Cabaret
Olivia Wilson Staff Writer Posted Oct 20, 2019
After they both gave successful homecoming weekend performances, the music and theatre departments came together for this year’s cabaret, “Magic To Do,” in the Mary L. Welch Theatre on Oct. 20.
The cabaret, directed by Bonnie Hall, came a mere two weeks after homecoming and allowed for a very brief turn-around time between productions.
Sydney Fennington, class of 2021, admitted that, with only a few weeks to prepare, “it was a little crazy.”
“We had rehearsals every Sunday, and everyone came when they could.”
She explained that there were also smaller rehearsals for specific numbers throughout the week.
“Bonnie made a crazy master schedule. It was organized chaos, really,” Fennington added.
This year was the third cabaret, though the two previous took place during the spring semesters in Honors Hall.
In moving to the theater the group gained access to the stage, props, costumes, lighting and sound not previously available for the production.
This was the first time the show came in the fall, which will give the students who prefer musical theater a chance to perform once in each semester, rather than preparing back-to-back shows with the spring musical.
Emma Wolfe, class of 2023, explained that the cabaret director, had met with the president of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, which hosted a drag show the night before, to decide on a stage design which would work for both performances, as well as save time and resources.
Of the twenty-seven students performed in the production, “a lot of them were upperclassmen,” said Wolfe, who took part in several numbers.
She explained that, though there were varying levels of experience among the cast, “there was no distinction between who were good singers and who had experience--we all just sang.”
Wolfe shared that the show included multiple styles of dance, including “tap, lyrical, a little bit of acro, and some ballet-esque moves.”
A favorite of hers was “Tackle that Temptation.”
“The tap number adds variety to the show and gives new experience to people who haven’t done it before,” said Wolfe.
“It was so much fun.”
The show program contained a mix of company numbers, small groups, duets and solos.
“There was also a monologue, so it doesn’t have to be specifically music,” Fennington added.
Having only spent a few weeks preparing the cabaret, the cast was pleasantly surprised by the audience turnout.
“It wasn’t a full theater, but it sounded like it,” said Wolfe.
“There were a lot of laughs, which is good. It was a funny show.”
“They were impressed that we were able to pull off a show in three weeks,” Wolfe shared.
Fennington offered that her favorite part of the production was the last rehearsal on Sunday before the show, which she explained was the first time the cast was able to see all the other numbers.
“That component of the show is always my favorite part,” said Fennington.
The music and theater departments will be back together in a few short months to prepare the spring production of “Shrek the Musical.”
