The Fabulous Frances Faye in Australia July 16, 2011

A cool cocktail of swinging jazz
Sydney Cabaret Showcase winner, Nick Christo pays tribute to the outrageous and legendary band leader Frances Faye for one performance only at Riverside Theatres on Sunday, 17 July. Frances Faye’s outlandish style, cutthroat vocals and quips saw Faye rise from mobster gin joints in the 1920s to become the phenomenon of clubs across the US in the early ’60s.

Clad in a tuxedo, the ever charismatic Nick Christo re-creates, without imitating, the essence of Faye, who influenced performers Bette Midler, Reg Livermore and Peter Allen. Set in Chequers nightclub in 1962 it showcases many of Faye's classic songs, including The Man I Love, Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered, Night And Day and Just A Gigolo.

With the LB Little big Band, the suave tenor Nick Christo serves up finger snapping classics from the great jazz songbook. Nominated for a 2008 Sydney Theatre Critics Award for Best Cabaret, The Fabulous Frances Faye was a hit at both the Sydney Mardi Gras and Adelaide Cabaret Festivals and returns from a sell-out New York season at Manhattan’s iconic Don’t Tell Mama.

“The Fabulous Frances Faye has been a hit across the nation and abroad, Riverside Theatres is excited about this next instalment of our Music Season marked by some great tunes, a wonderful character and presented by one of Australia’s finest young performers,” said Director of Riverside Theatres, Robert Love.

“I’ve previously worked with Riverside Theatres and I’m excited to have the opportunity to perform there. I’m proud to bring Frances Faye to audiences who remember her but also look forward to inspiring a new legion of Frances fans” said Nick Christo.

WAAPA graduate, Nick Christo’s musical theatre credits include Fiddler on the Roof (with Topol); The Mikado, My Fair Lady (with Richard E. Grant) and Barber of Seville for Opera Australia; Titanic for Seabiscuit Productions; The Hatpin; and Camelot for The Production Company. He was the winner of the Sydney Cabaret Showcase Competition for 2005, won the Short, Sweet and Song Competition for his performance in Building a Wing (2007) and for Assistant Directing in 2009 Climb the Smallest Mountain. Christo has worked as a co-writer and performer in two Downstairs at the Maj Cabaret Soiree seasons (His Majesty’s Theatre), as a co-writer with James Millar on Shopping Centre Santa (Seymour Centre) and as writer/director on the satirical revue Doorknockers (Sydney/Perth seasons). He was recently the Assistant Director of Love Bites (Seymour Centre) and Assistant Director of the Australian premiere season of Gutenberg – The Musical, which was nominated for a 2009 Helpmann Award for Best Direction.

Nick Christo is one of Australia's finest cabaret performers
Sunday Mail, Adelaide
An exuberant voice, loads of charm and fabulous arrangements
Next Magazine, New York

TICKET PRICES: Adult $45; Conc $40; Under 30 $32*
BOOKINGS: Riverside Theatres Box Office on 8839 3399
*Transaction fees apply