Northwestern University to Present CABARET, 2/14-3/2

Audiences will have the opportunity to leave mid-winter's sub-freezing temperatures behind when they step into the sizzling atmosphere of "Cabaret." The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is the second winter production in the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University's 2013-14 Mainstage Season.

"Cabaret" will be staged from Feb. 14 to March 2, at the Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive, on the University's Evanston campus. It will include several post-show discussions, a food drive and a closing reception and sneak preview of Northwestern's 2014 Waa-Mu Show.

Directed by Nick Bowling, the Jeff Award-winning Timeline Theatre Company associate artistic director, "Cabaret" is based on a book by Joe Masteroff, a play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. The production features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

"Cabaret" will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20; 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27; 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 1; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2.

The following post-show discussions will take place: Feb. 14, "Behind the Scenes" with director Nick Bowling and the cast; Feb. 16, "European Cabaret and Popular Entertainment in the Interwar Years" with Susan Manning, professor of English, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and the cast; and Feb. 20, "Minority Expression in the Late Weimar Republic," guest speaker to be announced.

"Cabaret" tells the story of the political unrest of 1931 Berlin where young American writer Cliff Bradshaw seeks inspiration for his next great novel. Instead, he finds himself enmeshed in the decadent and dangerous Kit Kat Klub, a world filled with velvet sofas, tattered lamps and the beguiling cabaret singer Sally Bowles. Desire and dreams may only drift undisturbed for so long in this dark musical, as Cliff must ultimately decide if his life is to be nothing more than a cabaret.

"'Cabaret' is often considered the perfect musical because its story is every bit as strong as its music," said director Nick Bowling. "It is a recounting of Isherwood's trip to Berlin in the late 1930s and of him watching Germany change as he himself undergoes transformation."

TIC/One Book One Northwestern Food Drive/ Feb. 14-March 2

Recognizing that winter is a critical period for Evanston families in need, TIC and One Book One Northwestern will co-sponsor a food drive during the show's run that will benefit a local food pantry. Patrons are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the food drive. The collected food items will be donated at the end of the production's run.

March 2 Reception and Waa-Mu Show 2014 Preview

On Sunday afternoon, March 2, a post-show reception will take place in the lobby of the Barber Theater at which Waa-Mu Show cast members present a preview of select songs from the new student-written musical, "Double Feature at Hollywood and Vine," set to debut May 2-11 at Northwestern's Cahn Auditorium. Coffee and sweets as well as a special sweepstakes announcement from the Waa-Mu Show team will be presented.

"Cabaret" tickets are $30 for the general public; $27 for seniors over 62 and Northwestern faculty and staff and educators; and $10 for full-time students with valid IDs (at the door) or $5 tickets exclusively for full-time Northwestern students on advance purchase. Discounts are available for groups of eight or more.

Tickets can be purchased online at tic.northwestern.edu, by phone at (847) 491-7282, or in person at the Barber Theater lobby at 30 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston campus. The box office is open from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

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