West Villages Improvement District: Cabaret Series Keeps Venice Theatre Singing in the Summer

By Sav Franz, staff writer
Venice Herald Tribune, July 5, 2019

Newcomers and returning favorites fill out the 7th annual Summer Cabaret Festival

Venice Theatre marks its 7th annual Summer Cabaret Festival with musical performances that range from toe-tapping jazz classics to work by contemporary local musicians.

The festival, which opens Thursday and continues through Aug. 25, features 19 different programs that mark the return of some familiar performers along with a few newcomers, including local drag favorite Beneva Fruitville and “Siesta Key” star Brandon Gomes. All shows are in the Pinkerton Theatre, which is turned into Pinky’s Cabaret for the series.

Allan Kollar, artistic director for Venice Theatre, said the festival has expanded over the years, including an upgraded stage and improved sound and light equipment, but will maintain its “small cabaret feel.”

The festival opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday with one of the new acts, Ken Salvo’s N’awlins Jazz Band, playing Dixieland jazz from the 1920s and ’30s.

A five-piece band joins singer Michele Pruyn for “Yesterday Once More,” a tribute to The Carpenters, with such hits by the sibling duo as “Top of the World,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and “Masquerade,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. July 14.

Father-daughter duo Jeff and Katie Dunn-Rankin swap music from their decades in “The Generation Swap.” Katie will sing tunes from performers such as Ella Fitzgerald, while Jeff performs music by contemporary musicians including Ed Sheeran, at 7:30 p.m. July 14.

Returning by popular demand, John Lariviere performs classics from legendary singer Frank Sinatra with his hit one-man-show “The Sinatra Songbook.” Performances are at 7:30 p.m. July 18 and 19.

The improv group Treble in Paradise creates a two-act musical comedy with the help of a suggestion of a location, object or title from the audience. The group includes Kathryn Parks, Asia Dekle, Chris Friday and Ryan Simpson. They perform at 7:30 p.m. July 20 and 2 p.m. July 21.

Dorian and the Furniture, one of the stalwarts of the annual festival, returns with “Lost Songs,” an acoustical program of forgotten or lesser-known numbers by folk star Dan Fogelberg, at 7:30 p.m. July 21.

Alana Opie, another festival regular, presents a new version of last year’s show — “Mommy Needs a Drink: Bigger, Badder, Better.” She is joined by five other new or recent mothers who are also performers: Asia Dekle, Jennifer Baker, Corinne Woodland, Jamie Butrum and Liz Pascoe-Broome. They’ll be singing songs about the joys and woes of motherhood at 7:30 p.m. July 25 and 2 p.m. July 28.

Opie also brings back the sounds of Patsy Cline, whom she played in the musical “Always ... Patsy Cline.” She will recreate the late star’s only live concert recording at the Cimarron Ballroom in 1961 at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 and 2 p.m. Aug. 11.

Local guerilla theater troupe Random Acts returns with its new production “Redacted,” led by director Kelly Wynn Woodland and musical director Michelle Kasanofsky. With a large cast of familiar performers, this uncensored show features comedy sketches and musical numbers at 7:30 p.m. July 26 and 27.

Cast members from the theater’s Summer Stock production of “Urinetown: The Musical” perform a tribute to the first 12 seasons of Summer Stock with songs from such shows as “Footloose,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “West Side Story,” “Oklahoma” and “Cabaret.” The cast performs at 7:30 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 7. (“Urinetown” will be presented July 26-Aug. 11.)

Eric Watters, best known for playing Scrooge for 16 years in Venice Theatre’s musical version of “A Christmas Carol” and his sold-out cabaret shows, presents “1961,” which looks back at songs from the year when John F. Kennedy became president, including selections from the theater, movies and such stars as Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and Ray Charles. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 2 p.m. Aug. 4.

Kim Kollar and Bobbi Eschenbach, who have been sharing the stage for years, return with “Two of a Kind,” singing the music of Judy Garland, Johnny Mercer, Barry Manilow, Frank Sinatra and more. They are joined by pianist and musical director Michelle Kasanofsky at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 and 3.

“Swanky Soirée,” starring Jason Ellis, is described as a night of adult comedy, drinks and songs from Frank Sinatra to music from the Oscar-nominated film “The Greatest Showman” at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10. Features guest performances by Ginger Holliday, Vera Jean, Kelly Lee and “Lish.”

Liz Pascoe-Broome presents a family-friendly performance
“Raindrops on Roses and Other Favorite Things,” an interactive show for parents and their children to inspire a love of performing arts at a young age with songs including “Good Morning Starshine” and “Do-Re-Mi.” Performances are at 2 p.m. Aug. 10 and 24.

Local drag queen Beneva Fruitville will present “An Evening on Beneva,” in which she performs songs she’s always wanted to sing, but couldn’t. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 and 17.

Musician Joel Broome performs “Rhythm and Speed,” with various jazz classics as well as ethnic world music featuring percussion instruments at 7:30 p.m. August 16.

Popular singer Stephen Ditchfield sings everything from Nat King Cole to Josh Groban and Michael Buble in his show “Some Enchanted Evening” at 2 p.m. Aug. 18 and 25.

“Siesta Key” star Brandon Gomes joins Sunset Roy (Mikal Mancini and Khamor Lyons) for “Leftcoast Sunset” featuring stripped-down versions of such hits as “Immortal,” and “Beautiful crazy” at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22.

Michelle Kasanofsky takes center stage once again with family members — her father, George Mancini, son, Mikal Mancini and “adopted son” Joel Broome — for a program of music by Michel Legrand, Carole King, Stevie Wonder and more at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23 and 24.

Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, call 941-488-1115 or visit venicestage.com.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate