Sing Your Story in the Cinque Terre!
Lennie Watts
June 20 - June 27
$3795Wait, what? A 1-week cabaret workshop in the Cinque Terre!!
Join Singnasium Artistic Director and Master Teacher, Lennie Watts, for this special cabaret workshop!! A week of making music and new friends while sharing marvelous food and wine – all in the fascinating, mysterious, inspiring lands of the Cinque Terre!
During our time together, participants will work on a mini 2-song set with patter. Arrangements will be created by Watts and our accompanist, Award Winning Musical Director, Tracy Stark. This workshop will focus on:
- song selection,
- storytelling, and
- personalization of your material.
The week will culminate on the last evening with an informal presentation of our work in the studio. We’ll perform for ourselves and a few friends from the area.
During this week of music in Italy, the singer (and the person) becomes revitalized. Italy does that to you. Discover a new freedom in your singing and a new awareness of what really matters – in your music and in your life.
The Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. “The Five Lands” comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside. For more about the Cinque Terre, the Lonely Planet gives a nice description with photos: lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
Cinque Terre means “5 towns,” and signifies the interconnectedness of this area through picturesque hiking trails, rail lines, and boat routes. Notably, cars are mostly absent in these towns, making walking an indispensable (and necessary) means of transportation.
One of the highlights of visiting Cinque Terre is experiencing the local cuisine. Pesto Genovese takes center stage, with its vibrant flavors in many local dishes. Fresh seafood is abundant and paired with delicious local wine, close to perfection.
Cinque Terre is not just a destination but an experience that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. From the colorful houses clinging to the cliffs to the warm and welcoming people, everything about this place exudes charm and beauty.
The Food – We will have 5 dinners organized together at local trattorie in Monterosso al Mare or prepared for us at home. We’ll sample the pastas, seafood, and specialties of each area. Local wine is included with all dinners. Lunches and 2 dinners will be independent for you to explore the local cuisine on your own.
Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts, and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common locally baked bread product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias — essentially, it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chickpea flour.
Price: $3,795 p/p based on double occupancy
Non-singing partners/friends are always welcome for a reduced fee of $3,495
Optional Supplements:
- $485 for a single room
- $300 shared suite with Jacuzzi and terrace (2 people)
- $795 single suite with Jacuzzi and terrace
Includes:
- Shared double room in Hotel La Cabana in Monterosso (singles or suite with terrace and jacuzzi available for a supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast
- 5 dinners with wine
- Daily classes with Lennie & Tracy
- Train passes for exploring other towns
- One boat trip on the Mediterranean
- Transfers from and return to Florence
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Independent meals and additional sightseeing
To Register: just click on the Sign Up Now button. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made online with a credit card, or you can follow the instructions to send in your registration and payment by mail. Once we receive your deposit, we will send you a formal Registration Confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other correspondences by email before the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list, and an electronic invoice for the balance. The final Balance is due by April 16th. Any time before your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Cancellation policy:
$500 deposit is non-refundable. For cancellation:
- 60 days prior to the workshop, a full refund is due, less the non-refundable deposit.
- 30-60 days prior to the workshop, a 50% refund of the balance paid is allowed, less the non-refundable deposit.
Less than 30 days prior to the workshop, no refund due.
Il Chiostro recommends personal travel insurance to cover the possibility of unexpected or last-minute cancellation.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
Our small hotel, La Cabana, sits on a small hill that divides the historic center of Monterosso from the new part, Fegina. It is a typical Ligurian farmhouse that has belonged to one family for generations. The vines and the olive trees that they have cultivated form the backdrop to the rooms that have been recently refurbished with the utmost respect for the environment and the traditions of the Cinque Terre, but without forgetting modern comforts.
The 9 rooms are furnished with antiques, parquet floors, curtains, and finishes intended to frame the unparalleled panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea. It is an oasis of relaxation completely surrounded by greenery and silence, with wonderful vistas and gardens to paint. Our group will take over the entire hotel for the week.
To get down to Monterosso you can take advantage of their free shuttle service or, if you are up for it, walking down is not difficult and takes less than ten minutes. It's a nice walk down that offers beautiful panoramic views. On the descent, you will pass the ancient 11th-century castle (today houses the cemetery of the village) and wind through olive trees until you reach the historical center of town. Coming back up, the shuttle might be a good idea!
