Theatre Now New York makes its debut appearance with Cabaret, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff, at the Pocketbook Factory, located at North 6th St. and Washington St. in Hudson, NY. It will be directed by Thomas Morrissey with choreography by Mikala Freitas and musical direction by Mary Sugar. The production opens tonight, August 2nd and runs through Sunday August 4th, and then continues Thursday August 8th through Sunday August 11th. Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased online at www.tnny.org or by phone TOLL FREE at 855-254-7469.
From the very beginning of the planning stages of production, artistic director
Thomas Morrissey knew that he needed to find a space that echoes the visceral quality of the show while utilizing the style of Berlin in the late 1920s and early 1930s. "Setting foot inside the Pocketbook Factory is like taking a step back in time," says Morrissey. Built at the turn of the century and filled with relics of the past, the Pocketbook Factory is the perfect place to recreate the chaotic 1930s in Berlin. This production of Cabaret promises to be like none other produced. In addition to the unique space, innovations like puppetry, juggling, and other vaudevillian tricks of the time will be spotlighted.
Morrissey has always gravitated toward mounting his theatrical productions in non-traditional and unusual theatre spaces. In Asbury Park, NJ, he produced the musical Hairin an abandoned Carousel House; at Tri-Arts in Pine Plains, NY, No, No Nanette was performed in the Carvel Ice Cream Warehouse and in New York City,
Mr. Morrissey chose a mansion to present Ludlow Ladd, a Christmas story by
Michael Colby, starring Kristen Chenoweth.
Morrissey's vision for Theatre Now New York has always been to find a location in Upstate New York. Hudson became a frequent suggestion and Tom hoped that with an already thriving Arts community in Hudson, the arrival of Theatre Now New York would be a welcomed addition to the established theatre companies and that Theatre Now would help to further the artistic vibrancy of Hudson. In October 2012, Tom and his co-founder and managing director, Mary Andrews made their first trip to Hudson and it immediately felt right. Our vision became possible in the form of a huge, empty, cavernous building known as the Pocketbook Factory, and it possessed all of the possibilities and awe-inspiring qualities that Tom was looking for in a theatre space.
Cabaret is set in the city of Berlin just before Hitler's rise to power. The story revolves around a cabaret performer, Sally Bowles, and her brief affair with American writer, Clifford Bradshaw. The chaos of the changing world swirls around them and they soon find their relationship jeopardized by outside forces, threatening to tear them apart. Figuring prominently is the tragic relationship between Fräulein Schneider, a German woman, and her Jewish suitor Herr Schultz.
"There is a raw and magical quality about the Pocketbook Factory and we are so excited to let it bring Cabaret to life!" Choreographer Mikala Freitas raved. The lattice arrangement of smaller beams on the ceiling emanating from the large mains gives the space a antique quality perfectly suited to the period nature of the show. Renovations to the factory are in progress in anticipation of Theatre Now's first rehearsal when the building will come alive with the energy, and enthusiasm of a new cast, design team and technical staff coming together for the first time to create something that has never been done before. With its charming and edgy qualities, the Pocketbook Factory provides the perfect setting for Cabaret.
Cabaret, the Musical with book by
John Van Druten, music and lyrics by
John Kander and
Fred Ebb, and based on
Christopher Isherwood's Berlin Stories and
John Van Druten's I Am a Camera, opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on November 20, 1966 and ran for 1,165 performances. Cabaret received 9 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Composer and Lyricist, Director, Choreographer, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Supporting or Featured Actor and Supporting or Featured Actress in addition to The Outer Critics Circle Award for Production and The New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. It contains many well-known songs including "Mein Herr," "Willkommen," and the title song, "Cabaret."
Theatre Now New York is a professional theatre company whose history originates with two established companies - the
Genesius Theatre Guild in New York City and ReVision Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ. Theatre Now New York brings together the founding principles of both these companies; developmental work and main stage theatrical productions. The mission of Theatre Now New York is to facilitate the creation and development of new theatrical works, the reimagining of previously produced known titles and the reinterpretation of classic works through readings, productions, workshops and work-in-progress presentations and to promote the understanding and appreciation of live theatre and its process by the general public and provides opportunities for emerging, mid-career and established theatre professional in their ongoing creative process.
Theatre Now New York presents Cabaret, the Musical at The Pocketbook Factory, N. 6th Street and Washington Street, Hudson NY. Tickets: $18, $28 and $38. Online at
www.tnny.org or by calling 855-254-7469.
Performances:
Friday August 2nd at 8:00 pm
Saturday August 3rd at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
Sunday August 4th at 7:00 pm
Thursday August 8th at 8:00 pm
Friday August 9th at 8:00 pm
Saturday August 10th at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
Sunday August 11th at 7:00 pm
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