about us
The international comedy cabaret success story that is Friends of Barbra was first launched in January 1998.
Before an eager crowd of thousands as part of RIDE at Luna Park (a long since expired gay and lesbian event in Melbourne, Australia) Michael Smallwood, Luke Gallagher and Nigel Ubrihien took to the stage in a whirl of tight leopard-skin and black vinyl. What on earth were they thinking?
It was the world's first opportunity to see Friends of Barbra in action but (sadly) the last chance anyone will ever have to see these three wearing tight black vinyl and leopard-skin on stage. Thank God for small mercies.
After the success of their debut gig Friends of Barbra was invited to appear at Melbourne's Midsumma Festival Carnival Day - this time before a crowd of over 20,000 gay and lesbian folk. The boys were simply overwhelmed by the response from these crowds! They decided to milk it for all it was worth.
In August 1998 Friends of Barbra: A Happening at the Havana played two sell-out shows in Melbourne. Their first full cabaret show took everyone by surprise, not least of all themselves.
The success of this first season led the boys to produce Friends of Barbra: The Way We Weren't in 1999 which enjoyed two sell-out seasons and was met with critical acclaim.
Friends of Barbra was nominated for two Green Room Awards after the success of The Way We Weren't and won the award for "Most Outstanding Musical Arrangements in Cabaret".
In 2000 the boys had their first sell-out season in New York with The Way We Weren't at The Duplex Cabaret Theatre in Greenwich Village. The boys returned to Australia later that year with a new show that also proved to be a hit, Soft As An Easychair.
Friends of Barbra returned to New York in 2001 with a return season of The Way We Weren't at The Duplex Cabaret Theatre. This second sell-out season saw them share this popular Manhattan cabaret venue with stand-up comedy legend, Ms. Joan Rivers.
2002 saw Friends of Barbra producing a show especially for New York, A Star Is Bored which played to capacity crowds again at The Duplex Cabaret Theatre.
Melbourne and Sydney audiences finally had the chance to experience Friends of Barbra mania once more when the boys returned with a new show Evergreed in 2004.
After the success of the two Australian seasons Friends of Barbra was delighted to return to New York in late 2005 with Evergreed, which played a successful season at Helen's Cabaret Bar in Chelsea.
Whilst in the USA in 2005 the boys were treated to some smalltown hospitality when they performed an exclusive show Friends of Barbra In Concert (FOBIC) for a gathering of invited guests on Lake Canada in Upstate New York.
Of course 2006 saw Friends of Barbra perform their first sellout Melbourne show in nearly three years - FOBIC: Friends of Barbra in Concert - at The New Capers in Hawthorn, Melbourne.
Though the boys live all over the world these days they love nothing more than meeting up, cleaning up the barn and putting on a show.
michael smallwood | luke gallagher | nigel ubrihien