For more information, visit their web site: lacabanacinqueterre.com/en
The Cinque Terre are in the section of Italy known as Liguria on the western coast. The main city of Liguria is Genova. These 5 towns were traditional fishing villages, cut off from the mainland by a steep range of mountains. For centuries, they were only accessible by sea.
For our program, we will meet the group in Florence on the first day. From there, a private bus will take the group to our hotel in Monterosso-al-Mare.
To visit the town from our hotel, there is a regular shuttle bus. The towns are small with narrow roads, so the shuttle will leave us off in the newer section, then we will walk through a short tunnel to the historic center of town, where most of the shops and restaurants are located.
To go between towns (Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, or Rio Maggiore), there are local trains connecting all of them.
Travel Agents & Insurance: Over the last few years, the way we travel has undergone significant changes. For that reason, we now encourage everyone to use a professional travel agent when arranging their trips. Travel agents save you time and stress by handling all the details and tailoring your itinerary to your needs. One of the most important services they offer today is helping you choose and enroll in the right travel insurance program. With COVID and the continued possibility of schedule changes or postponements, travel insurance has become essential, and selecting the right plan on your own can be overwhelming.
If you encounter any issues during your travels, your agent can provide quick support and solutions, taking the pressure off your shoulders. While booking through online sites like Expedia or Hotels.com may seem more convenient or less expensive, they offer little help if you need to modify your plans. A travel professional, on the other hand, is there to assist you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and worry-free travel experience.
If you choose to Go It Alone, we highly recommend taking out travel insurance for the trip in the event of any unforeseen obstacles to your travel. We recommend Travelex (800) 504-7883 or Travel Guard International (877) 901-7599.
The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. "The Five Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Paths, trains, and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.
For more about the Cinque Terre, the Lonely Planet gives a nice description with photos: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
The Food: Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts, and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common locally baked bread product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias — essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour. Epic porcini mushrooms are presented in a wooden box for you to choose for grilling with olive oil and garlic.
Lennie Watts is a 22-time MAC, 5-time Backstage Bistro, 3-time Nightlife, and a 2014 Broadway World Award Winner. He has been active in the New York cabaret scene for over 30 years. He has taught cabaret and performance workshops all over the country and in Italy. He has performed at Town Hall in several concerts, including "Broadway Unplugged" and "Broadway By The Year, 1949," and can be heard on the cast recordings of both shows. He has toured nationally and internationally with productions of "The Music Man" (Marcellus) and "The Wizard of Oz" (Lion). His regional credits include productions of "The Santaland Diaries" (Crumpet), "The Drowsy Chaperone (Man In Chair), "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Herod), and "Guys and Dolls (Nicely). Lennie was recently named one of the 50 Most Influential People in Cabaret. "The Village Voice" calls him "A one-man cabaret army!" He served as the President of MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets) for 15 years and now sits on the advisory board. He is the creator and Artistic Director of Singnasium, a nonprofit singing school in NYC. Singnasium.org
Tracy Stark, Pianist/ Arranger/ Conductor/Singer-Songwriter, is a 13-time MAC Award winner, in the categories of Music Director, Piano Bar Entertainer, and Song of the Year. She is also a Bistro Award winner for Musical Direction, the winner of the Dottie Burman Songwriter of the Year Award, and the winner of the Broadway World Award for Musical Direction. She has conducted, played, and sung at all the finest and sleaziest venues all over the world, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
SINGNASIUM MISSION STATEMENT
Keeping the arts ALIVE by helping vocal artists THRIVE in New York City. The mission of non-profit Singnasium is to provide a safe, non-judgmental place for artists and singers, of all levels, to fully explore their creative selves. It is designed to provide support, embrace diversity, and offer eye-opening new ways for those who love to sing to become a more well-rounded musician. With classes and workshops spanning all aspects of vocal performance, Singnasium will utilize the best possible teaching artists and support personnel that the New York arts community has to offer, as well as provide outreach to the next generation of music and voice artists.
Website: singnasium.org
