Naperville's Kidz Kabaret to present 'Oliver!'

Michael Notardonato was 13 when he played the coveted title role of Oliver in Marriott Theater's 2006 production of “Oliver!”

He performed more than 80 shows and earned rave reviews for his golden voice and dancing skills.

Now almost 18 years old, Notardonato has brought his love of the musical and his performance skills to Naperville-based Kidz Kabaret where he's working with more than 40 performers to help choreograph the same show, which premieres Thursday, Dec. 16.

Notardonato began his acting career with Naperville's Magical Starlight Theater as a lost boy in “Peter Pan.” Since then, he has performed with Marriott Theater, Drury Lane, North Central College, Summer Place Theater, and was part of the cast in the Chicago-leg of the National Broadway tour of “Evita.”

He has done some film work, commercials, and has continued to audition and perform in many different productions.

Since entering high school, Notardonato was awarded a role in the 2010 All-State production of “Urinetown.” He also has used his artistic skills to design sets and direct productions, and now his dancing skills will be used with Kidz Kabaret.

“I was so excited to get the chance to choreograph ‘Oliver!' after I invested my life to this musical eight shows a week for nearly four months when I was 13,” Notardonato said.

“It is such a different experience being on the other side of the production process, teaching these extremely talented students a show that I was in five years ago. I'm just so happy and excited to bring new ideas to the show and to be getting a second experience from it!”

“Oliver!” is based on Charles Dickens' novel “Oliver Twist.” The musical previewed in the United States in the early 1960s and remains a crowd favorite with several Broadway and London revivals and tours.

The Kidz Kabaret production includes all the hit songs, such as “Where is Love,” “Consider Yourself” and “Who Will Buy.”

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17; noon, 3 and 6 p.m. Dec. 18; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 19: and 7 p.m. Dec. 20, at Center Stage Theater, 1665 Quincy Ave, Suite 131, Naperville.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $6 for children under 10.

For reservations, call (630) 355-9212 or visit kidzkabaret.com.