Actor Jodi Dominick stars as Sally Bowles in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actor Jodi Dominick stars as Sally Bowles (center) and advises Don't Tell Mama, amidst a sea of Kit Kat Club girls in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Willkommen! The Master of Ceremonies, actor Eduardo Placer (top, center) welcomes guests amidst a sea of Kit Kat Club girls in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actors Sara M. Bruner (center, left) and Jim Lichtscheidl (center, right) share the stage with a talented ensemble as Fraulein Kost and Ernst Ludwig (respectively) in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
The Master of Ceremonies, actor Eduardo Placer (center), introduces Two Ladies, actors Danny Henning (left) and Jillian Kates (right), to the audience in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Headline performer Sally Bowles (actor Jodi Dominick) and writer Clifford Bradshaw (actor Neil Brookshire) make a perfect couple in Great Lakes Theater’s production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actors Laura Perrotta (as Fraulein Schneider) and John Woodson (as Herr Schultz) take center stage in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Willkommen! The Master of Ceremonies, actor Eduardo Placer (center) welcomes audience members to the show amidst a sea of Kit Kat Club girls in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actor Jodi Dominick stars as Sally Bowles in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actor Sara M. Bruner takes center stage as Fraulein Kost in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
From the Director...
"There was a Cabaret and there was a Master-of-Ceremonies and there was a city called Berlin in a country called Germany and it was the end of the world...and I was dancing with Sally Bowles and we were both fast asleep..."
Perception can be a funny thing. We can literally decide what we actually want to see -- and what we would prefer to ignore. Cabaret is told through the somewhat cloudy eyes of Clifford Bradshaw, an American writer visiting Berlin in 1930. Those opening lines are actually the last words spoken by Cliff in the musical, Cabaret, as he finally opens his eyes to reality and begins to view the horror of the nightmare that has begun. The character of Cliff was based on novelist, Christopher Isherwood, who wrote an autobiographical account of the time he spent in Germany from 1929 to 1933 entitled "The Berlin Stories", which in turn inspired the John van Druten play, I Am a Camera, the basis for the musical, Cabaret.
In the original 1967 version of Cabaret, Cliff sings the haunting ballad, 'Why Should I Wake Up". The song was cut from later versions of Cabaret, making Cliff's role virtually non-singing; yet the lyrics, by a masterful Fred Ebb, give us fascinating insight into the mind of our unreliable storyteller.
"Why should I wake up, this dream is going so well. When you're enchanted, why break the spell?"
As Cliff immerses himself in the exciting, theatrical, if somewhat tawdry life of the Berlin Cabaret (a metaphor for Weimar Germany), he chooses not to see the changing atmosphere of oppression and prejudice emerging around him. Cliff fights to ignore the early warning signs of Nazi Party, preferring to remain in a state of mental intoxication.
"Drifting in this euphoric state, morning can wait, let it come late."
The questions have often been asked, "How could the genocide of World War II have taken place in front of our eyes?" "Why did the world take so long to recognize the danger of Hitler's rhetoric and respond to the atrocities being committed by the Nazis? Does history continue to repeat itself?
"Why should I wake up? Why waste a drop of the wine? Don't I adore you, and aren't you mine?"
The visual inspiration for our production of Cabaret comes from the daring painter, Georg Grosz, an artist of the Weimar Republic. There is an exuberant, dangerous energy to his work, the vibrant colors leap off the canvas; yet, within the titillating scenes of the wild Berlin nightlife lie images of horrendous violence and murder. Life, as painted by Grosz, is lived on the brink in bold garish colors; the characters in his paintings and in the musical alike turn a blind eye to destruction -- even self-destruction -- until it is too late. Cabaret gets at a truth that is often only realized in hindsight -- the signs were all there if one wanted to see them.
"Maybe I'll someday be lonely again, but, why should I wake up, till then."
-Victoria Bussert, Director Cabaret
Synopsis
Act One
The action opens in the Kit Kat Klub, a decadent, seedy cabaret at the dawn of the 1930’s in Berlin. The Klub's Master of Ceremonies, or Emcee, together with the cabaret girls, welcomes the audience to the club. The action cuts to a train station downtown, where Clifford Bradshaw, a young American writer coming to Berlin in the hopes of finding inspiration for his new novel, is arriving on the evening train. On the train he meets Ernst Ludwig, an attractive young Berliner who appears to be in the smuggling business. When Cliff inadvertently helps him, Ernst gratefully gives him the name of a likely rooming-house in Berlin. When Cliff arrives at the boardinghouse, run by Fräulein Schneider, she rents the room to Cliff for half its usual price. Fräulein Schneider says that she has learned to take whatever life offers. Afterward, Cliff remembers that Ernst mentioned a cabaret—the Kit Kat Klub— and decides to visit it.
At the Klub, the Emcee introduces a British singer, Sally Bowles, who performs for the cabaret's audience. Afterward, she calls Cliff on the table-to-table phone and offers to buy him a drink. Their conversation is cut short by Max, the club’s owner, who watches Sally in a proprietary way.
In Sally’s dressing room, Max fires Sally, telling her that the club needs a fresh new face. Cliff turns up at Sally’s door and they briefly get to know each other before Sally heads back onto the stage for her final performance.
The next day Cliff is giving Ernst English lessons when Sally arrives. She tells Cliff that Max has thrown her out and she has no place to live, asking him if she can live in his room. At first he resists, saying she would be "much too distracting," but she convinces him (and Fräulein Schneider) to take her in. Directly after this scene, the Emcee and two female companions sing a song that comments on Cliff and Sally's unusual living conditions.
The action moves to Fräulein Schneider's apartment. Herr Schultz, an elderly Jewish fruit-shop owner who lives in the boardinghouse, has given Fräulein Schneider a pineapple as a gift. This scene is the beginning of a romance.
Months later, Sally and Cliff have been living together. Sally reveals that she is pregnant, but she does not know with whose child. She reluctantly decides to get an abortion. Cliff convinces her to have the baby. Ernst then offers Cliff a job--delivering a suitcase to his "client"--which Cliff accepts. The Emcee and the cabaret girls comment on this with a song.
