret Book

Brian Walters and John Grieco. Photo by Matthew Holler. Matthew by Photo and John Grieco. Walters Brian

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE CABARET BOOK You may download a complete copy at Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director www.floridastudiotheatre.org Table of Contents What is Cabaret? 3

Finding the Right Key 4

Piano Men in Theatre 5

Timeline 6 - 7

Ragtime 8

R&B and Motown 9

Rock n‘ Roll 10

Pop 11

Top 10 Piano Bars in the US 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 cabarets 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 come together. 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 Finding the Right Key

A successful piano man has a classical background and technique, the ability to cross multiple genres of music, and a unique playing style and performance stemming from their music. However, it is the raw talent of these artists that has defined the piano man in American music.

The 1920s and 1930s saw ragtime and jazz find new popularity. Scott Joplin and Fats Waller led the Harlem Renaissance with their music flooding the dance halls and keeping the joint jumping.

The 1950s marked the explosion of rock n ’roll. Artists such as Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis were known for their sexually charged lyrics, intense piano playing, and captivating live performances.

Little Richard The 1960s saw the rise of Motown Records with artists like Stevie Wonder, who took the piano into the R&B, funk, and soul era. However, no one was more famous for soul music than the Father of Soul himself, Ray Charles.

In The 1970s composer Barry Manilow brought adult contemporary and pop music to the charts with his new interpretations of classic songs and film compositions.

The 1980s leaned more towards pop hits, but still had the edginess of rock n’ roll. Billy Joel and Elton John played sold out arenas and toured all over the world. The piano men of the 20th century crossed over multiple genres, and even helped create new ones. The piano has become an integral part of today’s pop ballads, R&B hits, and rock music, to Elton John shape a renaissance of the piano man, which continues to play an important key in pop culture. 4 Piano Men in Theatre

Jordan Shaw (Stevie Wonder) in Elton John accepts the Tony for Brandyn Day (Jerry Lee Lewis) Motown: the Musical on Broadway. best musical for Billy Elliot. in Million Dollar Quartet at FST.

Scott Joplin has composed several operas, Ray Charles was the Vocal Music Arranger for including A Guest of Honor and Treemonisha, of the 1983 Broadway musical revue Peg. which the latter was believed to be the predecessor to Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Stevie Wonder is a character in 2013’s Motown: the Musical. Fats Waller’s music is featured in the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, which is about black musicians in Barry Manilow, along with several concerts the 1920s and 1930s. on Broadway, has written several musicals: The Drunkard (Off Broadway, 1970) and Copacabana Jerry Lee Lewis is a character in FST’s mainstage (West End, 1994) based off his famous song. production of Million Dollar Quartet, which kicked off the 16/17 season. Billy Joel‘s music was the subject of choreographer Twyla Tharp’s dance musical Movin’ Out. Elton John composed the musicals: The Lion King, Aida, Lestat, and Billy Elliot. He won the Tony for Best Score along with Tim Rice for Aida. Elton John was also the producer of the play Next Fall. 5 Artist Milestones

Fats Waller Little Richard Ray Charles

1929 Fats Waller records 1956 1960 Little Richard records his first hit Ray Charles wins his first his famous tune “Ain’t single “Tutti Frutti” in three takes. Grammy Award for his song Misbehavin’.” The single reached #2 on the R&B “Georgia on My Mind.” charts and #17 on the Top 100.

1955 1957 Fats Domino earns his pop Jerry Lee Lewis breaks onto breakthrough with his first the charts with his hits “Great Billboard Top Ten hit Balls of Fire” and “Whole “Ain’t That a Shame.” Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”

Fats Domino Jerry Lee Lewis 6 Stevie Wonder Elton John Jerry Lee Lewis & Ray Charles 1966 1986 On the verge of being let go The Rock and Roll Hall of from Motown Records, Stevie 1972 - 1975 Fame announces its first group Wonder releases “Uptight Elton John releases seven of inductees including Fats (Everything’s Alright)” which hit consecutive #1 albums. Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little #1 on the R&B Charts. Richard, and Ray Charles.

1970 1973 Barry Manilow begins working Billy Joel is signed to Columbia as Bette Midler’s pianist and Records by Clive Davis, and musical director on her tour of records the album Piano Man New York’s gay bathhouses. in Los Angeles

Barry Manilow & Bette Midler Billy Joel 7 Ragtime Scott Joplin Known as the “King of Ragtime”, Scott Joplin began his music career traveling the country and playing in dance halls. His song “Maple Leaf Rag” is regarded as the most successful ragtime song of all time. During a time when ragtime was criticized for its radical form and African-American roots, Scott Joplin continued to champion the genre with several compositions and operas to prove them wrong. The 1970s saw resurgence in the popularity of his music, after the movie The Sting, starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman, featured Joplin’s song “The Entertainer”. While ragtime didn’t truly Scott Joplin catch on until after his time, Scott Joplin is one of the artists to whom ragtime owes its success. Fats Waller Born and raised in New York City, Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller began playing piano at an early age. By 15 he was a professional pianist, playing in cabarets and theatres. He wrote several songs including “Handful of Keys” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” By the 1930s, he had branched out to numerous radio programs and performance venues across the US and around the world. While recognized for his music, he was most known by fans for his comedic and heartwarming persona on the radio.

