By Rick Winterson

     Krystyne Cheever created “All Friends Cabaret” after many years of varied performing experience.  She is giving three interactive seminars on acting during August at Gallery SBAA, 369West Broadway.  These seminars are for both beginners and experienced performers, ages seven to 17.

     Krystyne Cheever has an interesting background, which includes creating and developing a new entertainment concept she calls “All Friends Cabaret”. 

     She was originally a hometown girl from South Boston, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Kebartis) Doherty.  The family moved to the country, ending up in Lincoln, Maine, which is about as country as you can get.  Krystyne has two sisters, Carroll and Jennifer, and a brother, Frank.

      She graduated from Orono High School, went on to Fisher College in Liberal Arts, and received her degree in Theater from University of Maine.  Through the New England Theater Conference, a well-known sponsor of open auditions, Krystyne was selected by the American Family Theater (Philadelphia) for a nationwide tour in “Tom Sawyer”.  She did summer stock at the Saxton River Playhouse (Vermont), where she and another actor performed 14 roles in a two-person show; she has also done stand-up comedy – not an easy kind of gig – and she played in the musical “Annie”.

     Krystyne soon found that she wanted to do her own type of show.  She moved to New York so she could work in the Manhattan cabaret scene.  She did well, but she wasn’t satisfied.  In her own words, she says, “Something wasn’t coming together.”

     Then Krystyne was asked to put on a show for a fundraising event.  Instead of hiring the usual cast of professional performers, she decided to invite friends and those who were involved in the fundraiser to take part, letting them use whatever talents they possessed.  Krystyne took the part of the mistress of ceremonies, along with doing her own songs and bits.

     Well, lightning sometimes strikes, even in a highly competitive profession like live theater.  The evening was a fantastic success, and from this beginning, Krystyne developed her concept of the “All Friends Cabaret”.  She has done the “All Friends Cabaret” for the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and as part of the fundraising for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  Locally, she has used her “All Friends Cabaret” concept for church groups and Young at Arts.  Many of the participants in the “All Friends Cabaret” have gone on to professional work on their own.

     Now, Krystyne is offering a set of three acting seminars during the month of August – Tuesday, the 7th; Thursday, the 9th; and Tuesday, the 14th, from 6:15 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.  Potential actors from ages seven to 17 will be accepted.  You can take an individual seminar for $15 or all three for $40, which are quite reasonable prices.  All of the seminars will be held at the Gallery SBAA, 369 West Broadway.  Space is limited – register by calling (617)686-3637 or by e-mailing allfriendscabaret@yahoo.com.  Info at www.allfriendscabaret.com

     These seminars will be interactive, and given in a way to suit the individuals in each class.  Krystyne will use one-on-one techniques to get new performers “up and running”.  Inexperienced actors will be coached and encouraged to express themselves in safe and open, low-pressure surroundings.  She will help young actors choose paths that are best for them, whether it’s modern comedy or Shakespeare.

     Krystyne is in business to stay.  She plans more seminars later this year, and on into 2008.  She’ll be taking a month off to have her first baby.  She and her husband Al, who was born and raised on F Street, are expecting on September 25.  After that, Krystyne and her “All Friends Cabaret” are open for business, assisting budding young South Boston performers realize their dreams.