Art Talk with Anne–Come to the Cabaret!

Looking for something to do this weekend at Wesleyan? Have a free evening where you wanna see some theatre? How about a musical? If so, you’re in luck if you’re in Buckhannon this weekend!  

    Written in 1966 with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Joe Masteroff, Cabaret has been on and off of Broadway for decades.  In 1972, a film inspired by the musical was produced. The most recent Broadway revival was in 2014, where Emma Stone starred in the role of Sally Bowles and Alan Cumming played the Master of Ceremonies.  

This Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 22-24, the West Virginia Wesleyan College Department of Theatre and Dance presents their production of Cabaret.  Directing the piece is Thomas Schoffler, associate professor of theatre and dance, with musical direction by Dr. R. Daniel Hughes & Shelby Williams.  Scenic design and lighting design are by Keith Saine, technical theatre professor at Wesleyan, with assisting technical direction by Walker Carroll. I’m really excited to say that I’m the stage manager for the production, and I have Savannah Teter as my assistant stage manager.  To highlight a few characters, we have Sarah Smith (one of our fellow HC writers!) playing Sally Bowles, Logan Tucker as Clifford Bradshaw, and Katlin Kouns as the Master of Ceremonies. The cast has 19 people in it, so it’s been a really fun ride working with lots of new faces! One of the greatest parts has been working with guest artist and adjunct professor Donald Laney, who choreographed all of the dances and did the costume design for the production.  

    The story begins with Pennsylvania-born Clifford Bradshaw, an American novelist who travels to Berlin for some writing inspiration.  On his journey, he meets Ernst Ludwig, a German who belongs to a secretive political party. Ernst refers Cliff to go live in Fraulein Schneider’s apartment, an elderly German woman who runs a boarding house.  One of her residers is Herr Schultz, an elderly Jewish man. Cliff also discovers the Kit Kat Club, a swanky nightclub in Berlin. There, he meets Sally Bowles, an English woman, who steals his heart with her performances and her spontaneous, unique charm.  For more details and the full story, you’ll have to come and watch the shows! Every night, there will be an 8:00 p.m. performance; Saturday, March 24, also has a 2:00 p.m. matinee as well as the 8:00 p.m!

photo sources:

http://www.wimberleyplayers.org/upcoming-shows/2017/7/7/cabaret

http://www.fhtaz.org/cabaret/

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