Songs We Love To Sing at Monument Arts & Cultural Center

BENNINGTON — On the evening of July 19, at 7 p.m., the Monument Arts & Cultural Center will be hosting its first cabaret: an evening of music and more.

“We are thrilled to announce this one-night only cabaret performance,” said Kristine Lewis, executive director of Monument Arts and Cultural Center. The event, called Songs We Love to Sing, will bring together a number of performers from the Art and Cultural Center’s past performances. This event will feature talented cast members from "The Sound of Music" and "Fiddler on the Roof," Lewis said.

Performers David Sutton (Lazar), Ingrid Madelayne (Golde), Hope Jasper (Yente), Maureen Cossey (Sister Margaretta), Jessica O'Connell (Shaindel), Joey Masalsky (Rolf), Natalie Conroy (Liesl) and Lauren Biasi (Sister Berthe) — who helped bring these classic shows to life — will be reuniting to deliver a night filled with music from "Phantom of The Opera," "Pippin," "Sunset Boulevard," "Company," "A Chorus Line," "Hadestown," "South Pacific," "Spamalot" and more.

“There will be a little banter from the performers, and the audience can expect an evening of unforgettable performances,” said Lewis, adding that, before the performance, beginning at 6 p.m., South Shire Inn will be supplying beverages and snacks. These will also be available during intermission.

After the performance, Lewis stated, there will be time to chat with the performers.

“This is such a special event,” said Lewis, of the upcoming cabaret. “These performers have all played roles at Monument Arts & Cultural Center's first shows, after a five-year closure, and they are all talented singers and performers. And, Richard Cherry, our musical director from both the ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ is back playing the grand piano onstage.”

The five-year closure that Lewis referred to involved the tumultuous beginnings of the organization.

“The Laimeisters gifted it to Southern Vermont College,” explained Lewis, who came onboard relatively recently. “They went out of business, and then the Laimeisters could not take it back. They gifted it to the Society of Animal Arts, who in turn started a new 501c3: Monument Arts & Cultural Center. COVID was two years in that, too — and, we just reopened a year ago.”