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THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011 ◆ 4PARADISEDenis Hyland heats up the Armory with the final cabaret of the seasonDenis Hyland, renownedsinger, actor and dancer,heats up the Armory stagewith a performance at TheStudios of Key West on May7 at 8 p.m. Denis Hyland: APortrait in Song and Dancebrings him together with someof the island’s most talentedmusicians including ChrisBurchard on guitar, SkipperKripitz on drums, Joe Dallason bass, and Bill Goldner onsaxophone. Tables for theshow are sold out but generalseating is still available at $20advance/$25 day of show.Tickets are available now atkeystix.com or at TSKW, 600White St., 296-0458.“I grew up in the ’70s andstarted working in this businessat a time when you knewthat if you wanted to succeed,you had to be a triple threat,”says Hyland. “You had to knowhow to sing, dance and act toget consistent work.”Hyland took this advice toheart and used his scholarshipto the David Howard DanceCenter in New York to learnclassical ballet, while takingclasses to develop his voiceand theatrical technique.But the vibrant culture andlife of New York City had itsown plans for Hyland andsoon he found himself goingto late-night jazz jams withfriends all over the city.“We’d start out at the clubsthat got going early — midnightor 1 a.m. — and by thetime we left the last one it was5 a.m.” Hyland continues, “I’dhave to be up for a late-morningballet class at the danceDenis Hylandcenter but I didn’t care, I wasfalling in love with jazz.”That love included aprofound respect for EllaFitzgerald and the great interpretivemusicians who couldtell a story with their voicesand bodies.“The Great AmericanSongbook isn’t about nostalgia,”says Hyland, “The songshave so many layers, just likeShakespeare, and they expressthe American experience,what’s happening now, today,what’s relevant to our culture.”Hyland says great musictakes work, and that it doesn’tjust happen by pushing a button,so he’s worked closelywith accompanist ChrisBurchard to investigate andexplore all the songs he’ll present.Audiences will be taken ona song and dance journey ledby Hyland, with his masterfulcommand of movement andgesture and his innate abilityto tell a story through music.Talk of the Town — ‘Short Attention Span Theatre’329649PETE ARNOW/Special to ParadiseThe cast and crew appear on stage before dress rehearsal of the Red Barn Theatre’s ‘Short AttentionSpan Theatre 2011.’Attention SpanTheatre 2011” at the Red‘ShortBarn Theatre is playingto sold-out crowds, but thereare a few tickets left for thisweek’s performances.Here are some of the thingspeople are saying about theshow: “Brilliant work by anamazingly talented team.”“SAST 2011 — Loved it! Soglad we got to see it! Stillschnorting over some of thesketches.” “Great show — weso enjoyed it that we willprobably come and see itagain!” “Saw “Short AttentionSpan’ Saturday night and weloved it! I cannot believe thecaliber of local talent we havein this town.”“Short Attention SpanTheatre 2011” is a hilariousevening made up of eightshort plays and one openingact. Curtain is at 8 p.m.Wednesday through Saturdaynights. And every Thursday isThrifty Thursday when ticketsare two for $50, but you mustcall the box office between 1and 6 p.m. to get that deal.Get your tickets at www.redbarntheatre.com by calling305-296-9911 or stopping bythe Red Barn Theatre and boxoffice, located at 319 Duval St.in the historic carriage housebehind the Woman’s Club.