This week, life is a cabaret

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Lovers of the art of cabaret will find a lot to like in Grand Center this week as The Cabaret Project of St. Louis (of which I am a board member) presents the annual St. Louis Cabaret Festival. Held in conjunction with the St. Louis Cabaret Conference, a nine-day professional training seminar for cabaret singers from St. Louis and around the country, the festival features six nights of widely varied performances by local and national artists. Both the conference and festival are spearheaded by St. Louis cabaret entrepreneur Tim Schall.

Faith Prince

It all starts on Tuesday, July 19, at 8 p.m. with First Stage: The St. Louis Cabaret Conference High School Showcase. The evening features young performers from the High School track of the St. Louis cabaret conference. As with the adult tracks, these performers first had to audition for slots. Those who made the cut then got intensive training in the art of song performance from Broadway's Karen Mason and American Idol's Peisha McPhee along with Tim Schall and Webster University's Carol Schmidt. I've seen the High School showcase in the past and it's wonderful to witness how talented these kids are so early in their careers. The performance takes place at The Stage @ KDHX, just east of Jazz at the Bistro in Grand Center.

Jason Graae

Wednesday, July 20, at 8 p.m. brings a double bill of two powerhouse performers: Tony Award winner Faith Prince and her long time friend and L.A. Drama Critics Circle winner Jason Graae. Titled The Prince and the Showboy (a joking reference to the 1957 Marilyn Monroe/Laurence Olivier comedy The Prince and the Showgirl), the evening promises to be one of belly laughs and great music. Having seen both Ms. Prince and Mr. Graae on stage in the past (and having been coached by both of them at previous St. Louis Cabaret Conferences), I can guarantee you that they are tremendously talented actors, singers, and comics. Expect an evening of high-powered entertainment that will keep you smiling long after you leave. The performance takes place at the Sheldon Concert Hall in Grand Center.

Marilyn Maye

Thursday, July 21, at 8 p.m. it's a return engagement by the astonishing Marilyn Maye with pianists and long-time collaborators Billy Stritch and Tedd Firth and (as if there weren't already enough talent on stage) a guest appearance by jazz diva Ann Hampton Callaway. A cabaret legend who appeared a record number of 76 times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Maye has been packing them in at Carnegie Hall, New York's 54 Below, Feinstein's, Birdland, and in clubs and concert venues throughout the country. Reviewing her appearance here in 2007, I praised her "immediate and honest communication with the audience." "Maye's boundless energy and obvious delight in her material," I wrote, "in combination with her cheerful, off-the-cuff repartee, establish an immediate bond with those of us on the other side of the spotlight."

Both Stritch and Firth are strong solo performers as well, by the way, and for local jazz lovers Ms. Callaway surely needs no introduction. It will be a joyous, jazzy, spectacular cabaret event created specifically for St. Louis Cabaret Festival audiences, and you can see it at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

Tony DeSare

Friday, July 22, at 8 p.m., the Sheldon will play host to Tony DeSare and his Trio in a wide-ranging evening that runs the gamut from Sinatra classics to Prince, and includes some of Mr. DeSare's own tunes. Named a Rising Star Male Vocalist in Downbeat magazine, DeSare has three top ten Billboard jazz albums under his belt and has headlined in prestigious venues such as New York's 54 Below and Carnegie Hall, along with major performing arts centers and numerous symphony orchestras throughout North America and abroad. This is Mr. DeSare's first appearance here in St. Louis, so this is a great chance to catch a rising star.

Saturday, July 23, at 8 p.m. it's back to The Stage @ KDHX for The St. Louis Cabaret Conference Professional Track Showcase. Mentored by Marilyn Maye, Faith Prince, Tedd Firth and Billy Stritch, as well as other members of the Cabaret Conference faculty, these are singers from the most advanced of the Cabaret Conference's three tracks. They're established cabaret pros from around the country, often with many shows to their credit, who are polishing their craft here in St. Louis. The showcase presents each of them in short, carefully tailored sets that display their range and talent. The first pro track showcase was last year, and it was impressive.

