Wild Goose Players Presents "Cabaret" at Bellows Falls Opera House

Almost six years to the day of the original scheduled opening of "Cabaret," in Bellows Falls, Vt., Wild Goose Players finally presents this timeless classic. In March of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic started, "Cabaret" was set to open at the Bellows Falls Opera House and this arts and entertainment correspondent was set to preview it for The Brattleboro Reformer, but they had to postpone indefinitely because of the pandemic. "March 12 of 2020 was the date we were set to open 'Cabaret' and March 13 was the date we closed," says David Stern, founder of Wild Goose Players and artistic director of "Cabaret" in a recent phone call with The Keene Sentinel. "We put a lot into these productions and I've never had one ripped out from under me like that! And it was painful because we left the set on stage and had no idea if we were going to be back in a month or two, but it's been six whole years!" Stern explains that the set stayed up for a while and was taken down by degrees. Fast forward six years and now Wild Goose Players is presenting this show with a local cast and live orchestra. According to publicity materials, the show is set in late 1920s Berlin at the seedy yet dazzling Kit Kat Club. Cabaret follows the lives of nightclub performers, dreamers and outsiders navigating a society on the brink of profound political change. At the center of the story is the enigmatic Emcee, who welcomes audiences into a world of music, satire and spectacle while the political climate outside the club grows increasingly dangerous. Winner of 10 Tony awards including Best Musical and Best Featured Actor for Joel Grey as The Emcee, the movie version (1972) with Grey and Liza Minnelli earned eight Academy Awards. In addition to its title song, the show's memorable numbers include "Wilkommen," "Money," "Don't Tell Mama," "If You Could See Her" and "Tomorrow Belongs to Me." Cabaret, which premiered in 1966, is based on Christopher Isherwood's "The Berlin Stories" and John Van Druten's play "I Am a Camera." Wild Goose Players will present the 1998 musical version. When asked what makes this show so compelling after six decades, Stern says, "It has a magic combination of really deep, compelling meaning and really high entertainment value. So, it is captivating (and) spellbinding. It opens with the Emcee and then it goes right into two incredible, sexy dance numbers." He continues, "Cabaret is perhaps the musical for this moment in American history when similar forces numb us into complacency and confusion, while hate rises again." Stern notes that it's like a play set to music because the "script is so amazing!" "The book is so phenomenal that you get engrossed in these characters. This is a story that is compelling with people that are compelling and right now it is certainly the most crowd pleasing, anti-fascist bit of musical that you're going to find," he says. He adds that the Bellows Falls Opera House underwent a $250,000 renovation recently. "It's a beautiful venue. We've built out into the house to make it look like a club with tables and waiter service to make it as intimate as possible." Production crew members include Stern as artistic director and scenic and lighting designer, Hallie Flower as director, Miasaki Schuette as costumer and Shoshana Bass as choreographer. "It's always a wonder to see what David Stern pulls out of his creative imagination with his great crew of builders," wrote Flowers, in an email to The Sentinel. She continues, "We are particularly gifted by our multi-generation cast of performers from all over the region. It is a treat to play with this generous bunch of people." CABARET 2026 - Wild Goose Players MASTER OF CEREMONIES &emsp;&emsp;Coleman Drew CLIFFORD (CLIFF) BRADSHAW Liam Johnson SALLY BOWLES &emsp;&emsp;Aidan Flower DesJardins FRÄULEIN SCHNEIDER &emsp;&emsp;Libby McCawley HERR SCHULTZ &emsp;&emsp;Walter Cramer FRÄULEIN KOST &emsp;&emsp;Charlotte Traas ERNST LUDWIG &emsp;&emsp;Eric Cutler Kit Kat Girls ROSIE (2 Ladies) &emsp;&emsp;Sally Regentine LULU & Gorilla &emsp;&emsp;Caroline Catino FRENCHIE &emsp;&emsp;Natalia Chiume TEXAS (Chanteuse in Married) &emsp;&emsp;Shayna Bredbeck FRITZIE &emsp;&emsp;Gwyneth Thompson HELGA &emsp;&emsp;PJ Mead JUDY &emsp;&emsp;Ajlan Beer OLGA &emsp;&emsp;Sarah Manning MALIN &emsp;&emsp;Izabel Estrin VERA &emsp;&emsp;Casey Volikas Kit Kat Boys BOBBY (2 Ladies & Customs Officer) Deven Wicker VICTOR &emsp;&emsp;Kei Eaccarino HANS dbl as sailor/nephew &emsp;&emsp;Ezra Leonard RUDY dbl as sailor/brother &emsp;&emsp;Ethan Nowack HERMAN dbl as MAX &emsp;&emsp; &emsp;&emsp;Noah Carmel GUNTHER &emsp;&emsp;Paolo Woodard TOMORROW BELONGS to ME BOBBY & his BOYS - - - Deven, Kei, Noah, Ethan MADAME at the CLUB &emsp;&emsp;Gina Burke "Cabaret, in this moment, is uniquely relevant with the questions it poses and the immediate reflection of our human experience past and present... as well as being a highly entertaining drama with big songs and Shoshana's playful dances," adds Flowers. Schuette wrote in an email to The Sentinel, "What I love about working this show is that everyone is trying to support each other. I am getting a lot of help and support from the production team, actors, and I like to emphasize how much our volunteer seamstresses help me. I could not come to this point without them." Bass wrote in an email to The Sentinel, "Choreographing for Wild Goose is always such a joy but to get to dig into the content and movement of 'Cabaret' is especially meaningful at this time." She continues, "What I love most about community theater is the meeting ground it creates between folks from all walks of life and backgrounds. Productions like this are an ever-living testament to the power of art to connect and engage a community." IF YOU GO: WHAT: Wild Goose Players presents the musical, "Cabaret" WHERE: The Bellows Falls Opera House, 7 Village Sq., Bellows Falls, Vt. WHEN: Friday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 4 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m. TICKETS: Tickets range from $10 to $75 www.bellowsfallsoperahouse.com or buy tickets at the door MORE INFO: www.wildgooseplayers.com/tickets or call The Bellows Falls Opera House at 802-376-4761