Meanwhile, Fräulein Schneider has caught one of her boarders, Fräulein Kost, bringing sailors into her room. Fräulein Schneider forbids her from doing it, but Fräulein Kost threatens to leave. She mentions that she has seen Fräulein Schneider with Herr Schultz in her room. Herr Schultz saves Frau Schneider's reputation by declaring their engagement.
The next scene is Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz's engagement party, at Herr Schultz's fruit shop. Cliff arrives and delivers the suitcase to Ernst. Looking for revenge on Fräulein Schneider, Fräulein Kost tells Ernst, who now sports a Nazi armband, that Herr Schultz is a Jew. Ernst warns Fräulein Schneider that marrying a Jew may not be wise.
Act Two
Fräulein Schneider expresses her concerns about her union to Herr Schultz, who assures her that everything will be all right. Their conversation is interrupted by the crash of a brick being thrown through the window of Herr Schultz's fruit shop.
Back at the Kit Kat Klub, the Emcee performs an upbeat song-and-dance routine with a person in a gorilla suit and sings of how their love has been met with universal disapproval.
Fräulein Schneider then goes to Cliff and Sally's room and returns their engagement present, explaining that her marriage has been called off. When Cliff protests, saying that she can't give her fiancé up, she asks him what other choice she has.
Meanwhile, Cliff informs Sally that he is taking her back to his home in America so that they can raise their baby together. Though Sally protests, Cliff does not relent and tells her to pack her bags. Following their heated argument, Sally returns to the club to perform again.
When Sally goes back to her and Cliff's room, Cliff asks where her fur coat is. She answers, evasively, that she left it at the doctor's. Cliff realizes that Sally has had an abortion. Sally, devastated, says that she had hoped their relationship wouldn't end like this. Cliff says that he is leaving for Paris in the morning, hoping that she will join him. But Sally says that she's "always hated Paris." Cliff leaves, heartbroken.
As Cliff rides the train to Paris he begins to write his novel, reflecting on his experiences at the Kit Kat Klub and with Sally.
Neil Brookshire*
Clifford Bradshaw
Three seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Great Lakes Theater : Valentine, The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Moth, Love's Labour's Lost. Idaho Shakespeare Festival: Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Cliff in Cabaret; Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew; Stephen in Major Barbara, Edgar in King Lear, Orlando in As You Like It, Witch in Macbeth, and others. He has also worked with Boise Contemporary Theater: Miles, The Drawer Boy; Dr. Seward, Dracula; Bartley, The Cripple of Inishmaan; as well as Company of Fools (Idaho), Idaho Dance Theatre, Opera Idaho, and Seattle Novyi Theatre. He has an MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University, and is the founder of Dirt Hills Productions, a website featuring audio dramas and documentaries. Three seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Great Lakes Theater : Valentine, The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Moth, Love's Labour's Lost. Idaho Shakespeare Festival: Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Cliff in Cabaret; Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew; Stephen in Major Barbara, Edgar in King Lear, Orlando in...
Sara Bruner*
Fraulein Kost
Eight seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Sara is honored to be part of the Christmas Carol tradition. She has adapted and directed Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Othello and Twelfth Night for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s educational outreach tour. She has also served as assistant director to Charles Fee (GLT, ISF), Victoria Bussert (PlayhouseSquare) and Risa Brainin (ISF). GLT credits include Kate in The Taming of the Shrew, Frau Kost in Cabaret, Desdemona in Othello, Mabel in An Ideal Husband, Drood in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Viola in Twelfth Night, Masha in The Seagull, a witch in Macbeth, Abigail in The Crucible, Ariel in The Tempest, Raina in Arms and the Man, Ophelia in Hamlet, Marianne In Tartuffe, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Sorel in Hay Fever. Eight seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Sara is honored to be part of the Christmas Carol tradition. She has adapted and directed Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Othello and Twelfth Night for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s educational outreach tour. She has also served...
Phillip Michael Carroll*
Victor/Max/Sailor
Three seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Phillip Michael Carroll is thrilled to be returning to the Hanna stage, having been a member of the inaugural productions of Into the Woods and Macbeth. Other credits include Amadeus, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and A Christmas Carol (Great Lakes Theatre); Brooklyn: the Musical (14th Street Theatre); Hair, Bat Boy: the Musical, and West Side Story (Cain Park); Passion and Moby Dick: the Musical (Beck Centre for the Arts). Three seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Phillip Michael Carroll is thrilled to be returning to the Hanna stage, having been a member of the inaugural productions of Into the Woods and Macbeth. Other credits include Amadeus, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and A Christmas Carol (Great Lakes...
Jodi Dominick*
Sally Bowles
Five seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Jodi’s previous roles include Sally Bowles in Cabaret, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Lady MacDuff in Macbeth, Olivia in Twelfth Night, Helena Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband, Bianca in Othello, Ivana/Tailor in The Taming of the Shrew and Lucetta/Outlaw in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Four seasons at Idaho Shakespeare Festival include Into the Woods, Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Twelfth Night, An Ideal Husband, Othello, Two Gentleman of Verona, The Taming of the Shrew and Cabaret. Other credits include Diana in I Love You Because at PlayhouseSquare; Helen/Frances/Bad Perm, The Break Up Notebook at The Beck Center for the Arts, New World Stages and Hudson Backstage Theatre; Clara, Passion at The Beck Center for the Arts; Woman 1 and 2 in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at The Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare; Debtor’s Wife in A Christmas Carol, Great Lakes Theater; and Gypsy at Great Lakes Theater, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Other shows include Lovelace: A Rock Opera, The Hayworth Theatre (LA); Violet and Bye Bye Birdie, Cain Park; and Closer, Dobama Theatre. Jodi is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music and proud member of AEA. Five seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Jodi’s previous roles include Sally Bowles in Cabaret, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Lady MacDuff in Macbeth, Olivia in Twelfth Night, Helena Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband, Bianca in Othello, Ivana/Tailor in The Taming...
