directing
Ali has directed a number of large scale cabaret shows while at Adelaide Cabaret Festival including: The Family Gala &The Closing Gala in 2018. She has also directed the following shows that are available for touring & festival performances.
Her ability to curate a line-up is well known & her feel for stagecraft & spectacle are apparent in all her shows & creations.
BREL - The Immortal TROUbadour
Ali McGregor hosted and directed a corps of festival artists in this moving homage to the greatest popular singer in the French language & master of modern chanson, for Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2017. This show had music direction by Charly Zastrau and design by Kathryn Sproul and featured: Meow Meow, Eddie Perfect, Kim Smith, Michaela Burger, Johanna Allen and Dusty Limits.
Under Ali's poignant direction, the Belgian singer/songwriter’s pathos, wit & intensity were beautifully portayed in unique re-interpretations of story-songs that delve into love, death & desperation.
"Ali McGregor is more than just your average host. She also directed Brel and injects a personal flair into her time on stage, opening the performance with a rendition of Carousel, getting us keen to see what song will play next. Ali conveys her extensive experience in theatre, cabaret and all things performance in Brel, forming a fusion of multilayered characters that are a reflection of the flaws that exist in all of us. They bring about a wheel of emotions that are unpredictable, but relateable"
Weekend notes 2017
"McGregor got the show off to a flying start with Carousel, a song from the Broadway musical, and had us all holding our breath as the carousel that is life threatened to spiral out of control – a stunning opener"
The Clothesline 2017
tom waits for no man
Hosted by Mikelangelo, Ali directed another group of international artists from the Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2018. Musical direction by Charly Zastrau, design by Kathryn Sproul. Featured artists: Joey Arias, Carla Lippis, Queenie Van Der Zandt, Loki Rickus & Butt Kapinski
"With the help of a sparkling misfit ensemble, Charly Zastrau and Ali McGregor have created a seamless, incisive tribute to the American singer-songwriter." Limelight Magazine
"If ever there were a perfect setting for the songs of Tom Waits, this was it" Adelaide Advertiser
"this was quite simply a beautifully put together show." InDaily
"This was a generous and beautifully directed feast of sumptuous songs, extraordinary singers, musicians and performers" Clothesline Review
glorious misfits
Over a decade ago our artistic director Ali McGregor ran away with the circus and found herself surrounded by a found family of carnival characters. Here she has hand-picked a selection of the most mischieviously talented burlesque and circus acts in the world to celebrate this new vaudeville era. Featuring Burlesque Hall of Fame crown holders Imogen Kelly & Mark ‘Captain Kidd’ Winmill, The Modern Day Showman Captain Frodo, Plate-spinner & Juggler Davey ‘Gravey’Sampford, award-winning diva Miss Frisky, the red-hanky waving provocateur Lily Paskas Goodfellow & the exceedingly talented schoolboy runaway Louis Biggs
"it’s a hell of a night" The Advertiser
"If you want to see vaudeville circus done like never before, get along to this show" InDaily
"Glorious Misfits is really worth a look if you are wanting a touch of circus and burlesque" Clothesline Review
GALAS
While Artistic Director of Adelaide Cabaret Festival Ali had the opportunity to direct a number of gala events including the Family Gala & The Closing Gala 2018. Each show was delivered in one day with the closing gala featuring over 20 international performers and the Family gala was directed whilst on stage wearing a dress made of garbage bags!
