Richard Thompson Taps Harry Shearer for Cabaret of Souls

The "Keeper of the Underworld" serves as an emcee, pulling sometimes reluctant, older souls from the darkness to entertain the new arrivals, and then adds his own musical critiques on the weakness and absurdity of humans. The piece gets its west coast premiere this Friday, November 19, in Los Angeles at UCLA's Royce Hall.

Of course, Thompson has often spiced his morbid musical themes with a dose of black humor, and humor's very much a part of Cabaret of Souls as well. That's made clear by the on-stage narrator of the show's events, Spinal Tap/Simpsons veteran Harry Shearer. Thompson will provide vocals and guitar-work, leading a group that includes vocalist Judith Owen, bassist David Piltch, percussionist Debra Dobkin, and multi-instrumentalist Pete Zorn. Thompson also composed orchestral backing for the piece, which will be performed by the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra. - more on this story

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