Nika Ericson
Ensemble
Two seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Nika is thrilled to be coming back for the second time to the Great Lakes Theatr. Nika has worked in and around Chicago with such theatres as Writer’s Theatre, Babes with Blades, First Folio Theatre, and Stage Left. Nika received her MFA in Acting from Penn State University where she was given the Manuel Duque Award for excellence in acting. Nika is currently an Equity Membership Candidate. She would like to thank her wonderful family for their endless love and support. Two seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Nika is thrilled to be coming back for the second time to the Great Lakes Theatr. Nika has worked in and around Chicago with such theatres as Writer’s Theatre, Babes with Blades, First Folio Theatre, and Stage Left. Nika received her MFA in Acting...
Danny Henning*
Bobby/Gorilla
Four Seasons at Great Lakes Theater: GLT Credits: Twelfth Night (Valentine, u/s Sebastian), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Deputy), and three seasons in A Christmas Carol (Dick Wilkins). With Idaho Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors (ensemble), Twelfth Night (Valentine, u/s Sebastian), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Deputy). Other credits include Freddie in Chess (Playhouse Square), Leo Bloom in The Producers, Tony in West Side Story, Dean Hyde in All Shook Up (Timber Lake Playhouse), Jimmie Curry in 110 in the Shade (Kalliope Stage), Victor in Cabaret (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre), Hair and Kiss Me Kate (Cain Park). Danny has a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. He is a proud AEA member. Love, respect and greatest thanks to Charlie, Ms. B, ISF/GLTF family, KGA, mom, dad, MSKN, Kyle and Nicholas. Four Seasons at Great Lakes Theater: GLT Credits: Twelfth Night (Valentine, u/s Sebastian), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Deputy), and three seasons in A Christmas Carol (Dick Wilkins). With Idaho Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors (ensemble), Twelfth Night (Valentine, u/s Sebastian), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Deputy). Other credits include Freddie in Chess (Playhouse Square), Leo Bloom in The Producers,...
Jillian Kates*
Texas
Great Lakes Theater debut: Jillian is thrilled to be making her theatrical debut with Great Lakes Theater! Favorite credits include; Little Edie in Grey Gardens at Beck Center, Mimi in Rent at Baldwin-Wallace College, Sally in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown at Heartland Festival, Liesl in The Sound of Music at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and Cinderella in Into The Woods at Tolbert Theatre. Jillian graduated with her BM in Music Theater from the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music in May and will be moving to NYC this fall. Much love and thanks to family, friends, Vicky, Greg, Charles Fee, the GLT cast and crew, teachers past and present, and the wonderful people at Stewart Talent. Proud member of AEA. This performance is for Nanny. Great Lakes Theater debut: Jillian is thrilled to be making her theatrical debut with Great Lakes Theater! Favorite credits include; Little Edie in Grey Gardens at Beck Center, Mimi in Rent at Baldwin-Wallace College, Sally in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown at Heartland Festival, Liesl in The Sound of Music at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and...
Andrea Leach
Rosie
Two season at Great Lakes Theater: Andrea is so honored to be making a return to the Great Lakes Theatre for it’s 50th season! Regional: An Ideal Husband (Lady Barford) at Great Lakes Theater, Chess (Chess Queen) at the 14th Street Theatre, Pippin at Cain Park, Chicago (Velma Kelly), Oklahoma, and Curtains at Timber Lake Playhouse. Collegiate: Rent (Maureen), The Wild Party. Andrea is currently studying at the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music and will earn a Bachelor’s Degree of Music in May 2012. Love to my ever supportive family and a huge thank you to the patrons for supporting the arts! Two season at Great Lakes Theater: Andrea is so honored to be making a return to the Great Lakes Theatre for it’s 50th season! Regional: An Ideal Husband (Lady Barford) at Great Lakes Theater, Chess (Chess Queen) at the 14th Street Theatre, Pippin at Cain Park, Chicago (Velma Kelly), Oklahoma,...
Jim Lichtscheidl*
Ernst Ludwig
Great Lakes Theater debut: This is Jim's first appearance at the Great Lakes Theater. Recent credits include playing Billygoat in the world premiere of Tiny Kushner at the Tricycle Theater in London and Berkeley Repertory; Lou Levy in Sisters of Swing at Riverside Theater in Vero Beach, FL; and Captain Bluntschli in Arms and the Man and Clown 1 in The 39 Steps at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, where Jim has appeared in over 25 productions. Jim also works in the Twin Cities area as an instructor (improvisation and movement,) choreographer, and collaborator, having created original works such as Igloo Glue for the Southern Theater, archy and mehitabel: life in lowercase for Open Eye Figure Theater, and KNOCK! for Theater Latte Da, which earned Jim a 2006 Ivey Award and Best of the Fringe award. Jim is also an acting core member for Ten Thousand Things Theater, a company that brings theater to prisons, homeless shelters, and low-income audiences. Great Lakes Theater debut: This is Jim's first appearance at the Great Lakes Theater. Recent credits include playing Billygoat in the world premiere of Tiny Kushner at the Tricycle Theater in London and Berkeley Repertory; Lou Levy in Sisters of Swing at Riverside Theater in Vero Beach, FL; and Captain Bluntschli in Arms and the...
Bailey Carter Moulse
Fritzie
Two seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Bailey is delighted to be returning to Great Lakes Theater, having previously been a part of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She just finished her first season with Idaho Shakespeare Festival where she appeared in Cabaret and The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles include Shelly in the regional premiere of Evil Dead: The Musical at The Beck Center for the Arts, Alice in Bye, Bye Birdie (Porthouse Theatre), Babette in Beauty and the Beast (Regent University), Lizzie in Goblin Market (The Governor’s School for the Arts), and ensemble in the world premiere of Rent and La Boheme in repertory at Baldwin-Wallace College. Other BWC credits: Marcy in Dog Sees God, Cecily Pigeon in The Odd Couple, and Bridget Sullivan in a workshop of the new rock musical Lizzie Borden. Bailey is a senior music theatre major at Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Vicky, Scott, Greg, Joan, Jason and MT12 for their endless love and support. Two seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Bailey is delighted to be returning to Great Lakes Theater, having previously been a part of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She just finished her first season with Idaho Shakespeare Festival where she appeared in Cabaret and The Taming of the Shrew. Previous roles...