Ann Hampton Callaway

The St. Louis Cabaret Festival concludes on Sunday, July 24, with the St. Louis Cabaret Conference Closing Night Showcase and Celebration at the newly remodeled Jazz at the Bistro in Grand Center. After five days of working on their craft, its time for the core group of talented singers of the St. Louis Cabaret Conference to show audiences why they've come from all over the country to be mentored by the Conference's notable faculty. As someone who has seen and/or performed in most of the closing showcases over the years, I can attest to the wonderful variety and skill of the performers who take the stage in this big, two-act show. Seating for pre-show dinner or drinks begins at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7. This year, your admission also includes a post show party complete with free munchies that starts up as soon as the last bow is taken.

For more information, visit The Cabaret Project web site. Tickets for all events are available via MetroTix. You can also hear interviews with Tim Schall and Marilyn Maye on St. Louis Public Radio and Faith Prince on KDHX, and watch Tony DeSare's preview video on YouTube.

The St. Louis Cabaret Conference and Festival are just two reasons why St. Louis is now regarded as a serious cabaret city. Come one down to Grand Center this week and find out why.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of August 1, 2014

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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The Cabaret Project presents A Cabaret Double Header with singer and pianist Billy Stritch performing I've Got Your Number: the Jazz of Cy Coleman, followed by An Evening with Marilyn Maye with Stritch on piano on Friday, August 1, 8 PM as part of The St. Louis Cabaret Festival. "Stritch is one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York jazz and cabaret scene, a Grammy winning songwriter and Broadway vet.. In this brand new show, that recently played New York's Birdland as well as London (four stars in The London Times!). Billy explores the pop/jazz side of the legendary songwriter Cy Coleman...Marilyn's great career highlights include a Grammy nomination as Best New Artist, 76 appearances on The Tonight Show, with Johnny Carson, Billboard hits, countless club/concert appearances and leading theatrical roles. Her recording of 'Too Late Now' is enshrined in the Smithsonian Museum's Best Performers of the Best Compositions of the 20th Century collection alongside works by Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland." The performance takes place in the Sheldon Concert Hall. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

My take: This is a pair of high-energy, dynamite performers. Mr. Stritch has a breezy, jazzy style that should be a perfect match of Broadway veteran Coleman's music. Ms. Maye is simply a force of nature, an authentic living legend of the cabaret stage.

The Cabaret Project presents Faith Prince with Alex Rybeck on piano in Have a Little Faith on Wednesday, July 30, 8 PM as part of The St. Louis Cabaret Festival. "Prince has been dazzling Broadway audiences since winning the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, opposite Nathan Lane. She counts 3 additional Tony nominations and 11 other Broadway shows to her credit, including a starring role in this past year's Broadway revival of Annie. Faith's career has included roles in films and television and she has sung with major orchestras throughout the U.S. Her solo cabaret shows have played in New York at 54 Below and Joe's Pub, among other venues. Her recent 2013 performance at The Royal Room in Palm Beach, Florida resulted in the live CD Total Faith and her award-winning performance, A Leap Of Faith, was recorded at Joe's Pub and available on DRG records. Faith takes the stage in her solo St. Louis cabaret debut singing songs from her career as well as from her heart." The performance takes place in the Sheldon Concert Hall. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

My take: Ms. Prince is a major Broadway talent and Mr. Rybeck is one of the more in-demand music directors in the Big Apple. Expect big entertainment when you put them together.

The St. Louis Cabaret Conference presents the St. Louis Cabaret Conference Showcase on Saturday, August 2, at 7 PM. "30 singers from around the country take to the stage in a celebration of their work. This culmination of the 5 day St. Louis Cabaret Conference has become an annual go-to showcase for cabaret lovers in the Lou! Join us in celebrating 30 new faces of cabaret! Directed by Mailryn Maye, Faith Prince, Tim Schall. Music Direction by Billy Stritch, Tedd Firth, Alex Rybeck." The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlouiscabaretconference.com.

