MCLA musical theatre club to present 'Cabaret Music'
NORTH ADAMS – The Harlequin Musical Theatre Club of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will present “Cabaret” by John Kander and Fred Ebb, Wednesday through Saturday, March 26-29, at 8 p.m. in Venable Theatre.The cast of 26 MCLA students is directed by Patrick Harris ’08. The production’s musical director is Brinn Kingsley ’09.The show originally was produced on Broadway in 1966 and is considered one of the landmarks of American musical theater, according to Harris.
The show is set in and around the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy cabaret overseen by an emcee in Berlin, Germany, in 1929-1930. Cliff, an American writer, is looking for inspiration for his next novel when he meets Sally Bowles, a performer at the nightclub. The two develop a unique relationship during a time in which the decadent culture of Berlin is fading as the Nazi presence grows.
“I see the show as a warning to audiences today. Through the lives of these characters, we witness a country on the brink of an explosion of evil. It shows us how dangerous hatred can be and how easy it is for us all to be changed and affected by it,” Harris said.
The 20 songs in the show include songs “Willkommen,” “Don’t Tell Mama,” “Two Ladies” and “Cabaret.”
Harlequin, is MCLA’s musical theater club, was founded as an outlet for students on campus who were interested in putting on a musical. Each fall the club presents a small musical revue and a full musical production in the spring. The club nominates and votes on which musical the club will produce.
The production contains mature themes, so discretion is advised. Tickets are $2. For reservations, call 413-662-5123.
