“Stunning Cabaret shocks its audience into silence. This is revival work of the highest level” 4 out of 4 stars –Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
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.
The sound of the orchestra tuning its instruments fills the air. The smell of liquor and perfume permeates your nostrils, causing a shiver of sinful delight. You catch a dancer’s eye and wonder what she’s doing after the show. After all, life is a cabaret, and anything goes.
It’s the early 1930s in Berlin, and life is changing. On the horizon is an ugly and dangerous threat, but that’s no concern for sensational cabaret singer Sally Bowles whose only goal in life is to have a good time. Sally soon finds herself living with a young writer visiting from America to work on a new novel. While their relationship moves beyond just being friends, around them the lives of citizens go from ordinary to a nightmare. Will Sally recognize her own selfishness, or will she look to the ground as the Nazis steamroll over everything she holds dear?
Cabaret is one of the most well-known Broadway musicals of all time, and it’s because of the extraordinary songs, universal appeal and a spellbinding story that still holds true in today’s world. Nominated for a total of 26 Tony Awards over three decades and winning a total of 12 including Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical, Cabaret is exactly what musical theatre should be: entertaining, enlightening, provocative, edgy and a continuing reflection of our own lives. This groundbreaking musical was unlike anything audiences had seen back when it first premiered, and you’ll feel the same way when it hits the Paramount stage.
Meet the Team
Cast
Jessica Palkovic
Ensemble, u/s Sally Bowles
Jessica is so excited to be teaching at The Paramount School! Jessi grew up in Peoria, IL, where her love for theatre and dance all began. Jessi studied dance with The Peoria Ballet and The Rock School for Dance Education. She also competed in the Youth American Grand Prix, an international ballet competition, in 2010 and 2011. Jessi received her collegiate musical theatre training at The Chicago College of Performing Arts and Western Illinois University. Paramount theatre credits: Cabaret(Texas, u/s Sally), The Wizard of Oz (Ensemble, u/s Dorothy) and The Producers (Ensemble). When Jessi isn’t singing and dancing, she enjoys hunting for donuts with her husband, Bobby, and cuddling with their cat, Leche. Jessi is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Joseph Anthony Byrd *
Emcee
making Paramount Theatre debut
Kelly Felthous *
Sally Bowles
making Paramount Theatre debut
Garrett Lutz *
Clifford Bradshaw
making Paramount Theatre debut
Hollis Resnik *
Fräulein Schneider
making Paramount Theatre debut
Ron E. Rains *
Herr Schultz
previously in The Producers, Cabaret and Beauty and the Beast
Meghan Murphy *
Fräulein Kost
previously in The Who’s Tommy and Rent
Brandon Springman *
Ernst Ludwig
making Paramount Theatre debut
William Carlos Angulo *
Ensemble, Bobby, “Two Ladies” Specialty, u/s Emcee, Dance Captain
Heights, 42nd St, Mary Poppins & Tommy
Kristian Brooks *
Ensemble
making Paramount Theatre debut
Caron Buinis
Ensemble, Chanteuse, u/s Fräulein Schneider
previously in Cabaret, Oklahoma! and The Music Man
Gilbert Domally *
Ensemble, Sailor, u/s Rudy, u/s Customs Official, u/s “Two Ladies” Specialties, Male Swing
previously in Legally Blonde, Hairspray, The Little Mermaid, Jesus Christ Superstar, Elf and Cabaret
Patrick Du Laney *
Ensemble, Max, u/s Herr Schultz
making Paramount Theatre debut
Carl Herzog
Ensemble, Sailor, u/s Max
making Paramount Theatre debut
Erin Kilmurray
Ensemble
previously in West Side Story
Martin Ortiz Tapia *
Ensemble, Victor
making Paramount Theatre debut
Amy Biddle Owens
Ensemble
making Paramount Theatre debut
Jessica Palkovic
Ensemble, u/s Sally Bowles
previously in The Wizard of Oz and Cabaret
Madison Piner
Ensemble, Female Swing
making Paramount Theatre debut
Cassandra Porter
Ensemble
making Paramount Theatre debut
Liam Quealy *
Ensemble, Customs Official, “Tomorrow” Soloist, u/s Ernst, u/s Cliff, Fight Captain
previously in The Who’s Tommy, Cats, A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie and West Side Story
Adrienne Storrs *
Ensemble, Gorilla, u/s Fräulein Kost, u/s Chanteuse
previously in West Side Story
Aaron Umsted *
Ensemble, Rudy, Sailor, u/s “Tomorrow” Soloist
previously in Legally Blonde, Cabaret and West Side Story
Danny Dwaine Wells II
Ensemble
previously in Elf The Musical
J Tyler Whitmer *
Ensemble, “Two Ladies” Specialty, u/s Bobby, u/s Victor
previously in The Producers, The Wizard of Oz, Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Elf, The Little Mermaid, Oklahoma! and Miss Saigon
Artistic Team
Katie Spelman
Director
* indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
† indicates member of United Scenic Artists (USA)
‡ indicates member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)