My take: I have taken the Cabaret Conference several times in the past, so I know the level of talent involved as well as the amount of care taken in assembling the final showcase. It's always a wonderfully balanced, expertly directed evening featuring talent from around the country as well as from St. Louis.

Soprano Lucy Sauter
(Blance in Streetcar)

Union Avenue Opera presents Andre Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire, based on the play by Tennessee Williams, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, August 1 - 9. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. The opera is sung in English with projected English text. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.

My take: I won't have an opportunity to see this until next Friday, but I'm putting it in here simply because it's the local premiere of a major work by an American compose noted equally for his work in the jazz and classical worlds. I can't think of a more appropriate person to set Williams's classic to music. "Mr. Previn has a fine ear for voices," wrote New York Times critic Bernard Holland of the work's 1998 premiere. "He knows how to flatter and coax it and send it gracefully from one musical episode to the next.....one had the impression that Mr. Previn had been writing for the musical theater all his life."

The Cabaret Project presents The Streisand Songbook with Ann Hampton Callaway on Thursday, July 31, 8 PM as part of The St. Louis Cabaret Festival. "Platinum award-winning singer-songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway celebrates the music of one of America's most powerful and enduring musical artists: Barbra Streisand. Singing timeless classics from five decades of the celebrated diva's career, Callaway crafts a loving musical portrait of Streisand, the musical icon for whom Callaway has written several personally tailored songs. A Tony-nominated actress (Broadway's Swing!) and multiple award winning singer, Callaway puts a unique pop/jazz spin on unforgettable Streisand classics from Barbra's Broadway years, through her film and pop hits. " The performance takes place in the Sheldon Concert Hall. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

My take: Ms. Callaway is no stranger to St. Louis audiences, having made numerous appearances at the Sheldon and the Jazz Bistro. She has a voice that is spectacularly flexible, equally at home in jazz, Broadway, and cabaret.

Held Over:

Photo: Peter Wochniak

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Always..Patsy Cline through August 31. "Jacqueline Petroccia and Zoe Vonder Haar star in the return engagement of the show critics called 'exceptional, must see entertainment.' The touching and true story of Country music legend Patsy Cline and her friendship with Texas housewife Louise Seger returns to STAGES this spring. Combining down home country humor, heartache and 27 of Patsy Cline's unforgettable hits such as 'Crazy,' 'Walkin' After Midnight,' and 'Sweet Dreams,' Always... Patsy Cline endures as a piece of genuine Americana." Performances take place at The Playhouse at Westport Plaza. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.

My take: Call this a qualified recommendation. If you're a lover of Patsy Cline or country music in general, I think you'll have a great time at this show, which is really more of a celebrity impersonation review than a book musical per se. Jacqueline Petroccia captures Cline's voice and manner so accurately it's eerie and Zoe Vonder Haar is a hoot and a half as Louise Seger, the real-life Houston fan who became a close friends and correspondent of Cline. With over two dozen Patsy Cline hits performed to perfection by Ms. Petroccia and a six-piece band, the show is a real feast for fans. See my KDHX review for more information.

Photo: Peter Wochniak

Stages St. Louis presents the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying through August 17. "Big business means big laughs in this delightfully clever lampoon of life on the corporate ladder. A tune-filled comic gem that took Broadway by storm winning both the Tony Award for Best Musical and a Pulitzer Prize, How to Succeed...boasts an exhilarating score by Frank Loesser including “I Believe in You,” “Brotherhood of Man,” and “The Company Way.” Bustling with humor, romance and song, this swingin' 60s send-up of Madison Avenue charts the spectacular rise (in record time!) of an ambitious young window washer to VP of Advertising!" Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.

