The Canadian Centre for German and European Studies at York University is pleased to be presenting an event featuring Mr. Georg Preusse, an internationally acclaimed German cabaret and theatre performer best known for his character “Mary” on Monday, March 3, 2008. Working in the subgenre of Travestie, a German counterpart of drag and an offshoot of the political cabaret tradition, Mr. Preusse will use this event to present and discuss a selection of clips of his performances. The evening will open with an introduction to contemporary German cabaret and the development of Travestie by Tatyana Shestakov, CCGES Diploma Student and PhD candidate, Humanities.

After beginning his career as a female impersonator in the late 1970s, Georg Preusse first came to prominence in the late 1970s as part of Mary & Gordy, a cabaret duo which set attendance records and helped elevate the standing of Travestie in Germany, turning it into a mainstream theatrical genre. In 1987, after a successful year long tour of Europe, Preusse and his performing partner Reiner Kohler retired their act and Preusse launched his career as a solo performer. Subsequently, he has emerged as one of the most prominent German-speaking solo performers in the world. His creative work, as a performer and writer, explores both political and social issues. His performances combine drama and comedy, songs and conférence, and all are characterized by a strong connection with his audiences. Preusse has received numerous awards for his work as a Travestie performer and has worked extensively as an actor in both theatre and television.

Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Renaissance Room, 001 Vanier College

For information on travel to York University and the event’s exact location, visit: www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/maps/keele.htm

For more information on this event, please contact Tatyana Shestakov at tatshes@yorku.ca