CABARET
In Concert with the Lyric Stage Orchestra
JUNE 09-12, 2022 | Majestic Theatre
Based on John Van Druten's 1951 play, I Am A Camera, which was adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s 1939 semi-autobiographical novel, Goodbye to Berlin, CABARET has music and lyrics by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, and a book by Joe Masteroff. The original 1966 production ran for 1,165 performances, and was nominated for 11 Tony Awards® in 1967, winning 8, including Best Musical and Best Score, with its original cast recording also winning a Grammy. The 1972 film adaptation directed Bob Fosse, which starred Liza Minelli and Joel Grey, won 8 Academy Awards. The 1998 Broadway Revival, starring Alan Cumming and Natasha Richardson, was nominated for 10 Tony Awards®, winning 4, including Best Revival of a Musical, and ran for 2,377 performances, becoming the third longest-running revival in Broadway musical history.
Set in a Berlin nightclub as the 1920's draw to a close, CABARET explores the dark, heady, and tumultuous life of Germany’s natives and expatriates as the Third Reich emerges and the Nazis ascend to power. With “the Emcee” (played by Christopher J. Deaton) guiding the way, CABARET focuses on the hedonistic nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around the relationships between a young American writer (“Clifford Bradshaw” played by Preston Page), an English cabaret performer (“Sally Bowles” played by Catherine Carpenter Cox), a German boarding house proprietor (“Fräulein Schneider” played by Barbara Catrett), and a mild-mannered, Jewish fruit seller (“Herr Schultz” played by David Fenley). With a score featuring songs that have become classics of the American Musical Theater, CABARET is a fierce, daring musical that pushes the boundaries of the form.
CABARET is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com
THE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
This entertaining and exuberant, yet dark and moving, fully-staged concert production of the 1998 Version of CABARET boasts an entirely local cast of 22 singer/actors. The company is led by Christopher J. Deaton as the Emcee and Catherine Carpenter Cox as Sally Bowles, with Preston Page as Clifford Bradshaw, Barbara Catrett as Fräulein Schneider, and David Fenley as Herr Schultz. The cast also features Aaron C. White as Ernst Ludwig (US Cliff), Caroline Rivera as Fraulein Kost (US Schneider), and Greg Hullett as Max (US Ludwig & Schultz). Rounding out the world of the famous, and infamous, Kit Kat Klub are Abi Abel as Fritzie, Tychelle Bearden as Helga, D’Mariel Jones as Bobby, Thi Le as Frenchie & the Gorilla, Laura Lites as Lulu (US Kost), Ania Lyons as Rosie, Elise Mendoza as Texas, Anthony J. Ortega as Hans (US Emcee), Sienna Riehle as Herman & Rudy, and André Pernell Williams as Victor. Presley Duyck serves as the Standby/Understudy for Sally Bowles, as well as a Kit Kat Girl, with Grace Moore as the Kit Kat Girl Swing for Rosie, Fritzie, & Frenchie, Alexa Morgan as the Kit Kat Girl Swing for Helga, Lulu, & Texas, and Danny Vanegas as the Understudy for Max & Kit Kat Boy Swing for Bobby, Victor, Hans, & Herman. Allison & Megan Arroyo sing the recorded voice over for the Young German Children’s Voices.
The always live and local Lyric Stage Orchestra features Rachel Bundy on Violin, Hollie Dzierzanowski on Viola, Nini Rubiano on Cello, Brittany Hart on Bass, Kristen Thompson on Reed 1 (Clarinet, Alto Sax), Christy Springer on Reed 2 (Clarinet, Tenor Sax), Catherine Conlin on Reed 3 (Tenor Sax, Clarinet), Emma Cook on Trumpet, Julie Gray on Trombone, Ashley Westgate on Percussion, Vicky Nooe on Synthesizer/Keyboard, and Music Director/Conductor Vonda K. Bowling on Piano.
CABARET in Concert will be directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran Penny Ayn Maas, with Ania Lyons serving as the Assistant Choreographer. The 12-piece, all-female orchestra will be led by Music Director Vonda K. Bowling, with Bruce Greer serving as the Musical Supervisor. Lighting Design is by Scott Guenther, Sound Design & Engineering by Jorge Guerra, Costume Design & Coordination is by Megan A. Liles, with D’Mariel Jones serving as Assistant Costume Coordinator, and Props Coordination is by Christopher J. Deaton & Jenny Dang. Stage Management is by Maddie Collins, Jenny Dang, and Tanvi Sutaria. CABARET in Concert is produced by Lyric Stage Producer Catherine Carpenter Cox and Lyric Stage Executive Artistic Director Christopher J. Deaton. Lyric Stage Founder Steven Jones serves as the Consulting Producer.