My take: It's a sad commentary on the state of the nation that the cheerfully cynical satire of the mendacity, mediocrity, and Machiavellian backstabbing of corporate America that makes up the book of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" is as relevant now as it was when the show opened back in 1961. The Stages production is, as I write in my review for KDHX, a big, bright, hilarious technicolor cartoon that keeps the action firmly in the "Mad Men" era, so its sexism feels funny rather than creepy. The cast is wonderful, headed by Ben Nordstrom as perhaps the ideal J. Pierrepont Finch.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of August 2, 2013

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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The St. Louis Cabaret Festival concludes with the St. Louis Cabaret Conference Showcase (featuring performances by all 30 of the conference singers, yours truly included) Sunday at 7, also at the Bistro.  You can get more information at thecabaretproject.org and tickets for all events at MetroTix.

My take: As I noted in my interview for OnSTL, the cabaret scene in St. Louis is as hopping as it is largely unknown by the general public. That's due, to a large degree, to the many performers who got trained at the St. Louis Cabaret Conference (which runs concurrently with the Festival).  The Bistro has a respectable menu, by the way, so you might want to show up early and grab a bite and a libation.  Both the conference and the festival are the brainchildren of local cabaret entrepreneur Tim Schall (pictured).

Held Over

Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical Little Shop of Horrors Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, July 18-August 3. There will be a matinee on the closing Saturday at 2 PM in addition to the evening show. "Seymour, a nerdy floral shop employee, becomes an overnight sensation when he raises an exotic plant that has a mysterious craving for human blood. Based on a 1960’s low-budget sci-fi film, this gleefully gruesome rock musical has zany characters and songs sure to delight audiences of all ages." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: I've done a number of shows with Stray Dog over the years and have been consistently impressed with the quality of their work and how well they treat their performers and tech folks. You might not think that matters that much from the audience standpoint, but as someone who works both sides of the footlights, I can tell you can a cast that's loving their work will always communicate that to the audience, intentionally or otherwise. Besides, this show—with its spot-on parodies of 50s and 60s sounds and hilariously dark humor—is always worth seeing. "As usual," writes Tina Farmer in her review for 88.1 KDHX, "the company does not disappoint with this production, adding a touch of earnest to the inside jokes and dark humor inherent in the original script."  The photo at right is by John Lamb.

All cabaret, all the time

Tim Schall

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Lovers of the art of cabaret will find a lot to like in Grand Center this week as The Cabaret Project of St. Louis presents its second annual St. Louis Cabaret Festival.  Held in conjunction with the St. Louis Cabaret Conference, a five-day professional training seminar for cabaret singers from St. Louis and around the country, the festival features four nights of widely varied performances by local and national artists.  Both the conference and festival are spearheaded by St. Louis cabaret entrepreneur Tim Schall.

It all starts on Wednesday, July 31st, at 8 PM with Billy Stritch Sings Mel Tormé. A musician and singer with substantial theatre credits, Stritch is perhaps best known as Liza Minnelli’s go-to “one man band.” His show, says The Cabaret Project web site, "breathes new life into Torme’s beloved standards such 'Born To Be Blue' and 'A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square,' bringing an easy sense of humor and exciting showmanship to his performances."  In addition to his work with Minnelli,  Stritch has performed and recorded with Tony winners Christine Ebersole and Linda Lavin.  He has recorded multiple CD’s, including several solo efforts.  The show takes place at at The Bistro at Grand Center, 3536 Washington Blvd.

Thursday, August 1st, at 8 PM brings a double bill of two powerhouse performers: Marilyn Maye and Jason Graae.  A cabaret legend who  appeared a record number of 76 times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Maye has been packing them in at Carnegie Hall, New York’s 54 Below, Feinstein’s, Birdland, and in clubs and concert venues throughout the country.  Reviewing her appearance here in 2007, I praised her "immediate and honest communication with the audience." "Maye’s boundless energy and obvious delight in her material," I wrote, "in combination with her cheerful, off-the-cuff repartee, establish an immediate bond with those of us on the other side of the spotlight."