Fats Waller 8 R&B and Motown Ray Charles Blind by the age of 7, his mother sent him to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, where he learned to read, write, and arrange music in Braille. Ray Charles played a wide range of instruments, and was interested in gospel, country, and blues. He developed his signature piano style from Charles Brown and Nat King Cole. “I Got a Woman” combined his love for gospel and R&B, and “What’d I Say” helped Ray cross over to the pop charts. Other artists called him “The Genius”, because Ray Charles so effortlessly created music Ray Charles in so many different genres and never confined himself into a box.

Stevie Wonder Before the age of 10, Stevie Wonder already knew how to play the harmonica, piano, and drums while learning music in a Detroit church. Stevie Wonder took full control of his career, studying classical music to improve his technique, and renegotiated his contract with Motown Records to have more creative control of his music as a songwriter. This helped him develop hit songs, while also winning him 15 Grammy awards in the 1970s. In the 1980s, he collaborated with Paul McCartney on “Ebony and Ivory,” and also helped the movement to create a national holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Stevie Wonder 9 Rock n’ Roll Fats Domino Immersed in the New Orleans music scene, Antoine “Fats” Domino was born into a musical family. It wasn’t until he played piano under musician Billy Diamond did he get the nickname “Fats”. His first album The Fat Man was the first rock n’ roll record to sell over one Fats Domino million copies. Writing from everyday events he produced hits like “Ain’t That A Shame” and his cover of Glen Miller’s “Blueberry Hill.” Jerry Lee Lewis Known for his flamboyant playing style and energetic songs, Jerry Lee Lewis began playing piano at an early age. Showing promise, he moved to Memphis and started recording music around 1956. He participated in a recording session at Sun Studios along with Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash, which would later be known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Songs like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire” found success on the rock n’ roll, pop, Jerry Lee Lewis country, and R&B charts, showing his versatility in multiple genres. Elton John Dropping out of school at age 17 and performing with a group called Bluesology, Elton John created his stage name from two of the band members’ names. The 1970s saw a string of hits, including “Your Song,” “Crocodile Rock,” and “Bennie and the Jets.” Around 1976, he came out as bisexual and later gay, which caused controversy in the music world. However, that never bothered Elton John, for he continued to perform in big concerts with his over the top costumes and elaborate glasses. Elton John 10 Barry Manilow Pop Barry Manilow started his career as the musical director for CBS Network Television; he produced music for The Ed Sullivan Show, and he was also the musical director and co-producer for, then unknown, Bette Midler. Despite the 1970s being dominated by rock Barry Manilow n’ roll music, Manilow’s adult contemporary and jazz style produced great hits such as “I Write the Songs,” “Mandy,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).” Billy Joel Born in the Bronx, Billy Joel quickly became a piano prodigy. He decided to fully pursue music after being inspired by The Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Initially unsuccessful, Joel moved to Los Angles and played at The Executive Room under the name “Bill Martin.” His experiences led to the song “Piano Man.” Columbia Records gained interest after an underground recording of “Captain Jack” giving Joel a second chance. The 1980s was his Billy Joel most popular decade, with “Uptown Girl,” “The Longest Time,” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

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*Unfortunately, there may be a times when an estate does not qualify Shop | Volunteer | Donate | Consign for the “Royal Treatment” program due to unsaleable merchandise. MORE THAN $7.8 MILLION AWARDED IN GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS 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 Texas, 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, Sophie Tucker, 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 Andrew Lloyd Webber 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...Patsy Cline 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 Guitar 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 Liz Power in Dancing In the Street. Photo by Maria Lyle. One-Hit Wonders 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 Guitars 2011-2012 Season (and a broken tambourine) That’s Life, Again! 2005 – 2006 Season Shake, Rattle, & Roll My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Reel Music Sinatra by David Grapes and Todd Olson 2012-2013 Season Piano 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 Brian Walters and John Grieco. Photo by Matthew Holler.

Directed by Catherine Randazzo Music Director Darren Server Costume Designer Susan Angermann Lighting Designer John Eckert Sound Designer Toby Algya

Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida