Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage Presents CABARET, 11/4-20

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's Professional Theatre Company, will open the 25th Anniversary MainStage Season with one of the most popular and beloved American musicals of all time, "Cabaret." Running November 4-20, "Cabaret," a musical with book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander and book by Fred Ebb. Based on John Van Druten's 1951 play "I Am a Camera," which in turn was adapted from Christopher Isherwood's novel "Goodbye to Berlin," this Tony Award-winning classic is one of the most popular and beloved American musicals of all time. Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, "Cabaret" focuses on nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and the relationship between cabaret performer Sally Bowles and American writer Cliff Bradshaw. The original 1966 Broadway production directed by Hal Prince and starring Joel Grey as the Emcee, won several Tony Awards including Best Musical. Following the 1972 film version directed by Bob Fosse and starring Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli, the musical has since been revived on Broadway twice, with the 1998 revival directed by Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and becoming the third longest-running revival in Broadway musical history.

"MTC MainStage feels a strong commitment to provide theatre to lifelong fans as well as the next generation," says Kevin Connors, director of "Cabaret" and co-founder of MTC. "Staging this landmark musical in MTC's one-of-a-kind Off-Broadway-style 50-seat studio, provides the audience with an intimate theatregoing experience and transports them to the decadent pre-WWII world of Berlin. John Kander and Fred Ebb's hauntingly beautiful musical score to "Cabaret" includes "Willkommen," "Don't Tell Mama," "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," "Married," "What Would You Do?" and "Cabaret" among others."

The cast of "Cabaret" is Marty Bongfeldt, Melissa Carlile-Price, Eric Scott Kincaid, Johnny Orenberg, Ryan Reilly, Dorothy Stanley, Daniel Robert Sullivan and Stuart Zagnit. Marty Bongfeldt plays Fräulein Kost, and has appeared in MTC MainStage's critically-acclaimed production of "Doubt," as well as opposite Cathy Rigby in "Peter Pan." Melissa Carlile-Price plays Sally Bowles, and has appeared in the national tour of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and as Juliet in NY Shakespeare Exchange's "Romeo and Juliet." Eric Scott Kincaid plays The Emcee, and has appeared on Broadway as Skimbleshanks in "Cats" and in Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Aspects of Love." Johnny Orenberg plays various roles and has appeared in MTC MainStage's record-breaking "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra" as well as the NYC workshop/reading of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" opposite Sutton Foster. Ryan Reilly plays Cliff Bradshaw and has appeared in the NYC productions of "Woyzeck" and "The Short Fall" and regional credits include George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life." Dorothy Stanley plays Fräulein Schneider and has appeared in 17 Broadway shows including "Sugar Babies," "Annie," "Jerome Robbins' Broadway" and "Show Boat." Daniel Robert Sullivan plays Ernst Ludwig and has appeared in the national tours of "Jersey Boys," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "The Pirates of Penzance." Stuart Zagnit plays Herr Schultz and has appeared on Broadway in "Seussical" and "The Wild Party," and played Seymour in the original production of "Little Shop of Horrors."

"Cabaret" is directed by Kevin Connors, who serves as Executive Artistic Director and is a co-founder of MTC. Musical direction by David Wolfson, with choreography by Lainie Munro and fight direction by Chris Smalley. Scenic design by Andrew Knapp, lighting by Joshua Scherr, costumes by Diane Vanderkroef and stage managed by Jim Schilling.

The MTC MainStage 25th Anniversary Season will continue in February with the award-winning comedy "Almost, Maine" and conclude in April with "I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett," a musical revue from the creators of last season's record-breaking smash "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra." Season subscriptions and single tickets to all productions are currently available.

"Cabaret" will be performed November 4-20, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with matinees Saturdays at 4pm and Sundays at 3pm at MTC MainStage Studio Theatre, 246 Post Road East (ColoniAl Green/Lower Level) in downtown Westport, CT. Each performance is followed by a wine and cheese reception where the audience is invited to meet the actors and production team. Tickets are $25-$45 ($5 off for seniors and students,) and reservations are strongly suggested. Call 203.454.3883 or visit www.musictheatreofct.com.