Shannon O'Boyle*
Lulu
Great Lakes Theater debut: Shannon is thrilled to be making her theatrical debut with Great Lakes Theatre. Favorite credits include Logainne Schwarzand Grubeniere in 25TH Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Heartland Festival, Mimi (u/s), Mrs. Jefferson and ensemble in the World Premiere of Rent and La Boheme in repertory at Baldwin-Wallace, Bette Brennan (The Marriage of Bette and Boo), Celia (As You Like It) and the title role of Lizzie Borden in a workshop of the new rock musical. Shannon will receive her BM in Music Theatre from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music in May 2012. All my gratitude to Vicky, Scott, Greg, Sara, Mr. C., Charles Fee, Sara, and Ben. Great Lakes Theater debut: Shannon is thrilled to be making her theatrical debut with Great Lakes Theatre. Favorite credits include Logainne Schwarzand Grubeniere in 25TH Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Heartland Festival, Mimi (u/s), Mrs. Jefferson and ensemble in the World Premiere of Rent and La Boheme in repertory...
Laura Perrotta*
Fraulein Schneider
Thirteen seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Representative roles in New York: Love’s Labour’s Lost, Heartbreak House, Kabuki Macbeth, Troilus and Cressida, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Major Barbara, Boy Meets Girl, The Long Goodbye, Talk to Me Like the Rain ..., Whispers on the Wind and Private Lives. Cleveland: Hedda Gabler, Broken Glass, Uncle Vanya, King Lear, Jocasta, The Front Page, Angels in America, Three Days of Rain, Closer, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife and How I Learned to Drive. Great Lakes Theater: The Wild Duck, Gypsy, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Arms and the Man, Julius Caesar, The Importance of Being Earnest, Private Lives, Tartuffe and Hamlet. Idaho Shakespeare Festival/Great Lakes Theater: The Taming of the Shrew, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Love’s Labour’s Lost, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Hay Fever, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, Othello, An Ideal Husband, Cabaret and The Taming of the Shrew. To Daisy with love. Thirteen seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Representative roles in New York: Love’s Labour’s Lost, Heartbreak House, Kabuki Macbeth, Troilus and Cressida, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Major Barbara, Boy Meets Girl, The Long Goodbye, Talk to Me Like the Rain ..., Whispers on the Wind and Private Lives. Cleveland:...
Eduardo Placer*
Master of Ceremonies
Three seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Previous GLT and ISF credits include Master of Ceremonies (Cabaret), Hortensio (The Taming of the Shrew), Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Bud/Pan/Daisy (Bat Boy: The Musical), Ghost of Christmas Past (A Christmas Carol), Roderigo (Othello), Vicomte de Nanjac (An Ideal Husband), Neville Landless (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and Feste (Twelfth Night). New York credits: Clincher Sr. (The Constant Couple) and Rosencrantz (Hamlet) at The Pearl Theatre. Regional credits: world premiere productions of Zhivago (La Jolla Playhouse) and Senor Discretion Himself (Arena Stage), Much Ado About Nothing (The Shakespeare Theatre), Camelot (Arena Stage), A Man’s A Man (Arena Stage), The Mineola Twins (Woolly Mammoth). Training: MFA in acting, UCSD. B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. Proud AEA member since 2003. Three seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Previous GLT and ISF credits include Master of Ceremonies (Cabaret), Hortensio (The Taming of the Shrew), Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Bud/Pan/Daisy (Bat Boy: The Musical), Ghost of Christmas Past (A Christmas Carol), Roderigo (Othello), Vicomte de Nanjac (An Ideal Husband), Neville Landless (The Mystery...
Maggie Roach
Frenchie
First season at Great Lakes Theater: Maggie is thrilled to be returning to Great Lakes Theater after finishing an exciting run as Frenchie in Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre. Other favorite credits include Heidi in [title of show] (PlayhouseSquare), Dodi in See Rock City (Dobama Theatre), Julie in Show Boat (Carson-Dater Performing Arts Center), Chess Queen in Chess (PlayhouseSquare), Frenchie in Cabaret (CBB of St. Louis), Dolores in The Wild Party (Baldwin-Wallace College) and Essie in Parade (Baldwin-Wallace College). She holds a bachelor of music in music theater from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. Tons of love and thanks to the cast and crew at GLT and my NYC family, as well as my 6 Roaches at home. First season at Great Lakes Theater: Maggie is thrilled to be returning to Great Lakes Theater after finishing an exciting run as Frenchie in Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre. Other favorite credits include Heidi in [title of show] (PlayhouseSquare), Dodi in See Rock City (Dobama Theatre), Julie in Show Boat...
Sara Whale
Helga
Two seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Sara attended the Juilliard School before joining Ram Island Dance and the Maine State Ballet where she performed, taught and choreographed for both Portland, ME based companies. During her career she has performed works by Charles Weidman, George Balanchine, Linda MacArthur Meile, Randy James, Daniel McCusker, Jeff Duncan, Dan Wagoner, Buffy Miller and Doug Varone and has performed as an ensemble member in Great Lakes Theatre production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Sara moved to Cleveland in 2007 after earning a BFA in Graphic Design from Pacific Northwest College of Art and is currently a member of the dance faculty at Baldwin-Wallace College and teaches for the Dancing Wheels Company. She has recently created new works for Verb Ballets, Meg Louise Dance, The Dancing Wheels Company, Cleveland Public Theatre's Big [BOX] Series, Cleveland's Playhouse Square Dance Showcase and was a featured dancer in the Zurich Opera's production of Don Giovanni with the Cleveland Orchestra. Two seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Sara attended the Juilliard School before joining Ram Island Dance and the Maine State Ballet where she performed, taught and choreographed for both Portland, ME based companies. During her career she has performed works by Charles Weidman, George Balanchine, Linda MacArthur Meile, Randy James,...
