Cabaret
SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 16, 2022
GK Hardt Theater
music by John Kander
lyrics by Fred Ebb
book by Joe Masteroff
directed by Jared Sakren
Opening weekend received glowing reviews
“One of 6th Street’s best!”
—Robert G.
“Outstanding in every aspect. First rate entertainment.”
—William G., Santa Rosa
“…the performance was stellar!!!…as good as we would find in any Broadway show.”
—Ken and Nancy, Forestville
“LOVE you guys! It’s always a delightful, entertaining, educational, inspiring experience.”
—Ann H., Santa Rosa
“..Cabaret was amazing!…I want to see it again!”
—Debbie M., Santa Rosa
A Risqué and Provocative Musical!
Willkommen. Bienvenue. Come to the cabaret and the heady ‘anything goes’ world of Berlin in 1930. In the steamy, sleazy Kit Kat Klub on the eve of Hitler’s rise to power, is love possible?
As the Nazis advance and patriotism gives way to racism, partiers carry on…disinterested in politics and engrossed in decadent entertainment while they ignore the encroaching horror.
Jared Sakren, Playhouse Artistic Director, directs this daring and provocative musical in his signature style (West Side Story, Vincent, A View from the Bridge). Expect lavish music, erotic dancing with tender and humorous moments building toward an alarming finale.
Cabaret stunned the world in 1966 when it debuted. But while the message has stayed the same, the show has evolved with a new revival almost every decade, each more explicit than the last.
Come experience this latest rendition with fresh eyes! And heed its timely warning of the dangers of complacency.
In the News
Production Photos
Photos by Eric Chazankin
Rehearsal Video
Featured Cast
Damion Matthews
Damion Matthews (Clifford Bradshaw) is excited to be making his debut at 6th Street Playhouse, where he can remember taking dance classes as a kid growing up in Sonoma County. After studying theater at Cornish College of the arts in Seattle, Damion appeared in productions at New Conservatory Theatre Center and Stagebridge Theater Company in San Francisco, before pursuing a career as a therapist, including earning a master’s degree in drama therapy. Damion is immensely grateful to be able to return to the stage after many years away, and since joining the local theater scene he has appeared as Jim in The Glass Menagerie at Main Stage West, and Rudolpho in Spreckels’ production of Matilda.
Erin Rose Solorio
Erin Rose Solorio (Sally Bowles) is a dancer, singer, and actor. Erin grew up in California’s Bay Area, where she began dance classes at age two and theatre at age nine and fell in love with it. Most of her dance training revolves around tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, and ballet. Erin recently graduated from Rider University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She has performed in regional and collegiate productions, along with choreographing and directing shows. Some of Erin’s favorite credits include In the Heights, Pippin, and Anything Goes (tap cabaret). If you feel like knowing more about her, check out her website at erinrosesolorio.com. Erin is so honored and thrilled to play Cabaret’s Sally Bowles here at 6th Street Playhouse!
Michael Strelo-Smith
Michael Strelo-Smith (Emcee) burst onto the national scene when he was seen in the top 35 of Season 2 of America’s Got Talent. Audiences from around the world cheered him on when he returned for Season 3 and placed in the top 25 out of the over 1 million acts who auditioned. Favorite roles include: Archibald Craven (THE SECRET GARDEN); Pooh Bah (THE MIKADO); Horace Tabor (THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE); Sharpless (MADAMA BUTTERFLY) Vice-Principal Panch (25TH ANNUAL…SPELLING BEE); and Count Carl-Magnus (A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC). Solo appearances in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall; Alice Tully Hall; and Boston Symphony Hall. He holds BFA and MFA degrees from Notre Dame de Namur University where he explored the intersection of social justice and the expressive arts with his lecture recital Queer Liberation Theology: an Exploration of LGBTQIA+ Oppression Through Song which has toured throughout the Bay Area and in Europe. Currently, he maintains a private voice studio in San José, California
Ginger Beavers
Ginger Beavers (Fraulein Schneider) moved to California after living in the South her whole life. She received a BA in Russian from the University of Tennessee then lived in Moscow. After completing a post baccalaureate degree in Education, she taught high school Acting in Knoxville. She then earned an MFA in Acting and lived/worked in NYC. She then taught Theater Arts at El Molino High School in West Sonoma County for 18 years. Recently she has appeared at 6th Street as Music Director (Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Oliver et al.) and actor (Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, Dottie Otley in Noises Off, The Suspects in Murder for Two). She lives in Petaluma with her wonderful husband Chuck and their devoted blonde Lab, Bette Davis.
Dwayne Stincelli
Dwayne Stincelli (Herr Schultz) has appeared in over 300 productions in the past five decades. He has worked with most all North Bay theater companies, but considers the Playhouse his home being one of the founding members and having served on the board over 20 years. Last seen in Oliver as the undertaker Sourberry, other favorite roles include Beauregard in Mame, Mr. Lundy in Brigadoon, Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, Herbie in Gypsy, El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Grimsby in Little Mermaid, Mr. Lawrence in the musical Little Women, Fezzywig in A Christmas Carol and Murdock in Titanic.
The Story
An Eye-opening Story you Won’t Soon Forget!
It’s 1930. Berlin. For some, it’s Europe’s hot spot for the excitement and freedom of the ‘anything goes’ lifestyle.
For others, recovering from the devastating effects of the War, it’s long food lines and endless search for work. Hitler offers a solution!
Enter Clifford Bradshaw, a struggling, sexually curious American novelist looking for inspiration for his next book. On his first night there Cliff wanders into the wildly exotic, naughty Kit Kat Klub, overseen by a strange, gender-bending ‘Emcee’ where he meets Sally Bowles, a vivacious, seductive dancer and chanteuse, and an utterly lost soul.
Cliff and Sally’s relationship blossoms, unexpectedly, into a dream-like romance.
As time passes, however, the situation in Berlin starts to change. What was exciting and vital is now ominous and violent. The Nazis blame the Jews and gays for everyone’s misery. Their ranks swell with new recruits.
Ernst, Cliff’s first German friend, joins the Nazi Party.
Herr Schultz, Cliff’s Jewish fellow boarder at Fraulein Schneider’s guest house (and her fiancée), is the target of an anti-Semitic hate crime.
When Sally announces she’s pregnant, Cliff decides they must leave for America, at once, before things get any worse. Sally’s nonchalant, unsure she’ll ever be able to trade the exciting cabaret lifestyle for motherhood.
How bad can it get? Really?