Lavender Cabaret

Sony Creative Software Titillates a Cabaret Composer

Called "the hottest thing since the Chicago fire," the Lavender Cabaret is bringing classic burlesque with a few modern touches to the Chicago stage. Founded by Michelle "Toots" L'amour and Franky Vivid in 2001, LavCab recalls Busby Berkeley productions and the Zeigfield Follies rather than the "go-go" acts of the 1950s and 60s. "We... opt for a 'less is more' attitude," says Mr. Vivid, LavCab's musician and videographer. "Although we maintain a nostalgic feel for entertainment, we set everything in a modern setting, using the best cutting edge technology and multimedia. We don't aim to copy what the pioneers did, but to do what they might do today given today's resources."

Those resources include the exclusive use of Sony Creative Software products ACID^® Pro, Sound Forge^®, Vegas^®, and DVD Architect™ software. "Vegas software is the most important tool in our show," states Vivid. "We use LOTS of multimedia and project it on giant screens on the stage. We film original pieces to compliment the live show in addition to creating visual backdrops for the big performance numbers." In addition to the bump and grind numbers one expects from a burlesque show, Lavender Cabaret produces a "Follies" style floorshow called "FemmeTV." The show features Ms. L'amour and her Fabulous Sugarbabies spoofing television shows and commercials. "Sound Forge software is a valuable tool to help design the sound of the show," says Vivid. "We use it for sound effects as well as dividing up the old jazz pieces into individual beats to make it possible to remix them; those old burlesque jazz cats were never anywhere close to a steady tempo… they must've have been paying more attention to the dancing girls."

Sony Creative Software products helped Ms. L'amour dance her way to the title "Miss Exotic World 2005." "For the Miss Exotic World competition we used ACID Pro software to remix an old standard called 'Cool Stuff' into what would be called 'One Bad Apple,'" recalls Vivid. "It was first fleshed out in Sound Forge software, cut into individual beats, and reassembled in ACID Pro software. Once it was re-rendered into a beat mapped file, it was remixed. Then we assembled the pieces (including classical music samples) in Vegas software for the final mastering. We took the final piece to the competition and it blew the competition away."

For more information about the Lavender Cabaret, Franky Vivid, and Michelle "Toots" L'amour go to www.lavendercabaret.com