Rod Wolfe
Customs Official/Rudy
Great Lakes Theater debut: Rod has performed seven seasons with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Favorite ISF roles include Trinculo in The Tempest, Cleante in The Miser, Conrad/Balthazar in Much Ado About Nothing, Valentine in Twelfth Night, Protean in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Audrey 2 in Little Shop Of Horrors and Officer Klein in Arsenic And Old Lace. Shakespearience roles include Claudius/Ghost in Hamlet/ Roderigo in Othello, and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Rod has also performed with Boise Contemporary Theater as Sagot in Picasso at The Lapan Agile and as Jeeter in Last Of The Boys for Alley Rep Theater. Rod is also co-founder of Idaho Theater for Youth. Some favorite ITY roles include Mark Twain in Liar's Stew, Fool in Commedia De Lazzi, Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk, Tubby in Little Lulu and Wilbur in Charlotte's Web. He dedicates his work to his family. Great Lakes Theater debut: Rod has performed seven seasons with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Favorite ISF roles include Trinculo in The Tempest, Cleante in The Miser, Conrad/Balthazar in Much Ado About Nothing, Valentine in Twelfth Night, Protean in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Audrey 2...
John Woodson*
Herr Schultz
Five season at Great Lakes Theater: John Woodson, has been a working theatre professional for over thirty years. NYC credits: Broadway-Jason Medea, starring Dame Diana Rigg; Kent in King Lear with Hal Holbrook at Roundabout Theatre; Kent in King Lear with F. Murray Abraham at the NY Shakespeare Festival/Public Theatre, Exeter in Henry V, NY Shakespeare Festival. Regionally, John has worked in many outstanding theatres including: Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Dallas Theatre Center, Alley Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival(company member) Cleveland Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Fesival, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Long Wharf, Buffalo Studio Arena and the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival (a founding company member).John served as Artistic and Executive Director of The Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, SC from 2002-2006. In 2007 John founded Atlantic Stage in Myrtle Beach, SC and served as its Artistic Producer until 2010. Five season at Great Lakes Theater: John Woodson, has been a working theatre professional for over thirty years. NYC credits: Broadway-Jason Medea, starring Dame Diana Rigg; Kent in King Lear with Hal Holbrook at Roundabout Theatre; Kent in King Lear with F. Murray Abraham at the NY Shakespeare Festival/Public Theatre,...
* Members of the Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Victoria Bussert
Director
Twenty-six seasons at Great LakesTheater: Victoria Bussert has been with Great Lakes Theater for 26 seasons, having directed Bat Boy: The Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Into the Woods, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anything Goes, A Little Night Music, She Loves Me, The Most Happy Fella, Rough Crossing, Blithe Spirit, La Ronde, The School for Wives, Noel and Gertie, The Threepenny Opera and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. Her work has been seen at many theaters across the country, including Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Manhattan Theatre Club, Goodspeed Opera, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Portland Stage, Dallas Theatre Center, Cleveland Play House, Pegasus Players, Porthouse Theatre, Dobama Theatre, Beck Center and, for 23 seasons, at Cain Park. She has had an active career in opera direction with productions at Piedmont Opera, Anchorage Opera, Skylight Opera Theatre, Pennsylvania Opera and Cleveland Opera. Victoria has directed seven national tours, including Into the Woods, Once on the Island and The Who’s Tommy, and has her MFA in directing from Northwestern University. She serves as Director of Music Theatre for Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. Upcoming projects include Avenue Q in Denmark, Spring Awakening at Beck Center and the regional premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim, a co-production between GLT and Playhouse Square. Many thanks to Charlie, Bob and her GLT family, Jeff, Matt, Greg, Charlotte, Corrie, Norman and her Cabaret family, and especially to Dale and Zoey -- her "family" family. Twenty-six seasons at Great LakesTheater: Victoria Bussert has been with Great Lakes Theater for 26 seasons, having directed Bat Boy: The Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Into the Woods, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anything Goes, A Little Night Music, She Loves Me, The Most Happy Fella, Rough Crossing, Blithe Spirit, La Ronde, The School for Wives, Noel and Gertie, The Threepenny Opera and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar...
Gregory Daniels
Choreographer
Great Lakes Theater debut: Gregory Daniels is thrilled to be making his choreographic debut with Great Lakes Theatre. He is the head of the dance department at Baldwin-Wallace College. As a professional dancer, he has performed in regional theaters from coast to coast, in national tours of Broadway shows and, for nine years, at the famed Radio City Music Hall in NYC. His choreographic credits include Anything Goes (Houston Theatre Under the Stars), starring Tony Award nominated actress Dee Hoty; the world premiere of a new musical, My Own Song (Flatrock Playhouse, NC), starring Clint Holmes; and Putting it Together (Syracuse Stage), starring Tony Award winners Lillias White and Chuck Cooper. Other shows include Forever Plaid; I Do! I Do!; Hello Dolly!; I Love You. You’re Perfect, Now Change (winner of Broadway World.com Philly Award for Best Musical), The Producers, Hairspray (nominated for a 2010 New Hampshire Theatre Award for best choreography); and he had the rare honor of creating and choreographing a brand new number for The Rockettes for The Commerce Bank Wow Awards. Most recently, he choreographed Rent and La Boheme for Baldwin-Wallace College, Dreamgirls for Cain Park and Cabaret for Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Thank you to Vicki, Charley, Chris, Bob and the entire Great Lakes Theatre family and to Jared for always being there with support and smiles. Great Lakes Theater debut: Gregory Daniels is thrilled to be making his choreographic debut with Great Lakes Theatre. He is the head of the dance department at Baldwin-Wallace College. As a professional dancer, he has performed in regional theaters from coast to coast, in national tours of Broadway shows and, for nine years, at the famed Radio City Music Hall in NYC. His choreographic credits include Anything Goes (Houston Theatre Under the Stars), starring Tony...
Matthew Webb
Music Director
Five seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Matthew is returning to Cleveland for his fifth season with Great Lakes Theater and is delighted to be making his A Christmas Carol debut. A graduate of the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, Matthew was music director for Cabaret and for The Two Gentlemen of Verona earlier this year. Off-Broadway: Ernest in Love (The Irish Repertory). New York: The Cure (Roy Arias Theatre), The Water Coolers. Regional: I Love You Because (PlayhouseSquare’s 14th Street Theatre), The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Bat Boy: The Musical (Great Lakes Theater and Idaho Shakespeare Festival), The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical (The Beck Center), The Wiz (Cain Park), Guys on Ice (American Folklore Theatre and The Milwaukee Repertory), The Phantom of the Opera (Baldwin-Wallace College), Hair (Cain Park and Kent State University), and A Cabin With A View (AFT). Infinite thanks to my parents for their continued love and support, to Charlie and Vicky for their encouragement to grow, and to M3N for being the best. Five seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Matthew is returning to Cleveland for his fifth season with Great Lakes Theater and is delighted to be making his A Christmas Carol debut. A graduate of the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, Matthew was music director for Cabaret and for The Two Gentlemen of Verona earlier this year. Off-Broadway: Ernest in Love (The Irish Repertory). New York: The Cure (Roy Arias Theatre), The Water Coolers. Regional: I Love...
