Tari Kelly Stars in 'Cabaret' at 5th Ave Theatre

The 5th Avenue invites Seattle to "leave your troubles outside" and experience the scintillating entertainment of Cabaret. "Life is beautiful, the girls are beautiful, even the orchestra is beautiful" in this brand new production, featuring an all-star cast and an "all-girl" band made up of The 5th Avenue's male pit musicians – on stage, in heels and fishnets. The 5th co-produces this landmark musical with the American Musical Theatre of San Jose and St. Paul's Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.

"The decadent world of 1930s Berlin comes to life in this Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece. Based on Christopher Isherwood's novel 'Berlin Stories' and John Van Druten's play I Am a Camera, Cabaret follows an English nightclub singer, an American writer, a German landlady and a Jewish shopkeeper who find their destinies linked and their futures uncertain on the eve of the Third Reich. By turns defiant and melancholy, brazen and gleeful, Cabaret sizzles with show-stopping songs, including 'Willkommen,' 'Maybe This Time,' 'Money, Money,' 'Don't Tell Mama' and the explosive title tune," explain press notes.

Considered one of the defining musicals of the postwar era, Cabaret broke the mold of musicals by presenting the audience with a highly "conceptualized" production – instead of integrating songs that stemmed organically from each situation, director Harold Prince envisioned a musical with the actors commenting on the action as it happened. Cabaret won eight 1967 Tony Awards (including Best Musical and Best Score) and ran for 1,165 performances. It launched Kander and Ebb's (Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman) success and place in musical theater history. In 1972, the musical was adapted for the screen in one of the greatest movie musical hits of all time, winning eight Oscars, including Best Actress for Liza Minnelli.

The cast of The 5th Avenue's production of Cabaret features Tari Kelly (B'way: How The GrinchStole Christmas, The Boy from Oz, Show Boat, 5th Avenue: White Christmas) as Sally Bowles, Seattle natives Nick Garrison (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Rocky Horror Show) as the Emcee, Louis Hobson (5th Avenue: West Side Story, Miss Saigon) as Cliff Bradshaw, Suzy Hunt (B'way: Execution of Justice, 5th Avenue: Singin' in the Rain, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) as Fraulein Schneider and Broadway veteran Allen Fitzpatrick (B'way: Les Misérables, 42nd Street, Sweet Smell of Success, 5th Avenue: Sweeney Todd) as Herr Schultz.

The cast also includes Alexandra Ausman, Lisa Bartholomew-Given, Nicole Boote, Scott Brateng, Ross Cornell, Dannul Dailey, Jadd Davis, Tyson Forbes (Ernst Ludwig), Kirsten E. Gerding, Angie Louise (Fraulein Kost), Carrie Madsen, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Melody McArtor, Brandon O'Neill, Maya RS Perkins, Troy L. Wageman and Aaron Young.

Cabaret is directed by 5th Avenue Associate Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry and choreographed by Bob Richard. Ian Eisendrath serves as the conductor/musical director, the set and lighting designer is Tom Sturge, the costume designer is Thomas G. Marquez, the hair and make-up designer is Sharon Ridge and the sound designer is Jeremy J. Lee. Bret Torbeck is the production stage manager.

Tickets to Cabaret are priced from $20 - $77. Higher-priced prime seating may be available for select performances. Tickets are available over the phone by calling 206-625-1900 (toll free 888-5TH-4TIX), online at www.5thavenue.org or in person at the box office in downtown Seattle. There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.

Cabaret plays the American Musical Theatre of San Jose March 4 – 16. After its Seattle engagement March 25 – April 13, Cabaret plays the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota, May 2 -18.

Cabaret show times are March 25 – April 13: Tuesday & Wednesdays at 7:30PM; Thursdays & Fridays at 8PM; Saturdays at 2PM & 8PM; and Sundays at 1:30PM & 7PM

Tari Kelly stars as Sally Bowles in The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Cabaret, playing March 25 - April 13, 2008. Photo: David M. Allen Photography