CABARET Opens the 2016 Summer Season at Theatre in the Park

The musical CABARET, with music by Kansas City's own John Kander and lyrics by partner Fred Ebb, opens the 2016 summer season at Theatre in the Park on Friday night, June 3. The powerful musical about life in Berlin in the 1930s as the Nazi party begins its rise to power continues through Saturday, June 5, and again the following Wednesday, June 8 through Saturday, June 11. The box office opens at 6 p.m. and the gates to the seating bowl open at 6:30 p.m.; the show begins at 8:30 p.m.

Under the direction of TTIP veteran Mark Swezey, "Cabaret" features an all-local cast of talented performers. Jeff Martin music directs and Ann McCroskey is the choreographer.

The winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, "Cabaret" takes place when Germany is faced with an economic depression following World War I. Reality is bleak but inside the Kit Kat Club cabaret where the avant-garde culture thrives, "life is beautiful" the emcee tells the audience. The story follows American Clifford Bradshaw, a struggling writer who has come to Germany. He encounters the vivacious Sally Bowles, a talented cabaret performer who is a lost soul. Together they face the changing nature of Berlin - and their own lives - from frivolous to ominous under Nazi rule. Faced with growing hatred and anti-Semitism their friends and neighbors confront, Sally and Cliff grapple with tough life decision discovering that life is NOT always a cabaret.

"This is simply a story of the consequences of wearing blinders to those unpleasant realities around us," said director Swezey.

"It is my hope, in this election year, that through theatre and art, we can take a step in today's world to remove the obstructions and rhetoric from our view of the real world."

Due to its adult language and mature themes, CABARET is rated PG-16.

The Theatre in the Park is located in Shawnee Mission Park at 7710 Renner Road, in Shawnee, KS, and is a program of the Johnson County Park & Recreation District. TTIP is the largest outdoor community theater in the country, and has been providing quality theatre entertainment in the community for more than four decades.

TTIP is holding the line on prices for the 2016 season with general admission only $8, youth $6, and children three and under may attend for free (but require a ticket for entrance). A limited number of reserved seats are also available for $20. Patrons may also purchase season reserve parking for just $25. Tickets and all these options may be purchased online at www.theatreinthepark.org or at the theatre box office the nights of performance.

In addition to CABARET, the 2016 Theatre in the Park season - its 47th - features two premieres* and two modern era American musical theatre classics as well as a co-production with the Jewish Community Center (The J):

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (*TTIP Premiere): June 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24 & 25; rated G

A CHORUS LINE: July 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 & 9; rated PG-16

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT: July 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 & 23; rated G

MARY POPPINS (*TTIP Premiere) TTIP dates: July 29, 30, 31, Aug. 3, 4, 5 & 6; The J's White Theatre dates: July 9, 14, 16, 21 & 23 at 7:30 p.m. July 10, 17 & 24 at 2 p.m.; rated G

MOVIES IN THE PARK will return for only one buck! Movies will begin with June 7 with "Frozen Sing-a-long" and other titles "E.T." "Up" and "Tangled". Gates open at 7:30 p.m. with movies starting at 8:30-8:45 p.m., depending on sunset.

For more information including entire show synopses for all 2016 TTIP productions, please visit http://www.theatreinthepark.org/2016-season

Cast of CABARET (Character Name, Performer, city or residence)

Clifford Bradshaw-Avery Bell; Lenexa

Fraulein Schneider-Kristi Mitchell; Overland Park

Herr Schultz-Victor Castillo; Kansas City, MO

Sally Bowels-Liz Golson; Overland Park

Ernst Ludwig-Andrew McCarl; Stanley, KS

Fraulein Kost-Jessica Alcorn; Roeland Park

Emcee-Joell Ramsdell; Overland Park

Rosie/Kit Kat Girl-Alyssa Winters; Belton, MO

LuLu/Kit Kat Girl-Alison Huddleston; Shawnee

Frenchie/Kit Kat Girl-Ginger Vaughn; Olathe

Texas/Kit Kat Girl-Karen Edwards: Roeland Park

Fritzie/Kit Kat Girl-Savanna Worthington; Fairway

Helga/Kit Kat Girl-Hailey Young; Overland Park

Sasha/Kit Kat Girl-Mary Williams; Topeka, KS

Kitty/Kit Kat Girl-Emmy Hadley; Leawood

Bobby/Kit Kat Guy-Evan Nugent; Olathe

Victor/Kit Kat Guy-Caleb Nugent; Olathe

Hans/Kit Kat Guy-Jake Bartley; Olathe

Musician/Party Guest-Zach Russell; Overland Park

Max/Train Conductor-Rob Hallifax; Overland Park

Sailor-Lucas Lowry; Lenexa

Musician/Party Guest-Christine Pascoe; Overland Park

Sailor/Party Guest-Patrick Strum; Overland Park

Musician/Party Guest-Laura Kariuki; Lenexa