Cabaret chatting with one of Serenbe Playhouse’s Divas
Serenbe Playhouse is kicking off their summer Late Night Cabaret series this Saturday, June 29 at 10:30 p.m. Each night of the series will have a set of different performers with brand new routines and set lists. Starting them off though, are the Divas of Serenbe Playhouse. Below, Caroline Freedlund, a dance major at Kennesaw State University and no stranger to many of Atlanta’s stages including Alliance Theatre and Theatrical Outfit, talks about her role as a diva and why audiences should come sip a cocktail and experience what contemporary cabaret is all about.
For more information on the Late Night Cabaret series, check out http://www.serenbeplayhouse.com.
Q. Serenbe Playhouse is hosting a Late Night Cabaret series throughout the summer and you, as part of the Divas of Serenbe Playhouse, are kicking off the first night. What can audiences expect with this style of event?
A. Serenbe’s Late Night Cabarets are always a blast! Audience members can expect a little of everything. Brian [Clowdus] has really done an amazing job of creating a series of cabarets each with a different theme and team of performers. Brian assembles some of the best vocalists in Atlanta to perform all different kinds of music. And the cocktails are delicious!
Q. What does it mean to be a Diva of Serenbe Playhouse?
A. The Divas began as a touring Christmas Cabaret in 2011 and have since performed at everything from Valentine’s cabarets to private parties. We’ve also picked up some fabulous new divas along the way! Each Diva brings a different attitude and vocal style to the cabarets.
Q. Cabaret has a certain tone that always seems to take me back to a romanticized yesteryear. In what ways are the Divas keeping true to tradition and bringing in some innovation?
A. The cabarets at Serenbe are the greatest combination of old and new: yes, there is a classic, old school feel to everyone getting together for cocktails and live singers with only a piano and a microphone, but there is nothing dated or tired about the Serenbe shows. The majority of the songs we perform are recent or current radio hits. We do, of course, sprinkle in some standards and audience favorites that no cabaret is complete with out. Brian always does a great job of creating set lists with songs that appeal to all audience members, expect everything from classical musical theatre to Johnny Cash to Britney Spears!
Q. With all of the shows that Serenbe Playhouse produces the costumes really take charge in the depiction of each character and mood. What are some of the costumes like for the Cabaret series?
A. We keep things very sleek and modern for the Cabaret series! Expect cocktail dresses and heels!
Q. Being a part of a Cabaret series means you have to wear a lot of hats. What has been your favorite act as part of the Cabaret series?
A. I come from a Musical Theatre backgrounds, so for me, I love performing the more contemporary pop songs and exercising parts of my voice that I don’t always get to show off in classical musical theatre. I would have to say my favorite act would have to be the Ke$ha parody I performed at our 2011 Christmas Cabaret. Rachel Teagle, one of the wonderful Playwrights for Serenbe Playhouse, wrote a hilarious Christmas version of the song “Tik Tok,” I don’t think many people expected to hear techno pop/rap at a Christmas Cabaret. But then, that is what makes the Serenbe cabarets so special…audiences may never know what to expect, but they can be certain that they will be entertained!