Graae, meanwhile, is a stunningly talented singer/actor with enough energy to illuminate an entire city.  Reviewing his appearance here with Liz Callaway back in 2005, I wrote that "Graae’s comic timing is brilliant and his imagination protean." His range is wide, easily shifting from comedy to pathos, and he even plays the oboe.  For his appearance here, Graae will be performing Perfect Hermany.  It's his tribute to Broadway master Jerry Herman, whose hits include Hello Dolly, La Cage Aux Folles, and Mame.

The Marilyn May/Jason Graae double bill starts at 8 PM on Thursday at the Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington.

Friday, August 2nd, at 8 PM it's an evening with singer/songwriter John Bucchino at The Bistro at Grand Center, 3536 Washington Blvd.  A prolific composer for stage and screen, Bucchino has had his songs recorded by artists as diverse as as Art Garfunkel, Judy Collins, Liza Minnelli, Barbara Cook, Kristen Chenoweth, and Michael Feinstein. His theater and film scores include include Broadway’s A Catered Affair (winner of the Drama League Award for Best Musical, with a book by Harvey Fierstein), the Dreamworks animated film Joseph, King of Dreams, and lyrics for the children’s musical Simeon’s Gift (with a book by Julie Andrews).

The St. Louis Cabaret Festival concludes on Sunday, August 4th, at 7 PM with the St. Louis Cabaret Conference Showcase at The Bistro at Grand Center, 3536 Washington Blvd. After five days of working on their craft, each one of the Conference’s 30 singers (including yours truly) takes the stage in a solo turn for this culminating event.  The evening is directed by Marilyn Maye, Jason Graae, and Tim Schall with musical direction by Billy Stritch, John Bucchino, John Randall.

For more information, visit thecabaretproject.org.  Tickets for all events are available via MetroTix.  You can also hear an interview with Jason Graae on the Break a Leg podcast at 88.1 KDHX as well as a conversation with festival producer Tim Schall, Marilyn Maye, and Billy Stritch on St. Louis Public Radio.

The St. Louis Cabaret Conference and Festival are just two reasons why St. Louis is now regarded as a serious cabaret city.  Come one down to Grand Center this week and find out why.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of July 26, 2013

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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New This Week

Carol Schmidt

The St. Louis Cabaret Conference presents the High School Cabaret Conference Showcase on Sunday, July 28, at 7 PM. The showcase features six singers from the conference with Carol Schmidt at the piano. The performance takes place at The Bistro at Grand Center, 3536 Washington Blvd. Tickets are $10, available at the door with cash or check.

My take: As I noted in my interview for OnSTL last week, the cabaret scene in St. Louis is as hopping as it is largely unknown by the general public. The St. Louis Cabaret Conference has been producing top-notch talent for years now. The high school version is relatively new, but the degree of talent displayed by the kids in the program is really pretty amazing. It doesn't hurt that Tim Schall and Carol Schmidt are both very effective teachers and talented performers in their own right. The Bistro has a respectable menu, by the way, so you might want to show up early and grab a bite and a libation.

Blood Brothers
Photo: John Lamb

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival Part 2 through July 28 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. Part 2 features performances of The Possible by LaBute along with Kink by Joshua Thomas, Blood Brothers by Rachel Fenton, Present Tense by Nancy Bell and Peter Grandbois, and Cut by Daniel Damiano. For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

My take: I'm not an unabashed admirer of LaBute, but there's no question that an evening of new plays by local playwrights is always welcome. "The first part of the festival," writes Tina Farmer in her review for 88.1 KDHX, "set the tone with assertive, contemporary shows that bristled with tension and energy. The company's production of the second series of new short plays fully demonstrates that commitment to previously untested material and ideas as well as emerging playwrights."

