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Improv Cabaret: Solo Musical Improv



Last Updated: 11/16/2008

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Saturday, March 29, 2008 
I got a mention on the Orlando Sentinel theatre blog March 27, 2008 for getting into the Chicago Improv Festival:
Good news from Mark Baratelli, who says he’s been accepted into the Chicago Improv Festival. This is "mega-huge," Mark says.

’It’s like THE improv festival in the US. I was turned down last year. So, so far Improv Cabaret is going to the San Francisco Improv Festival, the San Francisco Theatre Festival and the Chicago Improv Festival. I thought this show was dead, but apparently not.’

The Chicago festival is the first week in June. Tell Mark to break a leg, or something.

Congrats, Mark!"
08:16 
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Saturday, March 29, 2008 

Improv Cabaret performance at 2007 San Francisco Improv Festival



2008 San Francisco Improv Festival Dates:
July 24-26

San Francisco Theatre Festival Date:
July 27

I got accepted once again to the San Fran Improv Festival. I’ll be bringing a new pianist this time around, John DeHaas. He’s brilliant. We’re staying with my friend I worked with on Disney Cruise Line, Tony W. And, as an added bonus, we not only get 3 shows instead of 2, but we got asked (by the San Fran Improv Fest peoples) to perform in the San Fran Theatre Festival! Woo! Their website is pretty, that’s all I know about it.
08:11 
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Saturday, March 29, 2008 
I received this email March 25, 2008:
On behalf of the Chicago Improv Festival, Director Jonathan Pitts, and the CIF Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce the selected groups for CIF 11. This year we received well over 100 submissions and the quality of work was the best I have seen in my 3 years as Artistic Director which made the decisions very difficult.

This year’s Festival will feature improvisation from over 15 cities and 4 countries around the world. Performances featuring classic forms to those stretching the art of improv with music, film, history and media will be featured. CIF will welcome back favorite acts from past festivals and is pleased to showcase over 25 groups making their CIF debuts in 2008.

Thanks to all that submitted and congratulations to those groups selected.


CIF 11 Selected Groups

FrankenMatt, Los Angeles

The Irish Mutts, San Francisco / Los Angeles

Improtop, Mexico City, MX

The Williamson Playboys, Toronto

4 Track, NYC

Aye Diego, Los Angeles / Boston

Gillet and Sutton, Seattle / Chicago

Children of a Lesser God, Chicago

Code Duello: Hamilton and Burr, Boston

Drum Machine, Minneapolis

Election Show, Seattle

Improsia, Seattle

JoKyR and JeSSter, Salt Lake City

Old Tom Jar, Evanston, IL

The Rare Bird Show, Philadelphia

SCRAM, Chicago / Minneapolis

Messing with a Friend, Chicago

BASSPROV, Chicago

The Mighty Stumps, Los Angeles

Whirled News Tonight, Chicago

Holy Moly, NYC

Johnny Lunchpail, NYC

Barinholtz and Belushi, Chicago

PimpProv, Chicago

Mr. Pepper, Chicago

Caveat, Washington D.C.

The Great Adventure, Los Angeles

Jackie, Washington D.C.

Babies Mit Bearden, Atlanta

Big in Japan, Toronto

Seattle Neutrino, Seattle

Razowsky and Clifford, Los Angeles

Virgin Daquiri, Chicago

Coldtowne, Austin

Improv Cabaret, Orlando

PHamily the Musical, Chicago

HUGE Improv, Minneapolis

The Reckoning, Chicago

Dirty Water, Chicago

TJ and Dave, Chicago

Improv Boston, Boston

Little American Bastards, Toronto

Wing Night, Chicago

Altermania, Israel

Hot Lawyer, Toronto

Crista Flanigan, Los Angeles

Cornwallis , Chicago

**CIF Mainstage Headliners will be announced at a later date.**
08:02 
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Thursday, September 06, 2007 
Here are the dates for the "I Love a Piano" tour I am rehearsing for right now. Please join me at the following locations to see this fabulous production. Warning: I am not producing it nor is it improv. It's a legit musical theatre review of the music of Irving Berlin.

(iloveapianothemusical.com)

Sept. 21-30, 2007
Cutler Majestic Theatre
Boston, MA

Oct. 13, 2007
State Theatre Center for the Arts
Uniontown, PA

Oct. 15-17, 2007
Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield, MA

Oct. 19-20, 2007
White Plains Performing Arts Center
White Plains, NY

Oct. 21, 2007
Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts
Brooklyn, NY

Oct. 22-23, 2007
Struthers Library Theatre
Warren, PA

Oct. 26-27, 2007
Sheldon Theatre
Red Wing, MN

Nov. 1, 2007
Butte Center for the Performing Arts
Butte, MT

Nov. 6, 2007
George Daily Auditorium
Oskaloosa, IA

Nov. 9-10, 2007
Cofrin Family Hall
Green Bay, WI

Nov. 13-18, 2007
Capitol Theatre
Salt Lake City, UT

Jan. 22-Feb. 3, 2008
Parker Playhouse
Ft Lauderdale, FL

Feb. 4, 2008
Ruth Eckerd Hall
Clearwater, FL

Feb. 6-7, 2008
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota, FL

Feb. 19-24, 2008
Diana Wortham Theatre
Ashville, NC

Feb. 27, 2008
Philharmonic Center for the Arts
Naples, FL

Mar. 1, 2008
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
Bloomington, Il