PUBLICITY PHOTOS
REVIEW
ONSTAGENTX BY MARTHA HEIMBERG
Lyric Stage brings a high-kicking, menacing in-concert production of Cabaret to the Majestic Theater—and, boy, are we ever relieved to hear once again that “life is a cabaret!”
Until it isn’t.
John Kander and Fred Ebb’s 1966 musical still thrills, chills and horrifies, as we move from the permissive ribaldry of Berlin in the late ‘20s to the rise of the Third Reich and the specter of Nazi death camps in the future. Quite a trip for a single night, as knowing director/choreographer Penny Ayn Maas drives all 20 cast members full-throttle, and our city’s go-to music conductor Vonda K. Bowling puts the pedal to the metal with her rousing 11-member all-female band. Talk about over-the-top girl power on that red velvet bandstand.
Lyric Stage “in concert” means minimal set design, but full costumes, choreography, lighting, and orchestration. The grandeur of the historic Majestic Theater with its stuffed red velvet seats is already a pretty terrific set for a Weimar-era nightclub. At intermission, couples of various gender mixes were taking selfies in the huge, gilded mirrors lining the lobby. Theater is Pride Week 4-ever.
Our guide from start to finish is the Emcee of the Kit Kat Club, Lyric Stage executive artistic director Christopher J. Deaton—a muscled, alluring hunk of whatever-gender-you-prefer as he “Willkommen’s” us to leave our hang-ups on the curb, and to stomp and whistle at the beautiful people on the stage. The night I saw the show, the audience hollered and cheered as directed, especially for the curvy Kit Kat Klub girls in black bustiers and thigh-high gartered stockings. And for those leggy boys, too, sometimes wearing the same outfit. With every shape, size, and color, this chorus line is athletic, suggestive, bold, vulgar…whatever the song demands.
Costume designer Megan A. Liles makes “everybody beautiful” as advertised. Her sequined, deeply fringed dresses for Sally and the Emcee would make a tree stump look sexy.
Deaton, more often the handsome romantic tenor in Lyric productions, reveals the breadth of his acting skills as the Emcee. Pared down to I-can-do-that dancing weight, his head shaved and shining, and wearing a muscle shirt split to the navel to reveal an enviable six-pack, he preens and flirts like an androgynous peacock. He’s hilarious and bawdy singing “Two Ladies,” and sports the longest legs in the chorus line singing “Money,” that cynical anthem to capitalism.
Later, he’s downright sinister dancing with a costumed ape in “If You Could See Her,” with its chilling anti-semitic finish line. From his mincing, ebullient start to the show’s sagging, dark finish, Deaton delivers the feel and the fate of a self-deluded society teetering on collapse. Hard not to note that today’s news is filled with the Congressional hearings of the January 6th insurrection attempt.
As Sally Bowles, Catherine Carpenter Cox also transforms, from the saucy, tough-girl delivery of “Mein Herr” and “Don’t Tell Mama” at the outset, to her wistful, moving rendition of “Maybe This Time,” a song revealing her shiveringly deep longing for the “home” of love. Great song. She also sings a charming duet with a quietly sturdy Preston Page, as the hapless bi-sexual writer Sally fancies. “Perfectly Marvelous” is a special kind of love song, and anyone who’s ever been in a lop-sided relationship must chuckle while hearing.
Barbara Catrett’s frank and forthright Fraulein Schneider, the German boarding house owner, and David Fenley’s gentle, textured Herr Schultz, the Jewish fruit store owner, bring the swelling heartbeats of surprised aging lovers to the show. You need a hand to squeeze when they sing about pineapples as a courting gift, and for their charming duet “Married,” with its sunny certainty about the future.
Special “Brava!’ here to Bowling and her badass band, whipping it up when we need to get there, and slowing it down to hear an exquisite line or lilting half-sob. The band’s last gasp of cacophony and discord, in which all harmony or narrative breaks down, is just wrenching. And so right. It’s a musical, and it crashed!