Charles Fee
Producing Artistic Director
Ten season at Great Lakes Theater: Directing credits at GLT, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, All’s Well That Ends Well, Hamlet, Hay Fever, The Importance of Being Earnest, Arms and the Man and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Charles holds a unique position in the American theater as Producing Artistic Director of three independently operated, professional theater companies: Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, Ohio (since 2002), Idaho Shakespeare Festival in Boise, Idaho (since 1991) and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, (since 2010). His appointments have resulted in a dynamic and groundbreaking producing model for the festivals in which 37 plays have been shared between the companies since 2002. In 2009, Charles was honored to receive recognition for his leadership by the Cleveland Arts Prize as a recipient of the Martha Joseph Award. Other awards include The Mayor’s and Governor’s awards for Excellence in the Arts, in Boise, Idaho. From 1988 to 1992, he held the position of artistic director at the Sierra Repertory Theatre in California. He has also worked with such companies as The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, the Milwaukee and Missouri repertory theaters, Actor’s Theatre of Phoenix and the Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival. In addition to his work with the festivals in Ohio, Idaho and Nevada, Charles is active within the community. He has served as a member of the strategic planning committee for the Morrison Center, as producer of the FUNDSY Award Gala (’96, ’98 and 2000), and as producer of the 1996 Idaho Governor’s Awards in the Arts. Charles has served on the board of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. He received his BA from the University of the Pacific and Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, San Diego. Along with his wife, Lidia, and 16-year-old daughter, Alexa, Charles resides in Boise, Cleveland and Lake Tahoe –– a feat that is only possible because of the incredible love and support of his family, and the generous communities he serves! Ten season at Great Lakes Theater: Directing credits at GLT, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, All’s Well That Ends Well, Hamlet, Hay Fever, The Importance of Being Earnest, Arms and the Man and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Charles holds a unique position in the American theater as Producing Artistic Director of three independently operated, professional theater companies: Great Lakes Theater in...
Eva Wielgat Barnes
Dialect Coach
Great Lakes Theater Debut: Eva is delighted to be Dialect Coach on Cabaret. She has coached productions at many theatres including the La Jolla Playhouse (Jersey Boys premiere, Tartuffe, Xanidu, Carmen, Zhivago, Our Town & many more), the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre (Romeo and Juliet, directed by Sir Peter Hall), Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., McCarter Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Missouri Repertory Theatre and the Joseph Papp Public Theatre. She coached Anna Deavere Smith’s House Arrest and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (on Broadway and the PBS film), as well as the film: Big Night. She has performed in many of these same theatres. She is next performing in Pride and Prejudice at South Coast Rep. in September. Ms. Barnes is on the Acting Faculty at UCSD, where she received her M.F.A. Great Lakes Theater Debut: Eva is delighted to be Dialect Coach on Cabaret. She has coached productions at many theatres including the La Jolla Playhouse (Jersey Boys premiere, Tartuffe, Xanidu, Carmen, Zhivago, Our Town & many more), the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre (Romeo and Juliet, directed by Sir Peter Hall), Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., McCarter Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Missouri Repertory Theatre and the Joseph Papp Public Theatre. She coached...
Norman Coates
Lighting Design
Six seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Cabaret is Norman’s sixth design for GLT, previous designs were The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Into the Woods, The School for Wives, The Most Happy Fella and Gypsy. His regional credits include work at Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Triad Stage, American Stage Festival, The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Playmakers Repertory, Burt Reynolds Jupiter Theatre, The Hirshfeld Theatre and The North Carolina Theatre. He has designed with various Opera companies including The Princeton Festival, Opera Pacific, Opera Carolina, Opera Omaha, Fort Worth Opera, Piedmont Opera Theater, and Greensboro Opera. On Broadway he has designed lighting for The News and Prince of Central Park. Norman’s Off Broadway credits include: Work at the Roundabout Theater, Here Are Ladies with Siobhan McKenna, Diversions and Delights with Vincent Price, Blood Knot with Danny Glover at Circle in the Square, Provincetown Playhouse, The Lion Theatre and Westbeth Theater, where he lit Limbo Tales which earned the Villager Award for lighting design. His work has also been seen around the world in the international tour of Camelot with Richard Harris, and in Encounter 500 in Europe. Norman is the founder and director of the Winston-Salem Light Project www.lightproject.org devoted to the creation of multimedia public art presentations. He is currently the Director of Lighting at The North Carolina School of the Arts and a member of United Scenic Artists. Six seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Cabaret is Norman’s sixth design for GLT, previous designs were The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Into the Woods, The School for Wives, The Most Happy Fella and Gypsy. His regional credits include work at Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Triad Stage, American Stage Festival, The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Playmakers Repertory, Burt Reynolds Jupiter Theatre, The Hirshfeld Theatre and The North Carolina Theatre. He has designed with various Opera companies including...
Jeff Herrmann
Scenic Designer
Five seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Jeff is pleased to return to Great Lakes Theater for his fifth season. Previous productions for Great Lakes Theater include Bat Boy: The Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and for the opening season in the Hanna Theatre, Into the Woods, all joint productions with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Other ISF production designs include I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Spitfire Grill and Little Shop of Horrors. For Cain Park in Cleveland Heights, Jeff has designed a combination of scenery and lighting for productions including Tintypes, Bye-Bye Birdie, Damn Yankees, The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, Songs for a New World, Hair, Dreamgirls and the Cleveland premiere of tick...tick...Boom! For Dobama Theatre, he has designed scenery for the Cleveland premieres of Closer, Wit, Refuge, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Take Me Out, The Last Five Years, The Blue Door and Blackbird. Jeff is the Chair of Theatre and Dance at Baldwin-Wallace College where he teaches courses in scene design, lighting design and stagecraft. As the resident scenic and lighting designer for the program, production design work for B-W this past season included Rent, La Boheme, Moon Over Buffalo, Passing Strange and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He holds an MFA in scene and lighting design from Southern Illinois University and he is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Jeff resides in Lakewood with his partner Bob. Five seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Jeff is pleased to return to Great Lakes Theater for his fifth season. Previous productions for Great Lakes Theater include Bat Boy: The Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and for the opening season in the Hanna Theatre, Into the Woods, all joint productions with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Other ISF production designs include I Love You, You're Perfect,...
