Submissions now open for southern hemisphere’s largest Cabaret Contest!

It’s that time of year again, folks! The Your Theatrics International Cabaret Contest is fast approaching and calls for submissions are now open.

As we approach the silly season, both seasoned and up-and-coming performers in Australia and New Zealand will start preparations for the 12th annual Cabaret Contest (previously known as the Australian Cabaret Showcase), with heats for the 2015 contest set to take place in major cities across Australia and NZ next month!

The contest provides artists with the opportunity to further develop their skills in the cabaret genre in front of a panel of industry professionals, including producers, agents and artistic directors, as well as family and friends. This year, contest producers have launched a brand new YTICC-dedicated website, secured a number of new sponsors who will contribute to the ever growing prize packages and a YouTube channel (featuring footage from the Grand Finals of the past 3 years) to assist potential contestants in their preparation of an 8 minute cabaret ‘snapshot’.

Executive Producer Jeremy Youett opened the submissions period recently, saying “I’m thrilled to announce that our submission period has opened, with the addition of Grayboy Entertainment as a Principal Sponsor and Hal Leonard as a Major Partner this year! We are also pleased to welcome back our line-up of returning partners and sponsors, who have each been incredibly supportive of the contest and new talent over the years!”

This year, heats will be held in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Auckland and, (great news for QLD residents) in both Brisbane and Noosa!

AussieTheatre are thrilled to be sponsoring the event again in 2015, offering the Grand Prize winner tour publicity and their own blog on AussieTheatre.com, shining a spotlight on the creative process of developing and touring their show.

In 2015, a runner-up prize will be reintroduced, and both the Grand Prize winner and runner-up will be eligible to be offered performance opportunities from our Major Festival Partners. These will include invitations to perform at the Cabaret Festivals of Adelaide, Melbourne, Ballarat, and Queensland, as well as the Festival of Voices in Tasmania and the Noosa Long Weekend Festival, which all guarantee flights and accommodation.

In addition, thanks to new Principal Sponsor Grayboy Entertainment, YTICC are able to offer an Australia/Pacific cruise ship booking as part of the Grand Prize package. The Grand Prize winner will also have the opportunity to present their show at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, with flights and accommodation for their appearance to the value of $3000 generously contributed by The Ron and Margaret Dobell Foundation, a cash prize of $1000, a photographic and marketing package from Blueprint Studios valued at $1000, a Music Theatre and Cabaret music and book package from Hal Leonard.

The runner-up will also receive a $500 cash prize, and a photographic package from Blueprint Studios valued at $500.

Contest entrants will once again be asked to perform an eight-minute ‘preview’ of the hour long show they would like to have produced including music and interlinking dialogue (patter). The winners of all heats are then invited to the Grand Final in Sydney, with flights and accommodation provided, so they may compete for the largest prize package to date to be held Saturday 17 January at Sydney’s acclaimed live music venue The Basement.

This year’s contest is open to performers 18+, although performance spots in the heats are limited.

Submissions close Wednesday December 24 at 5pm and performers of all experience levels are encouraged to enter.

For more information or the official YTICC 2015 Contestant Entry Form, visit www.yticc.com

Previous contest winners include Tom Sharah, James Millar, Marika Aubrey, Nick Christo, Gillian Cosgriff, Sheridan Harbridge, Elenoa Rokobaro, Toby Francis and Melody Beck.

Adelaide Heat

The Promethean
116 Grote Street, Adelaide SA
Monday – 5 Jan
7:00pm

Brisbane Heat

Visy Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse
119 Lamington St, New Farm QLD
Wednesday – 7 Jan
7:00pm

Noosa Heat

Noosa Arts Theatre
163 Weyba Road, Noosaville QLD
Friday – 9 Jan
7:30pm

Melbourne Heat

The Butterfly Club
Carson Place (Off Little Collins), Melbourne CBD VIC
Saturday – 10 Jan
6:30pm & 8:30pm

Auckland Heat

The Theatre at ACG Senior
66 Lorne Street, Auckland NZ
Tuesday – 13 Jan
7:30pm

Sydney Heat

Slide Lounge
41 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW
Thursday – 15 Jan
Doors: 7:00pm; Contest 7:30pm
*Dinner and Supper Packages Available

Cabaret Contest Grand Final (Sydney)

The Basement
7 Macquarie Place, Sydney NSW
Saturday – 17 Jan
Doors: 6:30pm; Contest 8:00pm

*Dinner and Show Packages Available

Tickets for all events on sale from December