CLC Theatre presents summer production of 'Cabaret'
"Cabaret," a Tony Award-winning musical telling the story of Berlin's infamous Kit Kat Klub during the rise of Nazi power in 1931, will be presented by the College of Lake County departments of theater, music and dance.
Seven performances will be presented in the Studio Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts over two weekends: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, July 20-29.
The story revolves around young American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. Cliff is seduced by the Kit Kat Klub, where The Emcee, Sally and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd, enticing them to leave their troubles outside.
The show is directed by Craig Rich, chair of the theater program, with musical direction by Jean Hersey, orchestral direction by Paul Hefner and choreography by Valerie Alpert, chair of the dance program.
"I chose to direct 'Cabaret' because there are a number of great roles for our students and because the story feels so timely," Rich said.
"The character of Sally Bowles has one of my favorite lines in the play. Ignoring the seriousness of what is happening around her and the politics of the time, she says, 'Politics? ... But what has that to do with us?'
"There may be no troubles inside the Kit Kat Klub, but we know that won't last forever. In some ways, 'Cabaret' is a cautionary tale - a reminder for all of us in 2018 to stay engaged, to care about what happens to the people around us, and to not repeat the mistakes of the past."
In CLC's production, the live music and singing inside the Studio Theatre's intimate space will have the audience feeling as if they are right inside the Kit Kat Klub, Rich said.
Featuring memorable songs such as "Willkommen," "Money," "Don't Tell Mama" and "Maybe This Time," the show contains a message to follow your heart when the world loses its way.
The music is by John Kander, with lyrics by Fred Ebb and book by Joe Masteroff. It is based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. The performance contains mature language and subject matter.
Tickets are $17 for general admission; $14 for CLC staff and students, teens and seniors 65 and older, including a JLC $2 facility fee. Tickets are available in person at the Box Office, by phone at (847) 543-2300 or online at www.clcillinois.edu/tickets.
A buy one ticket, get one free offer applies to the July 20 and 26 shows (in person or phone orders only). Additional convenience fees apply to mail or online purchases. The Box Office is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 60 minutes before to each performance.
The James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts is at the CLC Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.
The cast includes Dylan Thomas of Winthrop Harbor as The Emcee, Christine Barreca of Grayslake as Sally, Joshua Pride of Wadsworth as Cliff, Nicole Frier of Gurnee at Schneider, Brian Flanders of Grayslake as Schultz, Kassandra Phelan of Waukegan as Kost, and Alessandro Poehlman of Gurnee as Ernst; the Kit Kat Women/Ensemble: Maddison Crecchio of Round Lake Beach, Delaney Katz of Lake Zurich, Rena Beyers of Wauconda, Chantal Moody of Round Lake, Raya Plata of Lake Bluff and Caitlin Wolfe of Grayslake; and the Kit Kat Men/Ensemble: Riley Beckett of Lake Villa, Benjamin Compton of Winthrop Harbor, Alexander Gray of Zion, Tyler Gray-Henry of Grayslake and Sam Kim of Hawthorn Woods.
The CLC Theatre Department offers 13 different courses and an Associate in Arts degree, with emphasis either on theater performance (acting/directing) or technical theater (design/stage management). For more information, contact the Communication Arts, Humanities and Fine Arts division at (847) 543-2040 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/programs/the.
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