In the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical Cabaret, the Emcee says in the opening song, “Leave your troubles outside,So- life is disappointing? Forget it! We have no troubles here! Here life is beautiful…” That same philosophy will probably apply to Musik! Fantasie! Revolution! which is a Weimar Cabaret linked to the LA Philharmonic’s Weimar Republic series. This one-night only cabaret takes place at Black Rabbit Rose on Tuesday night.
Before I get you too excited about this show, it is already sold out. But you never know, perhaps just showing up might work or regularly checking the LA Philharmonic’s website to see if tickets suddenly become available.
Musik! Fantasie! Revolution! has been curated by Jack Lipson and Benny Lipson – twin brothers who are best known together as jackbenny. For this show they are putting a contemporary spin on what a Weimar Cabaret would be. They will no doubt use songs from that era, but will also add in songs today that would fit comfortably in this environment.
The material will take on topics that are discussed today (all of which were mentioned in some form at Sunday’s Academy Awards): politics, gender and gender identity, sexuality.
Hosting the evening will be Rob Zabrecky, perhaps known more for his work as magician than his previous life as part of the band Possum Dixon. Jonnie Reinhart (who hosts the monthly Queer Cabaret at Granny’s Tramp Stamp in Hollywood), DIIMOND (a androgynous singer with an enormous vocal range), Mikalah Gordon (from American Idol), burlesque performers Coco Ono and Jessabelle Thunder are all joined by musicians Spencer Inch, Mike Cordone, Alekos Syropoulos, Jesse McGinty, Janice Mautner Markham, Max Wagner and Melinda West. No doubt jackbenny will be performing as well.
jackbenny has a show at Luckman Fine Arts Complex on February 29th. We will have an interview with the brothers closer to that show.
Photos of jackbenny courtesy of their website.
