Cabaret
“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.
Opening Night
Behind the Scenes
Meet the Team
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)
Critic Reviews
“Stunning Cabaret shocks its opening night audience into silence” … “This is revival work of the highest level” 4 out of 4 stars
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“Lavish production” … “Masterful” HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
“Emotionally gut-wrenching” … “A big, bold musical that’s pushing the envelope” RECOMMENDED
Dean Richards, WGN TV & Radio
“Perfectly wonderful”
Hedy Weiss, Chicago Tonight
“This may be the Best Musical of The Year!”
Alan Bresloff, Around the Town Chicago
“Cabaret is an amazing tour de force”
Marissa Amoni, Downtown Auroran
“Paramount can boast another well-deserved victory” HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review
“Should you go see it? Absolutely”
Danielle Tufano, 95.9 The River
“Well worth the long drive to Aurora”
Noel Schecter, Newcity Stage
“Daring blend of decadence and dread” 3.5 out of 4 stars
Scott C. Morgan, Daily Herald
“this production is not one to be missed”
Karen Topham, Chicago on Stage
Patron Reviews
“Absolutely phenomenal. Provocative and timely. My favorite Paramount show thus far.” -Ben O., Facebook
“Amazing” –Daisy L, Facebook
“As always, the cast was outstanding and did an excellent job.” -Patron, Survey
“The cast did an amazing job. One of our favorite musicals.” -Renee L., Facebook
“spectacular performance.” -Amanda L., Facebook
“Ridiculously good.” -Lisa G., Facebook
“VOICES WERE BEAUTIFUL. BACKDROPS WERE GREAT” -Patron, Survey
“Brilliant singing and fantastic choreography” -Chris J., Facebook
“This was the most emotionally compelling musical that I have seen at the Paramount, as well as wonderfully acted and sung. Simply great theater.” -Bruce G., Email
“The casting was perfect. Sets were amazing, as always. Orchestra was fantastic.” -Patron, Survey
“GO SEE THIS PLEASE” -Julia K. Facebook
“It was amazing! Loved every minute of it!” -Elizabeth R., Facebook
“As always, your production was incredible.” -Patron, Survey
“another amazing Paramount production” -Barbara H., Facebook
“The cast and orchestra for CABARET was delightful and their performance was exceptional. I would love to see it again and again.” -Brian E., Facebook
“Outstanding in all aspects” -Patron, Survey
“It was amazing and so poignant!” -Sue S., Facebook
“You guys totally blew the movie away. Thanks! I will be going to the theater more often.” -Ron S., Facebook
“Just came home from tonight’s performance and what an incredible production. I am speechless.” -Aron Arellano, Facebook
“Show was FANTASTIC…..AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE!!!!! Paramount Theater is just BEAUTIFUL” -Patron, Survey
“The Paramount production has an incredible aftertaste.” -Carol J., Facebook
“It was an amazing production. The audience was stunned into silence by Sally’s last number. Bravo” -Diane E., Facebook
“The acting, choreography, singing, music, lighting, sound…all AMAZING!” -Patron, Survey
“Full of emotions, Intense and thought provoking. Thank you for another great show.” -Rebecca G., Facebook
“Stunning. Thought provoking. Timely.” -Mary M., Facebook
“Brilliant production!” -Amber G., Facebook
Cabaret Director’s Notes
Written by Director Katie Spelman
The songs from Cabaret are seemingly everlasting…my parents’ generation played these melodies on vinyl records at parties, and now the same notes pump into the ears of my generation through state-of-the-art headphones. Cabaret is an American classic that has withstood the test of time.
It poses colossal questions, then posits answers:
- How do we continue to live fully, in dark and uncertain times? Cabaret brings us a vibrant club, determined to celebrate life in the face of depression.
- How do we take that impossible step, allowing someone to truly, wholly, see us? Cabaret brings us a pair of young, brave lovers.
- How, once we have loved and lost, do we summon the courage to try again? Cabaret brings us a couple that decides to live in the present, instead of the past.
Then there are unanswered questions:
How do we hold on to the good we have found in life?
Can the hope we have found in the dark persist, as a storm rolls in overhead?
How do you stand tall when the world seems to be disappearing around you?
These questions are, I believe, for us to unravel ourselves.
Cabaret is about the fight between triumph and failure, joy and sorrow, running and staying, love and loss; all set against the backdrop of a seismic shift in our global history. It will forever grace our theatres, because those elements of humanity will always be at odds with one another. I have always felt dwarfed by Cabaret’s ability to tackle such deep questions with a combination of humor, joie de vivre, heart, and soul. Cabaret has made some of life’s most pressing and universal struggles as familiar as, say, a drum roll – a cymbal crash – and a two-bar vamp you know as well as you know your own name.