How lucky are we to have Lyric Stage and these beautiful people right here in downtown Dallas. Okay, it’s just for four days, but still.
CABARET DIGITAL PROGRAM
CLICK “+” ICON TO EXPAND OPEN
-
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
-
CABARET is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.
www.concordtheatricals.com
-
Book Joe Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music John Kander Lyrics Fred Ebb
Originally Co-directed and Choreographed by Rob Marshall
Originally Directed by Sam Mendes
Director/Choreographer Penny Ayn Maas
Music Director & Piano-Conductor Vonda K. Bowling
Music Supervisor Bruce Greer
Orchestra Contractor Christopher J. Deaton
Associate Choreographer Ania Lyons
Lighting Designer & Engineer Scott Guenther
Sound Designer & Engineer Jorge Guerra
Costume Designer & Coordinator Megan A. Liles
Assistant Costume Coordinator D’Mariel Jones
Props Coordinator Jenny Dang
Production Manager Ashley Schneider
Stage Manager Maddie Collins
Assistant Stage Manager Jenny Dang
Assistant Stage Manager Tanvi Sutaria
Soft Goods Rental Dallas Stage Scenery
Lighting & A/V Rental SEG Services
Producer Catherine Carpenter Cox
Executive Artistic Director Christopher J. Deaton
Founder Steven Jones
-
Abi Abel Fritzie a Kit Kat Girl
Allison & Megan Arroyo Recorded V.O. “Tomorrow” Voices
Tychelle Bearden Helga a Kit Kat Girl
Barbara Catrett Fräulein Schneider a German boarding house propietor
Catherine Carpenter Cox Sally Bowles an English cabaret performer
Christopher J. Deaton Emcee Kit Kat Klub Master of Ceremonies
Presley Duyck Standby Sally & Kit Kat Girl
David Fenley Herr Schultz a German fruit shop owner and tenant in the boarding house
Greg Hullett Max Kit Kat Klub Owner
D’Mariel Jones Bobby a Kit Kat Boy
Thi Le Frenchie a Kit Kat Girl & Gorilla
Laura Lites Lulu a Kit Kat Girl
Ania Lyons Rosie a Kit Kat Girl
Elise Mendoza Texas a Kit Kat Girl
Grace Moore Kit Kat Girl Swing
Alexa Morgan Kit Kat Girl Swing
Anthony J. Ortega Hans a Kit Kat Boy
Preston Page Clifford Bradshaw an American writer
Sienna Riehle Herman a Kit Kat Boy & Rudy a sailor
Caroline Rivera Fräulein Kost a German native and tenant in the boarding house
Danny Vanegas Kit Kat Boy Swing
Aaron C. White Ernst Ludwig a German smuggler and friend of Sally & Schneider
André Pernell Williams Victor a Kit Kat Boy
-
Presley Duyck Sally Bowles Standby/Understudy
Greg Hullett Ernst Ludwig & Herr Schultz Understudy
Grace Moore Kit Kat Girl Swing: Texas, Fritzie, Helga
Alexa Morgan Kit Kat Girl Swing: Rosie, Lulu, Frenchie, Gorilla
Anthony J. Ortega Emcee Understudy
Caroline Rivera Fräulein Schneider Understudy
Danny Vanegas Kit Kat Boy Swing: Bobby, Victor, Hans, Herman
Aaron C. White Clifford Bradshaw Understudy
-
Violin Rachel Bundy
Viola Hollie Dzierzanowski
Cello Nini Rubiano
Bass Beth McPherson
Reed 1 (Clarinet, Alto Sax) Kristen Thompson
Reed 2 (Clarinet, Tenor Sax) Christy Springer
Reed 3 (Clarinet, Tenor Sax) Catherine Conlin
Drums Ashley Westgate
Trumpet Emma Cook
Trombone Julie Gray
Keyboard 1 Vonda K. Bowling
Keyboard 2 Vicky Nooe
-
