Sharron Matthews comes to Ketchum
BY DANA DUGAN and YANNA LANTZ
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts will present “Superstar” with Sharron Matthews, an award-winning cabaret performer from Stratford, Ontario, Canada, at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16.
Matthews will perform at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum, in cabaret-style seating. Wine and appetizer plates will be available for purchase.
SVCA Performing Arts Director Kristine Bretall said she looked for a cabaret act to bring to the community for some time.
“I’ve been wanting to find the right fit for the Valley – her vocal quality, humor and the stories she weaves in are a perfect fit for the Valley,” Bretall said. “She’s also worked with kids and will visit the schools.”
Earlier this year, Matthews’ cabaret “Full Dark” was named Best Cabaret Performance of 2015 by broadwayworld.com, and in 2011 her show was named Best of Show at the massive Edinburgh Fringe Fest in Scotland.
“I had a lot of good musical theatre experience before I was 25 years old,” Matthews said. “I always got work. But I wasn’t getting what I wanted. There wasn’t a lot of diversity or depth. I had more to say and I wanted to say it with all the different songs that I loved.”
Most cabaret shows feature the “Great American Songbook” oeuvre, but Matthews goes a step further.
“It’s a rock ’n‘ roll show with comedy,” she said. “A little like Bette Midler mixed with Jack Black. I’m goofy. People feel surprisingly involved. The music I pick and the stories I tell are poignant for me, but they’re universal. That’s what I love about cabaret. It breaks the fourth wall.”
For tickets visit www.sunvalleycenter.org or call (208) 726-9491.