Katie Mack (Sally Bowles) and Sam Given (Emcee) talk about CABARET at the Ivoryton Playhouse.
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“There was a cabaret and there was a master of ceremonies and there was a city called Berlin in a country called Germany. It was the end of the world … and I was dancing with Sally Bowles and we were both fast asleep.” So begins the international classic musical and winner of 8 Tony awards – Cabaret. Join us at the Kit Kat Club as the Emcee takes us back to those tumultuous times with unforgettable musical numbers including, “Willkommen,” “Cabaret,” and “Two Ladies.”
Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, Cabaret focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. A sub-plot involves the doomed romance between German boarding house owner Fräulein Schneider and her elderly suitor Herr Schultz, a Jewish fruit vendor. Overseeing the action is the Master of Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub.
Now a Broadway classic, the original 1966 Broadway production became a hit winning eight Tony Awards in 1967 and four in 1998. The show has inspired numerous subsequent productions in London and New York, as well as the 1972 film of the same name.
Saturday matinees added: Saturday, August 17th and August 31st.
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Steele.
Will Clark (Ernst Ludwig) is thrilled to be returning to Ivoryton Playhouse, having previously appeared in I Hate Musicals: The Musical and The Fantasticks. Originally hailing from South Eastern Connecticut, Will is a New York based film and theater actor. Will is a Resident Artist and Associate Artistic Director of The CRY HAVOC Company, a new play development company based in Manhattan. With CRY HAVOC, will has taken part in the development of over 150 new plays, musicals, and screen plays, and has has performed in dozens of CRY HAVOC’s readings and productions, including his performance in Sabbatical for the Lincoln Center Originals series. Other recent stage credits include Three Sisters (Gowanus Arts), realer than that (CRY HAVOC), Wish You Were Here, My Love (Planet Connections Festival), Ectospasms (New York Fringe), The Most Interesting Man in Dave’s Mind (Samuel French OOB Festival), AVoid2Remembr (Interrobang Festival), and a residency with the FSGA Commedia Company.
Carlyn Connolly* (Fräulein Kost) is thrilled to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse debut! Regional credits include An American In Paris (Milo Davenport), White Christmas (Betty Haynes), Hello, Dolly! (Irene Malloy), The Music Man (Ethel Toffelmeier, u/s Marian Paroo), and Mary Poppins (Katie Nanna, u/s Mrs. Banks). Carlyn has performed as a soloist with orchestras in the US, Canada, and across Asia, and is also a founding member of Always Andrews: A Tribute to the Andrews Sisters. Endless thanks to Todd, Daniel, and the entire team here at Ivoryton for this incredible opportunity, and to Mom, Dad, Devin, and Melissa for their immeasurable love and support! www.carlynconnolly.com
Corrie Farbstein (Frenchie) is a recent New York transplant, grateful to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse debut. Favorite recent credits include Wendla in Argyle Theater’s Spring Awakening, Peter in Palo Alto Player’s Peter Pan, Sheila in Landmark Theater’s Hair, and Ensemble/Sherrie understudy/dance captain for Pacific Coastal Repertory’s Rock of Ages. Corrie studied dance at Chapman University and California Institute of the Arts. She is equally as passionate about helping others feel more at home in their bodies through the teaching of contemporary Pilates (BASI certified) and a Fascial Stretch Therapy practice. Thanks to her friends and family for their endless support!
Taavon Gamble* (Bobby/Dance Captain) returns to Ivoryton Playhouse having previously appeared in Memphis and Chicago. Tour: Seussical. Regional: Trinity Repertory Theatre Company, North Shore Music Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage, Greater Boston Stage, Lyric Stage Company, Theatre By The Sea, New Bedford Festival, Reagle Music Theatre, Hanover Theatre, West Virginia Public, Quantum Theatre, Pittsburgh Music Theatre, Ocean State Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, and Village Theatre. He is a two-time IRNE nominee, Supporting Actor for Dames at Sea and Leading Actor for Kiss of the Spider Woman. Point Park grad. taavongamble.com
Jade Genga (Fritzie/Ensemble) is so grateful to be back at Ivoryton Playhouse after her recent appearance in How to be a Widow in the Women Playwrights Initiative. Select regional theatre and touring credits: PBS Kids’ The Odd Squad Live!, It’s A Wonderful Life, Anything Goes, and My Fair Lady. Recent New York credits include several new works at Tristan J. Shuler’s A Night Of Play, Blood & Water (Kraine Theatre), I Could Never Love Anyone (KPC), Connections, Your Name On My Lips (Theatre For The New City), Marilyn Exposed, and Diary: A One Act Play. She is a proud alumnus of The University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy). Sending love and thanks to Mom, Dad, Jordan, and Alex. www.jadegenga.com
Sam Given* (Emcee) is thrilled to perform at Ivoryton Playhouse again after playing Bobby in A Chorus Line and Jerome in I Hate Musicals. Upcoming credits include a run of Rebel Rebel: The Many Lives of David Bowie in Concert, and is proud to take his turn as Emcee in Cabaret. Much love to Jacqui, Todd, Michael and Nick.@samgivensing
Aliah James (Female Ensemble) was born and raised in metro Atlanta, Georgia where she received dance training from N-Motion Dance, Price Performing Arts Center, and Mount Zion’s Magnet Program. Aliah also attributes her dance training to Point Park University’s Dance Conservatory, where she received her BFA in Modern Dance. She trained with The Metropolitan School of Ballet and The Joffrey Contemporary/Jazz Summer Programs, as well as The American Dance Festival in New York and at Duke University. Aliah feels privileged to have performed in repertory works by Bill T. Jones, Pam Tanowitz, and Doug Bentz, to name a few. She performed as a principle, in the production of After Midnight, on the Norwegian Escape, and had recently concluded performing in Newsies, as JoJo as well as Meddas’ Cover, at The Westchester Broadway Theatre. Aliah is ecstatic to making her debut at the Ivoryton Playhouse performing in both Mamma Mia! and Cabaret!