Dan Jankura
Sound Designer
Two seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Dan recently joined the Great Lakes Theater team as the live sound mixer for last season’s production of Two Gentlemen of Verona. As a sound designer his recent credits include Cabaret (Idaho Shakespeare Festival), Passing Strange –(14th Street Theater at Playhouse Square), RENT (Baldwin Wallace College), The Wedding Singer, The Great White Hope (Weathervane Playhouse), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Porthouse Theater), RENT (Kent State University), Ragtime the Musical (Weathervane Playhouse). Dan is a graduate of Kent State University’s Department of Theater and Dance with a B.A. in Theater and an emphasis in live sound reinforcement. Dan would like to thank his friends and family for all of their support in his love for the performing arts. Two seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Dan recently joined the Great Lakes Theater team as the live sound mixer for last season’s production of Two Gentlemen of Verona. As a sound designer his recent credits include Cabaret (Idaho Shakespeare Festival), Passing Strange –(14th Street Theater at Playhouse Square), RENT (Baldwin Wallace College), The Wedding Singer, The Great White Hope (Weathervane Playhouse), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Porthouse Theater), RENT (Kent...
Rick Martin
Lighting Designer
Nine seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Many productions with: ISF and GLTF. Other Theatre: US premiere of Kurt Weil’s Marie Galante (Opéra Français de NY), Hekabe, The Illiad and The Rage of Achilles with Music-Theatre Group (New York and Santa Fe), The Bitter Tears of Petra van Kant (Henry Miller Theatre) Opera: Castor et Pollux, Pelléas et Méllisande and To Be Sung (Opéra Français de NY). Roméo et Juliette (Spoleto Festival USA). Concerts: Orchestre national de Lyon and the Orchestre de Champs-Élysées (Lyon, Poitiers, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, São Paulo). Coming up: La Chute de la Maison Usher, Le Diable dans le beffroi (Opéra national de Paris), Le martyre de Saint Sébastien (Cité de la Musique) Member: USA 829, IATSE Nine seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Many productions with: ISF and GLTF. Other Theatre: US premiere of Kurt Weil’s Marie Galante (Opéra Français de NY), Hekabe, The Illiad and The Rage of Achilles with Music-Theatre Group (New York and Santa Fe), The Bitter Tears of Petra van Kant (Henry Miller Theatre) Opera: Castor et Pollux, Pelléas et Méllisande and To Be Sung (Opéra Français de NY). Roméo et Juliette (Spoleto Festival USA). Concerts: Orchestre national...
Charlotte Yetman
Costume Designer
Seven seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Charlotte joins Great Lakes for her seventh season. She is an associate professor of theater at Baldwin-Wallace College where she has recently designed La Boheme, Rent, Wild Party, Phantom of the Opera, Parade, As You Like It, Macbeth, Company and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Among her professional credits are designs for Into the Woods, Arsenic and Old lace, Major Barbara, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)(Idaho Shakespeare Festival); Into the Woods, Arsenic and Old Lace, You Can’t Take It With You, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) and Private Lives (Great Lakes Theater Festival). Lady With All The Answers, Custody of the Eyes and Jocasta (Cleveland Play House); Jesus Christ Superstar (Theater-By-The-Sea); Frankenstein (Tennessee Repertory Theater); Silver Dollar, John & Jen, Das Barbecue and Heartbeats (Goodspeed Opera House); Conrack (Ford’s Theater); The Business of Murder (Studio Arena Theater); The Cocktail Hour and Driving Miss Daisy (Pennsylvania Stage Company); La Dori and Les Bavards (Mannes College of Music); Super Sunday and Widows (Williamstown Theater Festival); Bye-Bye Birdie, Damn Yankees, The Sound of Music, Goblin Market and West Side Story (Cain Park); and the American premiere of Ballenchine’s ballet Mozart Violin Concerto No.5 with Tulsa Ballet Theater. Charlotte received her BFA from Pennsylvania State University and her MFA from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts. In addition to her costume work, she has been an assistant scenic designer and scenic artist with Oregon Shakespeare Festival and is a member of USA 829. Seven seasons at Great Lakes Theater: Charlotte joins Great Lakes for her seventh season. She is an associate professor of theater at Baldwin-Wallace College where she has recently designed La Boheme, Rent, Wild Party, Phantom of the Opera, Parade, As You Like It, Macbeth, Company and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Among her professional credits are designs for Into the Woods, Arsenic and Old lace, Major Barbara, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)(Idaho Shakespeare Festival); ...
Corrie Purdum
Stage Manager
Seven seasons at Great Lakes Theater Festival: GLTF: The Taming of the Shrew, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Christmas Carol, The Tempest, Measure for Measure, The Crucible, Into the Woods, The Comedy of Errors, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Bat Boy: The Musical, Othello, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Other credits include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, seven seasons with Idaho Shakespeare Festival, six seasons with the Cleveland Play House, and three seasons with Cain Park. Corrie is an alumna of Baldwin-Wallace College, where she teaches stage management. Seven seasons at Great Lakes Theater Festival: GLTF: The Taming of the Shrew, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Christmas Carol, The Tempest, Measure for Measure, The Crucible, Into the Woods, The Comedy of Errors, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Bat Boy: The Musical, Othello, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Other credits include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, seven seasons with Idaho...
Sunday, October 16, 2011
...absolutely enthralling and thoroughly entertaining...
By The News Herald
-Bob Abelman
There are many instances when art reflects life and the result, while enthralling, is far from entertaining. See, for example, last week's "The Life of Galileo" review.
