La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2017-2018 season (and the 40th anniversary of the iconic theatre) with CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb with musical direction by David O, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Larry Carpenter.
La Mirada’s production is directed by Larry Carpenter, Music Directed by David O, and coreographed by Dana Solimando.
A thrilling and up-to-date production of a classic show that is now more relevant than ever. The seedy glamour of the Kit Kat Club with its bawdy Emcee provide an unsettling but fitting backdrop to the story of the hard-living entertainer Sally Bowles in the decadent nightlife of Germany in the early ’30s. Come hear some of the most memorable songs in musical theatre history, including “Cabaret,” “Willkommen” and “Maybe This Time.” Right this way, your table’s waiting at the musical the New York Times calls “one for the ages.”
REVIEWS –
Michael Quintos, BroadwayWorld: Working with Joe Masteroff’s book—which was based on the original play by John Van Druten that was inspired by by Christopher Isherwood’s short novel—Carpenter has fashioned a production of CABARET that utilizes some of the embellishments that have been introduced into the RTC production, though aims his pointedly to present its machinations in the most straightforward manner possible, blurring any lines of ambiguity and subtlety in favor of highlighting its visual splendor, a more engaging, articulately undisguised narrative, and dazzling musical numbers that all combine to make it quite a highly entertaining production. Carpenter’s enjoyable staging of CABARET feels genuinely refreshing, primarily because many of us have been so conditioned to expect a certain kind of CABARET from RTC’s perspective. Seeing this updated La Mirada iteration—presented less like a revue but more like an honest-to-goodness book musical, where the musical numbers don’t feel too much like interruptive interludes—pushes this risqué show into a more mainstream follow-through that I feel most audiences will enjoy more…
Julia Stier, USC Annenberg Media: La Mirada Theatre’s production of “Cabaret”-with book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander, and Lyrics by Fred Ebb-transports it audiences to Berlin, Germany, 1932. Directed by David O, this deliciously raunchy show switches between witty, cabaret-styled songs and passionate ballads to comment on the relationships between Sally Bowles and Cliff Bradshaw, and Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz. However, the show isn’t all scandalous numbers and frivolous love. Fear starts to take over as the characters slowly learn what the audience has known for years-a storm is coming. Jeff Skowron is electric as the brightly made-up, corseted Emcee. A fabulous showman, he welcomes the audience into the smoky world of the Kit Kat Klub, and is absolutely scintillating-especially with his army of showgirls Rosie (Natalie Iscovich), Helga (Adrianna Rose Lyons), Fritzie (Kelly Powers-Figueroa), Frenchie (Nina Schrekengost), Lulu (Candace Janin Washington), and Texas (Jenna Wright).
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