Held Over

Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical Little Shop of Horrors Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, July 18-August 3. There will be a matinee on the closing Saturday at 2 PM in addition to the evening show. "Seymour, a nerdy floral shop employee, becomes an overnight sensation when he raises an exotic plant that has a mysterious craving for human blood. Based on a 1960’s low-budget sci-fi film, this gleefully gruesome rock musical has zany characters and songs sure to delight audiences of all ages." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: I've done a number of shows with Stray Dog over the years and have been consistently impressed with the quality of their work and how well they treat their performers and tech folks. You might not think that matters that much from the audience standpoint, but as someone who works both sides of the footlights, I can tell you can a cast that's loving their work will always communicate that to the audience, intentionally or otherwise. Besides, this show—with its spot-on parodies of 50s and 60s sounds and hilariously dark humor—is always worth seeing. "As usual," writes Tina Farmer in her review for 88.1 KDHX, "the company does not disappoint with this production, adding a touch of earnest to the inside jokes and dark humor inherent in the original script."

Photo: Stewart Goldstein

The Black Rep presents the musical The Wiz through July 28. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. Joining the cast for this extended production are J. Samuel Davis as The Wiz, Leslie Johnson as the Tinman, and Alicia Reeve as the Scarecrow. For more information, visit theblackrep.org or call 314-534-3810.

My take: This 1970s soul version of The Wizard of Oz crackles with energy, and a good production is always fun. This particular production of The Wiz was originally scheduled to close on June 30. Ticket sales were so brisk, though, that the Black Rep elected to go an hiatus for two weeks, re-cast the roles whose actors had conflicts for July, and re-open this weekend. "I had a blast," wrote Sheila Schultz in her review of the original production for 88.1 KDHX. "I head home humming 'Ease on Down the Road'. Still humming."

Hear here

Tim Schall

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As promised in my last post, here’s everything you need to know about auditing sessions at the St. Louis Cabaret Conference this week. Attending as an auditor doesn’t allow you to perform but it does let you watch other performers work and get valuable feedback from faculty members Andrea Marcovicci, Jason Graae, Shelly Markham and Rick Jensen. And the price is substantially less than the cost for the full conference. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the process of cabaret performance and benefit from the sharp insights of four certified Big Names in the cabaret business.

Auditions sessions are Friday and Saturday, August 12 and 13, from 9 AM to 1 PM and 2:15 to 6:15 PM. The cost is only $50 for one session or $75 for a whole day. Reserve your spot by calling conference organizer and St. Louis cabaret guru Tim Schall at 314-359-0786 or sending email to tjschall at sbcglobal.net

A Taste of Cabaret

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If you follow this blog at all (c’mon – there must be somebody who does), you probably have read about the St. Louis Cabaret Conference at some point. This year’s conference takes place August 11 through 14, culminating in a participant showcase on Sunday, August 14, at the Bistro at Grand Center.

If you’re not familiar with the conference, check out my article about this annual adult version of a performing arts camp for Cabaret Scenes magazine. It’s two years old now but aside from getting even more popular, the conference hasn’t changed that much.

What has changed is that sessions have been added for those who can’t commit to the money or time for the full Monty.

To begin with, an extra session on Putting It Together: A Introduction to Creating, Producing and Marketing Your Cabaret Show has been added on the Sunday, August 7, from 1:00 to 3:30 PM. The session takes place at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’s Old Orchard Rehearsal Halls, 17 Old Orchard in Webster Groves, MO. Admission is a mere $15, payable at the door. The panel includes Tim Schall, Dionna Raedeke, Ken Haller and Jeff Wright - all of whom have experience in the trenches, so to speak, of cabaret show production. For more information, call 314-359-0786.

Personally, I’m glad to see this. It’s a bit late for yours truly, of course, since I’ve already done my own show Just a Song at Twilight: The Golden Age of Vaudeville twice at the Kranzberg Center and will be presenting it again October 6 through 16 at the Missouri History Museum (just had to get that plug in), but I know a number of local performers who are putting their own acts together right now. It’s bound to benefit them, and might even encourage other local talents who haven’t taken the plunge yet.

The conference is also offering auditing sessions on Friday and Saturday, August 12 and 13. More about them tomorrow. For more information about the conference, check out their web site or send an email to conference organizer Tim Schall at tjschall at sbcglobal.net.