Musical
Renaissance
Nonprofit group
launches cabaret
performances in
Detroit.
I
Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer
C
abaret 313 — an emerging
entertainment attraction
— takes its name from the
telephone area code associated with its
locale. Founders are calling upon inter-
national performers to appear at intimate
Detroit venues.
The second set of Cabaret 313 public
concerts will spotlight German singer
and actress Ute Lemper, who often
includes Yiddish songs along with
numbers expressed in English, French,
Spanish and German.
Lemper, accompanied by Vana Gierig
on piano and Hector Castro on bandone-
on, will appear in two shows Saturday eve-
ning, Dec. 14, in the Jazz Cafe at the Music
Hall Center for the Performing Arts.
"The name of the show is Last Tango
in Berlin:' says Sandi Reitelman, Cabaret
313 executive director and co-founder
with Allan Nachman. "Ute is an interna-
tional and iconic cabaret artist, and this
show will be a compilation of interna-
tional songs:'
The title, Last Tango in Berlin, rein-
forces the connections between European
cabaret and the Argentine tango music
composed by Astor Piazzolla, whose
work is included in the upcoming perfor-
mance.
"Ute is considered the definitive mod-
ern Kurt Weill vocalist, interpreting songs
of love, passion and rebellion:' Reitelman
says. "She also embraces the dark poetry
of city streets and takes audiences on a
musical journey to Berlin and Paris as
well as Buenos Aires:'
Lemper, who starred in the original
Vienna production of Cats, played Peter
in Peter Pan (Berlin) and Sally Bowles in
Cabaret (Paris). She created the role of
Velma Kelly in the London production of
Chicago.
Lemper's visit to Detroit will be in the
midst of a tour that is taking her to stages
in Mexico City Paris and Barcelona.
"We're using different means to pick
artists — producers, agents, other pre-
senters and even YouTube," explains
Reitelman, former director of corporate
fundraising for the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra and a former board member of
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township.
Cabaret 313 will host Ute Lemper on
Dec. 14.
"We want to present a range of styles
and performers while reflecting the
diversity of Detroit. The choice of venue
depends on its size (right for about 100
people), piano availability, lighting, sound
system and food service; every place
doesn't have all of that so we weigh the
tradeoffs:'
Reitelman and Nachman started col-
laborating on Cabaret 313 just over a year
ago, establishing it as a nonprofit organi-
zation and connecting with people who
could support the initiative. Committed
to raising 50 percent of expenses through
ticket sales, they are seeking the rest in
donations.
"We thought that Detroit has been
known for all kinds of good music, from
opera to hip-hop; but there's no real
cabaret:' explains Nachman, an attorney
long active in the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
As Detroit is being recognized as a
city with glory days to come, we need to
reinforce all its cultural aspects. I hope
Cabaret 313 can be part of that renais-
sance:'
The first public concert, which fea-
tured composer-singer-actress Amanda
McBroom in the newly revitalized
Madison Building, followed a series of
salon soirees in homes of people involved
with the arts. The events launched in the
home of Ethan and Gretchen Davidson.
Adding to the impact of Cabaret 313
is an educational program with Wayne
State University. Visiting artists will con-
duct master classes to be videotaped for
an available archive.
"Cabaret began in Paris in the 1880s:'
Reitelman says. "During its iteration in
Berlin, it became largely a Jewish art
form and was shut down during the time
of the Nazis.
"Cabaret is fitting for Detroit because
of its associations with a rising creative
class and regenerating cities. Those are the
kinds of things happening in Detroit:' ❑
Doors open for the Ute Lemper
shows at 6:30 and 9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec.14, in the Jazz
Cafe at the Music Hall Center
for the Performing Arts, 350
Madison, in Detroit. $75-$125.
(313) 405-5061; cabaret313.org .
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December 5 • 2013
51