The musical "Cabaret" reflects the burgeoning Nazi movement in 1930 Berlin, yet the play and the current Great Lakes Theater production of it manage to be both absolutely enthralling and thoroughly entertaining.
One reason, of course, is that most of the action takes place in the steamy, sweaty Kit Kat Klub, where, amidst the hedonism and sexual decadence of the time, damaged cabaret performer Sally Bowles and naïve American novelist Cliff Bradshaw fall in love.
They fall so deeply in love that they, like so many Germans during the uninhibited era of the Weimar Republic, are oblivious to the invading atrocities that will soon take over Europe.
Also enthralling and entertaining is "Cabaret's" use of the artwork of period expressionist and social critic George Grosz for creative inspiration. His paintings capture the vulgarities of the time by depicting everyday Germans in garish colors, awash in grotesque shadowing, and wearing faces void of expression. So too does this play and its staging.
Interestingly, in every subsequent incarnation of "Cabaret" - from its 1966 Broadway premiere to a 1972 film, a 1987 theatrical revival, and the most recent 1998 New York production - both the realism of the story and the dark expressionism of the storytelling have become increasingly prominent. This makes the play even more powerful.
The Great Lakes Theater production, under the direction of Victoria Bussert, follows the lead of the 1998 revival with regard to its immensely sultry, savvy and expressionistic staging.
This is particularly evident in Jeff Herrmann's dark, sinister and simple scenic design. The same can be said for Gregory Daniels' naughty choreography, where dance steps subtly transform into goose-steps, and chairs, while in possession of the half-naked and highly flexible Kit Kat Klub girls, become so much more serviceable than their intended function.
Add to the mix John Kander's phenomenal music, as performed by a wonderfully jazzy on-stage quintet under Matthew Webb's direction, and Fred Ebb's poignant lyrics, as presented by a very talented cast, and this production of "Cabaret" is a force to be reckoned with.
Over time, the show's Master of Ceremonies, who serves as a metaphor for the tenuous and threatening state of Germany, has morphed from being sinister and androgynous to ominous and an equal opportunity seducer. Eduardo Placer is wonderful in the role. He is simultaneously alluring and repellent, and in just the right combination.
Fraulein Schneider, the landlady where Sally and Cliff reside, is a supporting character in ''Cabaret'' but, in the hands of Laura Perrotta, she is particularly memorable. More actress than songstress, Perrotta sells her gorgeous duet "It Couldn't Please Me More" with the adorable John Woodson as Herr Schultz, with dramatic flair.
Sara Bruner also makes the most out of her supporting role of Fraulein Kost, a prostitute living in Fraulein Schneider's apartment building. She has created such an interesting and likable persona that it is devastating when, later in the story, she reveals her political leanings.
The same can be said for the superb Jim Lichtscheidl as Ernest Ludwig, who befriends the young novelist, played with immense charm by Neil Brookshire.
Jodi Dominick is so very likable in the pivotal role of Sally Bowles. This is no easy task given how frighteningly lost and self-destructive this character is despite a brave front and devil-may-care façade.
A layer of veneer has clearly worn thin from Dominick's voice, the likely result of this production playing in Idaho from July through August. What she lacks in tone and range, however, she more than makes up for in attitude. This is particularly evident in the passionate "Maybe This Time" and the show ending/show stopping "Cabaret."
Absolutely enthralling and thoroughly entertaining. Bussert and the gang have opened Great Lakes' season with a bang.
"Cabaret" continues through Oct. 30 at PlayhouseSquare's Hanna Theatre, 2067 E. 14th St., Cleveland. It plays in repertory with "The Taming of the Shrew." For tickets, which range from $15 to $70, call 216-241-6000 or visit www.greatlakestheater.org.
-Bob Abelman
There are many instances when art reflects life and the result, while enthralling, is far from entertaining. See, for example, last week's "The Life of Galileo" review.
The musical "Cabaret" reflects the burgeoning Nazi movement in 1930 Berlin, yet the play and the current Great Lakes Theater production of it manage to be both absolutely enthralling and thoroughly entertaining.
One reason, of course, is that most of the action takes place...
Cleveland's Classic Company Commences 50th Anniversary Season with A Tony Award-Winning Musical & 1980s-Infused Battle of the Sexes
October 10, 2011
CLEVELAND, OH (September 1, 2011) - Great Lakes Theater (GLT) will commence its 50th anniversary season at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, with a Fall Repertory that features the Tony Award-winning musical, Cabaret and William Shakespeare’s uproarious battle of the sexes, The Taming of the Shrew. The productions will be performed in rotating repertory September 23 – October 30, 2011. The Fall Repertory features GLT’s resident artistic company of actors performing two alternating plays on the same stage over six weeks. Victoria Bussert will direct Cabaret and Tracy Young will direct The Taming of the Shrew. (Cabaret was adapted from the...
Actor Jodi Dominick stars as Sally Bowles in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
The Master of Ceremonies, actor Eduardo Placer (center), introduces Two Ladies, actors Danny Henning (left) and Jillian Kates (right), to the audience in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Willkommen! The Master of Ceremonies, actor Eduardo Placer (top, center) welcomes guests amidst a sea of Kit Kat Club girls in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actor Jodi Dominick stars as Sally Bowles (center) and advises Don't Tell Mama, amidst a sea of Kit Kat Club girls in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actors Sara M. Bruner (center, left) and Jim Lichtscheidl (center, right) share the stage with a talented ensemble as Fraulein Kost and Ernst Ludwig (respectively) in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actors Laura Perrotta (as Fraulein Schneider) and John Woodson (as Herr Schultz) take center stage in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Willkommen! The Master of Ceremonies, actor Eduardo Placer (center) welcomes audience members to the show amidst a sea of Kit Kat Club girls in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actor Sara M. Bruner takes center stage as Fraulein Kost in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Actor Jodi Dominick stars as Sally Bowles in Great Lakes Theater's production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Headline performer Sally Bowles (actor Jodi Dominick) and writer Clifford Bradshaw (actor Neil Brookshire) make a perfect couple in Great Lakes Theater’s production of Cabaret at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, September 23-October 30. Cabaret plays in rotating repertory with Great Lakes Theater's 1980s-infused production of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
The Latest