Big Gay Piano Bar is inviting Sydney talent to get involved in its brand-new Showstoppers event.
Big Gay Piano Bar is the creation of John Milligan and is a fortnightly event celebrating music from “great icons, fabulous divas, pop stars and musicals.”
Milligan, who has 20 years of experience playing piano, told Gay Sydney Daily he started the night out of a love of performing and a desire to offer more variety to Sydney’s queer nightlife.
“My expertise is in live music, and Big Gay Piano Bar came from wanting to create something joyful, welcoming and music-focused: a night where audiences eat, drink, request songs, sing, and celebrate joyous music, with a focus on musicals, icons, legends and divas that are held dear by so many in our community.”
Milligan is now building on its success by opening it up to the community in what will be its first Showstoppers event.
He told GSD there had been demand for open mic versions, but he was more interested in providing a platform for emerging talent.
What he is looking for is a sense of vocal ability along with musical sensibility — this is not intended to be karaoke, he said.
“This is for people who work or have worked on their craft as a singer, whether amateur, student or someone who’s been involved with community musicals or garage bands.”
The night is billed as a “curated musical theatre performance night celebrating iconic showstoppers,” which are songs that can stand alone, he said.
“Showstoppers are those songs that evoke a standing ovation — the songs from a musical that stand alone as iconic,” Milligan said.
“Think ‘Defying Gravity’, ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’, ‘Circle of Life’, ‘I Believe’, ‘And I Am Telling You’, ‘Big Spender’ — big belts, lots of emotion (and reverb), and super impressive!”
The event, to be held at Gingers on April 30, will feature 20 performers split into two sets.
“Successful applicants will be contacted and offered the opportunity to sing one of their songs on the night,” he said.
“We’ll communicate about the right sheet music and key. Some people may be asked to offer an alternative song. When the setlist is finalised, it will be sent to performers in advance.”
He said he was drawn to musical theatre because, unlike some commercial songs, musicals are written with the singer in mind.
“All the best jazz standards today are songs from musicals from the first part of the 20th century,” he said.
“I truly believe they’re some of the most impressive pieces of art we have available to us.”
Doors will open at 6pm, with the first show at 7pm, followed by a second set at 8pm.
The remainder of the evening will be set up piano bar–style, with special guest Erin Clare joining Milligan as they take requests from the audience.