John Little* (Herr Schultz) is delighted to return to Ivoryton, where he has appeared in An Inspector Calls, Tale of the Allergist’s Wife and The Seven Year Itch. His recent work includes Shadowlands on Theatre Row, Ragtime at Barrington Stage, and All My Sons in Woodstock. Regional work includes Yale Rep, Goodspeed, Pittsburgh Public, Pioneer Theatre and nine seasons at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Off-Broadway credits include Milk and Honey at the York, Poetic License at 59E59, and Hamlet for TBTB. He was in the Asian Tour and the Roundabout Theatre National Tour of Cabaret. John is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and lives in New York with his wife and children.
Amanda Lupacchino (Female Ensemble) is delighted to be returning to The Ivoryton Playhouse this summer in Mamma Mia and Cabaret! Some of her favorite theater credits include A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Memphis, Annie (tour), Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! (tour), Angelina Ballerina Holiday (NYC and tour) and South Pacific. Love and thanks to The Ivoryton Playhouse team. Endless gratitude to her friends and family for their continued support, hugs and cheers! @amanduh_leigh
Katie “Mack”* (Sally Bowles) has been performing Sally Bowles in her shower for the past 25yrs and could not be more excited to finally share it with you. Hugs and 100 thank yous to the cast, Daniel and Jacqui. Love to my new nephew, ‘rents, bros, besties and JWM. Follow www.mackstage.com & @mackersnyc for more Mack meat!
Amani Pope (Victor) is thrilled to be making his Ivoryton Playhouse debut! After graduating from the University of Oklahoma alum, Amani has been acting in regional theaters across the country. Amani just recently came back from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where he played Richie in A Chorus Line at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Amani would like to thank Todd Underwood for allowing him the honor to work and grow alongside such talented individuals and his family for their warmth and support. @amanidope
Carolyn Popp* (Fraulein Schneider) is returning to Ivoryton in one of her absolutely favorite musicals. NYC/Regional: Death of a Salesman; Pride & Prejudice; Steel Magnolias; Romeo & Juliet; Vanya, Sonia, Masha & Spike; Harvey; Footloose; Our Town; Dancing at Lughnasa; Madwoman of Chaillot; Defiance; Gigi; I Do! I Do! Carolyn also played Stephen Colbert’s unsuspecting wife Claire in Comedy Central’s Strangers with Candy. Thank you to a great cast, creative team and to you our audience.
Renee J. Sutherland (Ensemble/Kit Kat Girl) Ivoryton Playhouse debut! Playhouse on Park: The Lady The Scottsboro Boys; Fairfield Center Stage: Michelle Morris Dreamgirls; Windham Theatre Guild: Janet The Rocky Horror Show; The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts: Mae The Wild Party; Connecticut Theatre Company: Clopin The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Castle Craig Players: Kitty The Drowsy Chaperone; Connecticut Theatre Company: Peggy The Women; Downtown Cabaret Theatre: Bebe A Chorus Line; The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts: Sister Chantelle Bare: A Pop Opera Every moment has a purpose. It takes patience to understand what that purpose is and Renee is thankful for the moments that led her here.
