Risqué 'Cabaret'

Stockton Theatre Project ends season with musical
AARON DAVIS
Special to The Record
Published Thursday, Jul 27, 2006

"Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome, in cabaret, au cabaret, to cabaret!"

From the opening greeting, it's obvious that all are welcome when the curtains swing open on the classic musical "Cabaret." But, after two very different Broadway revivals in 19 years, the question is, which take on "Cabaret" awaits audiences when the show opens tonight at Atherton Auditorium?

Director Jim Coleman fancies a middle ground.

"We're doing the 1987 version," Coleman said. "In 1998, they came out with a different take on it. It was very steamy and grungy, the real in-your-face version."

"(Ours) is a little less risqué, but it's still not for the faint of heart," said Derek Isetti, who portrays the master of ceremonies. "For Stockton audiences, it still gets the message across without slapping them in the face."

"Cabaret" is the third and final production of this summer's Stockton Theatre Project, a collaboration among Stockton Civic Theatre, San Joaquin Delta College and the American Blues Theatre Company. Coleman said he's optimistic about the project's future as it finishes its second season.

"This year, we learned there are some more things we need to learn," joked Coleman, Stockton Civic Theatre's producing director. "It's always a growing process.

"But it's very viable," he added. "It's something people really want, and I'm just thrilled. It's really helped all the arts organizations in town."

"Cabaret" marks a return of sorts for Isetti. A Stockton native and 1992 St. Mary's High School graduate, he's back in town to study speech pathology at University of the Pacific. Isetti understudied the master of ceremonies role on Broadway while living in New York.

"My life is sort of coming full circle," Isetti said. "I worked with Jim (Coleman) on the East Coast and (musical director) Paul Kimball was my first musical director in high school, and this is the one show I was able to do in New York. It's kind of surreal."

Written by Fred Ebb and John Kander, and set in Berlin in the years between the world wars, "Cabaret" is a multiple Tony Award-winner that has seen more than 4,000 Broadway performances since opening in 1966. The 1972 film adaptation won Liza Minnelli an Oscar.

On the surface, it might seem a bit risky taking on such an oft-performed show. Coleman had no qualms about that.

"There's something about these shows; there's a reason they're done a lot," he said. "There are some shows that merit redoing a lot and some where there's a reason you do them only every 40 years.

"It's set in a specific period of time but it's very meaningful even today with the war in Iraq," Coleman added. "There's not a wasted word, there's no flab. I love something that you can come away from feeling like you've had an experience other than tapping your foot."

More on Cabaret

Let me know if you'd like me to pick up tickets for you -- I'll be going to the box office tomorrow morning. I understand they're selling briskly!

Location: Delta College Atherton Auditorium 5151 Pacific Avenue
Date: 7/27/2006 to 8/6/2006
Hours: 8:00 p.m.; Sunday Matinees 2:30 p.m.
Prices: Adults $22; Students/Seniors $19
Ticket Info: For more informationcall 209/954-5110.

Bringing together the talents of local and nationally renowned artists, STOCKTON THEATRE PROJECT will present the classic musical CABARET on the weekends of July 27-30 and August 4-6, 2006. Delta College's Atherton Auditorium will be the venue for this last in a three show summer series resulting from a collaboration between American Blues Theatre Company, Delta College Drama Department, and Stockton Civic Theatre. CABARET will be a Stockton Civic Theatre production.

The winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, CABARET was written by Joe Masteroff with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. This hugely popular stage and film musical recalls the wanton decade of 1920s Berlin, as the swastika's shadow began to loom over that city. The Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience to the show, and assures them that, whatever their troubles, they will forget them at the cabaret. His songs provide wry commentary throughout the performance. The story of two doomed young lovers is at the core of CABARET -- the frenetic English girl, and the young American writer -- both of whom had come to the German capital in search of glamour and excitement.

Broadway veteran Jim Coleman, who has directed over 25 musicals and won a nomination for a Drama Critic's Award for Best Musical Direction, will direct this elaborate production. Paul Kimball will serve as Musical Director and Timothy Swaim as Vocal Director. Choreography will be by Valerie Gnassounou.

The Stockton Arts Commission is providing partial funding for the Stockton Theatre Project. The mission of the program is to encourage participation in summer productions for actors, singers, dancers, musicians and especially theatergoers from throughout the region.

Tickets to CABARET can be charged by phone through the Delta Center for the Arts Box Office at 209/954-5110, or online at dca.deltacollege.edu. Stockton Civic Theatre season ticket holders will receive admission to CABARET as a part of their regular season ticket package but must call the Box Office to reserve their seats at Atherton Auditorium.

All show times are at 8:00 p.m. except Sunday matinees, which are at 2:30 p.m. Delta Center Box Office hours are 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Cabaret Poster

The Big Two-Seven!

A Sad Goodbye to Winfield

We lost our sweet Winny-dog last night.

He was very sick when we got home after work - I guess he walked around a bit in the yard, then just couldn't climb the stairs. There was also evidence that he'd vomited earlier in the day. He lay on the back porch for a good while, breathing hard and trembling, so we gathered him up and took him to the emergency veterinary clinic. He took the ride in the car far too calmly, worrying us even more, and when the technician took Winny's temperature it was 104.7F - quite high. His abdomen was distended and hard, so they took him back for x-rays which showed that either his kidney or spleen was extremely enlarged. In a dog Winny's age, chances were very high that that spelled cancer. The only treatment options are very heroic and would include exploratory surgery. He was miserable and we didn't want to put him through any more pain, so we chose to have him put down. Catherine and I stroked him and told him what a good boy he was while he received the injection. It's definitely one of the saddest and most difficult things I've ever done.

We'll always remember our "wild dog of Bornio" who loved to play-fight with our feet and who was always cheerful and loving. It's been a sad year for us -- we also lost our kitty, Hermione, in April.

Goodbye Winny.

GROJ SALE

Don't know whether or not the misspelling was intentional; however, I saw this sign today, and it definitely was an attention-getter!

I'm enjoying my four-day weekend. I know plenty of people are working today (including Cat), and I'm quite grateful not to be one of them.

I've been working on the Cabaret music all weekend (just got it midweek). It's tougher than I remember. Guess it's been awhile since music school! Cat & I went to see Side by Side by Sondheim on Saturday night -- sort of a cross between a concert and a show, actually.

We've got a 4th of July party in Martinez tomorrow -- the same one we go to nearly every year. I'm bringing wine (surprise, surprise).