Executive Artistic Director Christopher J. Deaton
Producer Catherine Carpenter Cox
Founder Steven Jones
Resident Music Supervisor Bruce Greer
Accountant & Payroll Gillian Adams
Publicist Katie-Rose Watson
Director of Schmidt & Jones Awards Amy Stevenson
Production Videographer Burnt Pie Productions
Production Photographer Jamie Brogdon Photography
Artwork Designer Daron Cockerell
-
1. "Willkommen" – Emcee & Company
2. Playoff: Willkommen – Orchestra
3. Train Music – Orchestra
4. “Welcome to Berlin” – Emcee
5. "So What?" – Fräulein Schneider
6. Klub Transition – Orchestra
7. "Don't Tell Mama" – Sally & Kit Kat Girls
8. Playoff: Don’t Tell Mama – Orchestra
9. Underscore: Don’t Tell Mama – Orchestra
10. "Mein Herr" – Sally & Kit Kat Girls
11. Playoff: Mein Herr - Orchestra
12. "Perfectly Marvelous" – Sally & Cliff
13. "Two Ladies" – Emcee with Lulu & Bobby
14. Playoff: Two Ladies – Orchestra
15. "It Couldn't Please Me More” – Schneider, Schultz, & Emcee
16. Into Tomorrow – Orchestra
16a. "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" – Young German Children’s Voices
17. Scene Change: After Tomorrow – Orchestra
18. "Maybe This Time" – Sally
19. "Money" – Emcee & Kit Kat Girls
20. Playoff & Underscore: Money – Orchestra
21. "Married" – Schultz, Kost, & Schneider
22. Fruit Shop Dance – Orchestra
23. Reprise: Tomorrow Belongs to Me – Kost, Ernst, & Guests
-
24. Entr’acte – Orchestra
25. Kick Line Number – Kit Kat Girls
26. Reprise: "Married" – Schultz
27. "If You Could See Her” – Emcee
28. Playoff: If You Could See Her – Orchestra
29. "What Would You Do?" – Schneider
30. "I Don't Care Much" – Emcee
31. Incidental: The Fight – Orchestra
32. "Cabaret" – Sally
33. Underscore: After Cabaret – Orchestra
34. Finale – Cliff & Emcee
35. End of Show – Emcee
CAST HEADSHOTS
ALPHABETICAL BY LAST NAME
-
ABI ABEL
as FRITZIE
-
ALLISON ARROYO
Recorded “Tomorrow” Voice
-
MEGAN ARROYO
Recorded “Tomorrow” Voice
-
TYCHELLE BEARDEN
as HELGA
-
BARBARA CATRETT
as FRÄULEIN SCHNEIDER
-
CATHERINE C. COX
as SALLY BOWLES
-
CHRISTOPHER J. DEATON
as EMCEE
-
PRESLEY DUYCK
as Standby Sally | Kit Kat Girl
-
DAVID FENLEY
as HERR SCHULTZ
-
GREG HULLETT
as MAX | US Ludwig & Schultz
-
D'MARIEL JONES
as BOBBY
-
THI LE
as FRENCHIE | GORILLA
-
LAURA LITES
as LULU | US Kost
-
ANIA LYONS
as ROSIE
-
ELISE MENDOZA
as TEXAS
-
GRACE MOORE
as Kit Kat Girl Swing: Rosie, Fritzie, Frenchie
-
ALEXA MORGAN
as Kit Kat Girl Swing: Rosie, Lulu, Frenchie, Gorilla
-
ANTHONY J. ORTEGA
as HANS | US Emcee
-
PRESTON PAGE
as CLIFFORD BRADSHAW
-
SIENNA RIEHLE
as HERMAN | RUDY
-
CAROLINE RIVERA
as FRÄULEIN KOST | US Schneider
-
DANNY VANEGAS
as US Max | Kit Kat Boy Swing: Bobby, Victor, Hans, Herman
-
AARON C. WHITE
as ERNST LUDWIG | US Cliff
-
ANDRÉ PERNELL WILLIAMS
as VICTOR
ORCHESTRA MEMBER PHOTOS
-
VONDA K. BOWLING
PIANO/CONDUCTOR
-
RACHEL BUNDY
VIOLIN
-
CATHERINE CONLIN
REED 3
-
EMMA COOK
TRUMPET
-
HOLLIE DZIERZANOWSKI
VIOLA
-
JULIE GRAY
TROMBONE
-
BRITTANY HART
BASS
-
VICKY NOOE
KEYBOARD
-
NINI RUBIANO
CELLO
-
CHRISTY SPRINGER
REED 2
-
KRISTEN THOMPSON
REED 1
-
ASHLEY WESTGATE
DRUMS