Mar. 3, 2008
Marina Civic Center
Panama City, FL

Mar. 6, 2008
Seretean Center Concert Hall
Stillwater, OK

Mar. 7, 2008
Fox Theatre
Hutchinson, KS

Mar. 8, 2008
Claremore Performing Arts Center
Claremore, OK

Mar. 11, 2008
Crouse Performance Hall
Lima, OH

Mar. 14, 2008
Jasper Arts Center
Jasper, IN

Mar. 15-16, 2008
Overture Center for the Arts
Madison, WI

Mar. 17, 2008
Main Theatre
LaCrosse, WI

Mar. 26-27, 2008
Del E Webb Center for the Performing Arts
Wickenburg, AZ

Mar. 29, 2008
Yavapai College Performance Hall
Prescott, AZ

Apr. 2, 2008
Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center
Pueblo, CO

Apr. 4, 2008
Union Colony Civic Center
Greeley, CO

Apr. 6, 2008
Whatley Center for the Arts
Mt. Pleasant, TX
01:40 
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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 


Please write a comment about Improv Cabaret on these sites:

1. Show Show Down
Three guys challenged each other to review as many Fringe show as humanly possible. They happened to give me a good review. Please thank them for supporting an Orlando-based show.

2. Time Our New York
Time Our New York hasn't posted a review of my show. Beth Marshall left a really sweet comment here for me. Please follow suit and let them know how much you enjoyed the show and that they should have reviewed it (in a nice polite way, of course)

I will do the same for you in the future. Just ask.

Mark
12:58 
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Friday, August 24, 2007 
Mark Baratelli's Improv Cabaret
Reviewed by Alyssa Simon
NYTheatre.com
Aug 21, 2007

"Mark Baratelli is a freakin' comic genius! Go see his show! Okay, need another reason? Every performance, Baratelli, accompanied by straight-man extraordinaire/pianist Jim Rhinehart, improvise an entirely new 45-minute cabaret piece. From the moment Baratelli walks out, his David Sedaris-like humor and elastic facial expressions and physicality win over the audience. This is not an evening of improv where the audience is forced to participate by calling out suggestions or situations for the actor to create. It is what comic improvisation should be. One extremely talented actor letting his mind take him where it will, combining outrageous creativity with the finely-honed craft of telling a complete, compelling and hilarious story.

On the evening I attended, Baratelli warmed up the crowd by telling about his childhood on a farm with a family that raised corn. "Rows and rows and rows....and rows...of corn". He went from describing a rural and idyllic upbringing to an increasingly funny and bizarre tale that combined imaginary childhood friends made up of corn leaves with smiley faces drawn on them named Pizza, because it was his favorite food, and Shirelle, because, well, it's really great gay name to cross-dressing parents; a psycho cat that causes a trip to the emergency room; and in the end, a touching confession and family reconciliation. The way I'm describing this doesn't seem to do his act justice. It's not really what Baratelli says, although the plot twists and circumstances are delightfully surreal and funny. It's in his delivery and timing. Plus, watching him then create songs about whatever subject he's talking about while poking fun of cabaret/lounge act conventions (liberal use of jazz hands and smarmy winks, holding the microphone vertically over his head in a "bring it home" moment, etc.) is a hoot.

Baratelli and Rhinehart have great comic chemistry. Rhinehart follows his twists and turns musically, bringing to life on the piano everything from a rampaging cat on a string to Baratelli as a five year old discovering his father in a dress. If you are looking for a fun show with a fantastically warped point of view and wonderful performers, this is the one." (Link: Mark Baratelli)

Also check out this brief (but with a fabulous photo!) review by a NYC Blogger. Link: Mark Baratelli's Improv Cabaret
03:59 
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Saturday, August 18, 2007 
I fly tomorrow for NYC and the Fringe there. Yikes. If you saw my room, you'd know I was nowhere near prepared. Fringe started the 10th-ish and we won't be there until it's half-over. I am looking forward to the challenge of pitching and marketing a show against that half-over festival feeling most festival-goers might be experiencing. And then again, I am just mainly looking forward to doing good shows, getting them on tape, and having a fun time.

I plan on sitting down and looking at the shows list at some time. i do want to see some stuff. But Improv Cabaret is about a week behind as far as organization. I produced a fundraiser here in Orlando that took a ton of time, so my energies were diverted. But, hey, it makes for a bigger challenge, and more fun. :)

See you in New York!
13:18 
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Friday, August 10, 2007 


Filmed 8/8/07
00:24 
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Friday, August 03, 2007 


Please forward this to anyone who might be interested. Thanks
Mark Baratelli's Musical Improv workshops:
Mark Baratelli created the show "Mark Baratelli's Improv Cabaret" which (after August) will have been seen in New York, San Francisco and Miami. The show is a 45-minute improvised cabaret act. All the songs, all the stories: improvised. He's accompanied on piano by the brilliant Jim Rhinehart.

Mark has, through rehearsals and performances of this show, created his own vocabulary and manner of creating musical improv. It's not about structure, form, or verse-verse-chorus-verse. It's about...well, you gotta pay to find out!

These are going to the final Musical Improv Workshops taught by Mark for a long time as he is leaving town until November. Be sure to catch them!

When:
Saturday August 11, 5-7pm
Saturday August 18, 5-7pm

Where:
Rehearsal room in the back of SAK

Cost:
$25 per workshop. Each workshop is completely independent of the other. So you can do one or both.

Reservations:
Reserve your spot by emailing Mark: email@markbaratelli.com. Tell him which date(s) you wish to attend.
Please Repost
20:51 
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Thursday, August 02, 2007 


(30:00 mins) Don't ask me why I did this. I am retarded. I streamed my rehearsal this afternoon. And recorded the stream. There were many stops and starts, like when I texted back and forth with Chris. So this is not reflective of the actual live show I do. However, I think this video is a fun experiment that kinda shows how neat the internet is becoming.
01:54 
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