Vanae Pate scores as LuLu!
The cast is gathered together, talking, giving ideas to their director, Dayton Native, Philip Drennen. He likes to hear from his actors and dancers, and he welcomes their ideas. ‘The strength of this cast,’ Drennen says ‘is they genuinely like each other and build each other up. That makes their on-stage performance cohesive and electric.’ Drennen chose CABARET, one of Broadways’ truly iconic shows, because ‘it is relevant even today. It’s balance of dark and light is historic and yet, contemporary!’
Charity Farrell brings Bowles to LIFE!
As the music begins in their 3rd practice venue, the Cannery, the cast takes a deep breath knowing once it starts, its full-on CABARET! Charity Farrell, who shines as Sally Bowles, the show’s broken, scarred female lead, puts every inch of her soul into the role. ‘I understand Sally. ADHD, the struggles, her demons….yet she controls the room!’ Farrell’s MAYBE THIS TIME is goosebump worthy. ‘I have been in many, many shows, but I can feel the support of this company. They are so generous and giving as a cast!’
Midway through practice, they EMCEE, brought to ‘bigger-than-life status by 6’4″ newcomer, Alex Everett, belts out one of his many tunes with wonderfully eerie tones and strange physicality. Lights change, music fades and we are back in a 1930’s apartment building awaiting the ‘play within a play’ transition.
Although the show has songs we all know, many times people forget the backdrop….the beginning of the Rise of the Nazis. ‘You forget what complacency does,’ says Amy Askins, who brings her character, Fraulein Kost, a delicious, slutty energy. ‘The shows begs us to pay attention to what’s happening around us. For my character, it’s about survival. She tries to make the best of things in a world about to turn upside-down. She gives us a glimpse into her heart, and we see how some people must sell their soul to get by.’
The cast, uniquely diverse, is well suited for the political drama. ‘The storyline is so important. Our cast is made up of so many minorities and it highlights the idea of hatred and ignorance in the script.’ says Naman Clark, a Dayton Theater staple. ‘You see why we have to stand up for what is right.’
The lights are on as rehearsals start at D2D!
CABARET has had many revivals, many versions of the same tale. Drennen looked to make his version pertinent to today, without losing sight of its roots. Take the cherished character of Fraulein Schneider. ‘I knew I wanted to use this moment to open peoples’ eyes to all kinds of ways of life. I called Josh Stucky and said, ‘What if you play Schneider?’ Stucky, a well-known drag queen in the Dayton Area, jumped at the opportunity.
Winters, Stucky and Everett ready themselves for Cabaret!
‘First of all, I love Schneider. She’s the backbone in CABARET in many ways. And I feel playing her gives all of us a voice….men, women, trans, whatever! She doesn’t need to be any one thing, but rather every kind of thing. I hope to do her justice!’ Stucky’s turn at the tune ‘So What?’ is sweet and endearing, which can also be said for Schneider’s love interest, Dayton theater Patriarch Saul Caplan (Herr Schultz.)
For first-timer Scott Winters, who plays Bobby, his eyes were open to community theater. ‘It is so amazing to see how the pieces fall together and a really great show happens!’ Winters character, a homosexual longing to reunite with the male lead Cliff, dances, sings, and delights as one of the famous Kit Kat Club kids. Dancing is integral in CABARET, and it’s fun, phrenetic and forceful throughout the show…and yes, the Gorilla makes an appearance!
As rehearsal winds down, and Garrett Young’s Clifford Bradshaw leads the cast through the hauntingly unsettled ending, the ensemble sits in an awkward silence. ‘You can feel the broken world we live in in that moment.’ says Young. ‘Each of us trying to figure ourselves out. This leads to the understanding the story is still important today as it was in the 40’s, 60’s 80’s….There is a great cost in doing nothing.’
Theater is back. And so is this importance of story-telling.
Life Is a CABARET and thank GOD this one is open for business!
Show runs 10/13-10/16 at the PNC Art Annex, for 5 shows. There are tickets available at https://www.daytonlive.org/events/cabaret/
The show is sponsored by the RubiGirls and SquareOne Salons.
Shows that are inspired by audience suggestions will be Wed – Sun nights, after this weekends grand re-opening. They feature long form improv featuring locally grown improvisors and we have a variety of shows ranging from hour long shows based on your personal stories to a local favorite, our improvised musicals! Our musicals feature the former music director of Second City, Trey Stone.
The Black Box Improv Theater
The world-renowned 
Dayton Playhouse has announced the reopening of the Dayton Playhouse facility and their 2021-22 season – Roaring Into A New Decade.
The Human Race Theatre Company is excited to announce that you can experience the magic of local professional theatre from the comfort of your home. Love, time, and starting over is at the heart of Now and Then by Sean Grennan, filmed on location at Dayton’s own Mudlick Tap House, kicking off our 35th season by continuing our tradition of celebrating the best our community has to offer. It will be available exclusively on the streaming platform Broadway On-Demand starting April 28, 2021 – the 35th birthday of The Human Race.
The DayTony Awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding performance, whether onstage or behind the scenes, at Miami Valley area theaters. Normally these are awarded at a banquet filled with Dayton’s theater folks. But as we all know, Covid has changed the way so many things are done, so today Debra Strauss, President DayTony/Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame released this list:
Under the gentle, fluid, flashback-inspired direction of Mackensie King, who previously helmed this show for Dare to Defy in 2015, Abby and Brent, layering their work with authentic love, wonderfully embody Cathy and Jamie’s enjoyable idiosyncrasies and destructive despair. Whether conveying the difficulties Cathy endures while longing for a professional breakthrough or the conflicted betrayal weighing heavily on Jamie’s mind having slept with another woman, this dynamic duo leaves nothing undone. And musically, they soar. At the outset, Abby marvelously sets the tone with Still Hurting and winningly lightens the mood with A Part of That, A Summer in Ohio, When You Come Home to Me, and Goodbye Until Tomorrow. Brent’s delightful charm fuels Shiksa Goddess, Moving Too Fast, playful Schmuel Song, and colorfully conversational A Miracle Would Happen, but he’s equally adept stretching his acting muscles delivering the angrier, wounded If I Didn’t Believe In You and Nobody Needs To Know. Still, there is one number in this production deserving of utmost attention. Sometimes musical theatre only requires a terrific actress to sit in a chair and belt her heart out. As so, Abby’s phenomenal rendition of I Can Do Better Than That, reverberating through The Brightside’s rafters and probably out onto East Third Street, is a stunningly impactful moment worthy of an encore.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s DayTony gala and Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame ceremony has been canceled. However, Unser will be honored at next year’s gala. The DayTony Awards for excellence and merit will be announced Saturday, July 25. Organizers say recipients will be able to pick up their awards at the theatres where the performances took place. “We will miss the opportunity to celebrate together this year,” said DayTony President and Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame member Debra Strauss. “But I look forward to how wonderful it will be to honor our friends and colleagues next year.”