Andy Tighe* (Cliff) is so excited to be making his Ivoryton Playhouse debut in one of his favorite shows, Cabaret! Select regional credits: Jekyll & Hyde, A Christmas Carol, The Sound of Music (North Shore Music Theatre); Lancelot in Camelot (New London Barn Playhouse); Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Reagle MT; OnStage Theatre Award); Freddy in My Fair Lady (New Bedford Festival Theatre); The Producers (Theatre by the Sea); Fallen Skies – World Premiere (NYCFringe); Funny Girl (Arrow Rock Lyceum). Concerts: Leonard Bernstein Centennial Tribute at Boston Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops. Sincere thanks to the Ivoryton team. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. www.AndyTighe.com; Instagram: @atighe42
Emerson Valentina (Lulu) is a triple-threat performer based in New York City. She graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy’s Musical Theatre Program this spring. Emerson began her professional career early in childhood and is recognized as an Equity Membership Candidate; she has received numerous dance titles and awards all over the nation, been recognized as a Broadway World Award Finalist, and earned the role of an AMDA Rising Star with countless solo opportunities. Her credits include “Maggie” in A Chorus Line, “The Lady of the Water” in Big Fish, “Ariel” in The Little Mermaid, and several other professional regional/NYC productions. @emersonvalentina
Max Weinstein (Hans) is thrilled to return to the Ivoryton Playhouse! Recently Max appeared as Greg in the Chinese premiere of A Chorus Line directed by Baayork Lee in Shanghai. Favorite Ivoryton credits include West Side Story (A-Rab) and Grease (Sonny) among others. Max is a 2018 BFA Drama graduate of NYU Tisch. Special thanks to Todd, Jacqui, Daniel, his parents, and the Rosenbergs. Maxjweinstein.com
Jayke Workman (Herman) is thrilled to be on the Ivoryton Playhouse stage! Hailing from the Midwest, he recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theater from The Hartt School in Hartford, CT. Favorite past credits include: The Flamingo Kid, Hartford Stage, Cabaret, Funny Girl, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mac-Haydn Theatre, 1776, Connecticut Rep, The Giver (Jonas), Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Endless thanks to my wonderful family. jaykeworkman.com.
Director and Choreographer: Todd Underwood
Musical Director: Mike Morris
Stage Manager: Laura Lynne Knowles*
Assistant Stage Manager: Emily Lafreniere*
Scenic Designer: Daniel Nischan
Lighting Designer: Marcus Abbott
Sound Designer: Tate R. Burmeister
Costume Designer: Kate Bunce
* member of Actors Equity
Check back here for photos and video clips!
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Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome!
CABARET at the Ivoryton Playhouse
Ivoryton – “There was a cabaret and there was a master of ceremonies and there was a city called Berlin in a country called Germany. It was the end of the world … and I was dancing with Sally Bowles and we were both fast asleep.” So begins the international classic musical and winner of 8 Tony awards – CABARET – opening in Ivoryton on Wednesday, August 7th. Join us at the Kit Kat Club as the Emcee takes us back to those tumultuous times with unforgettable musical numbers including, “Wilkommen,” “Cabaret,” and “Maybe This Time.”
This Broadway classic is set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. CABARET focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer, Sally Bowles, as the world spins out of control. The original 1966 Broadway production became an instant hit, winning eight Tony Awards in 1967 and four in 1998. The show has inspired numerous subsequent productions in London and New York, as well as the 1972 film of the same name.
CABARET is an unusual musical that has changed many times over the past 50 years to reflect the changes in the world, but the musical’s implicit warning about the temptations of fascism, nationalism and prejudice — the way they can sneak up on you when you’re having fun — has never seemed dated or irrelevant.
“It’s such an important piece of theatre, in what it says about the world and how quickly things can change,” says Playhouse Artistic Director, Jacqui Hubbard. “I think it is even more relevant today than when it was first performed over 50 years ago. Underneath the humor, the sex and the fabulous music is a constant alarm sounding, telling us to pay attention.”
The production stars Sam Given* as the Master of Ceremonies. Sam has appeared in Ivoryton in Godspell, A Chorus Line, I Hate Musicals: The Musical and in his own one-person show with his alter ego, Millie Grams. He has recently been seen as Ziggy Stardust in Rebel Rebel: The Many Lives of David Bowie. Katie Mack* as Sally Bowles and Andy Tighe* as Cliff will be making their Ivoryton debuts. The cast also includes Will Clark, Carlyn Connolly*, Corrie Farbstein, Taavon Gamble*, Jade Genga, Aliah James, John Little*, Amanda Lupacchino, Amani Pope, Carolyn Popp*, Renee Sutherland, Emerson Valentina, Max Weinstein and Jayke Workman.
The production is directed and choreographed by Todd Underwood and musical directed by Michael Morris with set design by Daniel Nischan, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costume design by Katie Bunce.
CABARET opens at the Ivoryton Playhouse on August 7th and runs through September 1st, 2019. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Additional matinee performances are on Saturday, August 17th and August 31st at 2pm.
Tickets are $55 adults; $50 seniors; $25 students and $20 children. Available by calling the box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org
(Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Members of the press are welcome at any performance after August 8th, 2019.
*denotes member of Actors Equity
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Steele.
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