Tomatoes, Tunes Flying High: CABARET BENEFITS NWACC CHAMBER SINGERS
Friday, November 6, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE — Music majors or not, students have fun singing for their supper as part of the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Chamber Singers.
The Flying Tomato Cabaret, kicking off tonight for two weekends, features “more humorous selections of music and some Broadway music that will appeal to a wide range of different people,” says nursing student and cabaret veteran Amy Jackson.
“We sing and serve spaghetti and have a lot of fun with our audience,” she describes. “It’s not a formal type of concert, so everyone is invited to talk in between songs, to mingle with each other and to just have a good time.”
Like Jackson, musiceducation major Chrissy Tatum has been singing since she was a child.
“I think that music is awesome and want to help children learn to love music as much as I do,” Tatum says. “I have been in the NWACC Chamber Singers for five years now and absolutely love the group.”
Her only regret, she says, is that she’s never experienced the Flying Tomato Cabaret from the audience perspective.
“I totally wish I could have, ’cause it’s so enjoyable! We have so much fun and look forward to cabaret every year. Everyone can always tell how much fun we have ... and we usually sell out every year, which reminds us how much everyone enjoys our shows.”
In spite of the festive atmosphere, the cabaret is serious business, reminds Jackson.
“These cabarets are also how we raise money to travel as a group to sing for people outside of Northwest Arkansas,” she says. “This summer we will be traveling to Eastern Europe to perform in several different countries. It will be a life-changingexperience for many of us in the group, and it’s made possible by all the people who support us and come see our shows.”
The Flying Tomato Cabaret, launched in 1997, was the brainchild of Steve Cooper, chairman of the department of performing and visual arts at NWACC.
“I developed this as a change from the usual madrigal dinners that many colleges and high schools use as a fundraiser,” he says.
“The name was the result of a brainstorming session with the singers of that first cabaret year, and the first bunch of Chamber Singers that participated helped structure a plan for the show.
“It’s flourished ever since.”
Showtime is 7 p.m.
today through Sunday and Nov. 13-15 at the NWACC Shewmaker Center. Tickets are $15, and reservations are required by calling 619-4261.
Entertainment, Pages 8 on 11/06/2009
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