Feb. 14, 2012
The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America will present the 1998 Broadway revival version of the musical, Cabaret. The production will feature a full 11-piece band and will play Friday, Feb. 24, through Sunday, Feb. 26, in Ward Hall's Recital Hall.
Cabaret centers on Clifford Bradshaw who travels to Berlin in 1929 to find inspiration as a novelist. Instead of getting to work, he quickly gets swept up in the seedy culture of the Berlin nightlife and eventually meets the enigmatic cabaret singer Sally Bowles. The budding relationship between the two becomes strained as the Nazi party and anti-Semitism grow more popular in German culture. Cliff feels compelled to stand up and do something about what is happening while Sally is happy to continue living her life in a fantasy. The musical takes place within the walls of the "cabaret," which features nightly song and dance numbers hosted by the menacing but highly symbolic emcee.
Director Jay D. Brock, clinical assistant professor, describes the show as a "concept musical" where the meaning of the show surpasses the importance of the narrative. Whereas Cabaret has historically addressed the specific event of the Holocaust, this production will broaden the discussion of genocide to include current issues. Brock hopes that the audience will leave the production with a better awareness of persecution and human rights violations taking place in today's world.
Musical direction will be provided by Denise Puricelli, assistant professor and co-chair of musical theatre. Music school alumnus Kurt Boehm serves as choreographer.
In addition to singing and acting, students in the production will present large-scale dance sequences featuring the original choreography by Bob Fosse.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 and 25 and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 25 and 26. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors, students, and CUA alumni, faculty, and staff.
MEDIA: To cover this production, contact Katie Lee or Mary McCarthy in the Office of Public Affairs at 202-319-5600.
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Jay D. Brock (Director) is also artistic director of Limelight Theatre for which he has directed the musicals The Last Five Years and Closer than Ever. Recent professional credits include the regional premiere of F#@king Up Everything at The Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; East of the Sun and West of the Moon at Imagination Stage; Naughty Marietta at Opera AACC; In the Beginning (international tour); When the Stars Go Out at Bright Alchemy Theatre Company; Tango!Tango! at Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia; Padrevia , Dido & Aeneas , Signor Deluso, The Women, and the world premiere of Magnum Opus at Opera Alterna; Ubu Roi at Journeymen Theatre; and the world premiere of Life in Death at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing arts. Notable Los Angeles area credits include Dance for Her at Pasadena Playhouse, Eleemosynary at Boo Box Theatre, Zeno's World at Ensemble Theatre, and After Hours in the Whale Room at Dana Point Theatre Company.
In addition to his professional work, Brock has directed many university productions, 10 of which have been at The Catholic University of America.
Denise Puricelli (music director) is a private coach and undergraduate adviser and teaches musical theatre workshops.
She has worked on Broadway as an assistant conductor for Elton John's Aida, Little Shop of Horrors, and Brian Wilson's Good Vibrations; as a pianist for Mamma Mia (Broadway and National Tour), Jersey Boys, Hairspray, Sweet Charity (2005 revival), Sunset Boulevard, Bombay Dreams, Fosse, Dance of the Vampires, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Les Miserables, Cats (Broadway and National Tour) , Once Upon a Mattress, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Who's Tommy, Jekyll And Hyde, 1776, and Scarlet Pimpernel.
Puricelli has performed and/or recorded with The Orchestra of St. Luke's, The Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Eos Orchestra, Illuminati (Avant Rock), Arthur Kampela Band, Columbia Composers Forum, Stamford Symphony Orchestra, Composers Concordance, and with small jazz ensembles with singers, including René Fleming (with St. Luke's Orchestra Pops) and Lillias White (with Brooklyn Philharmonic Pops).
Kurt Boehm (choreographer) is a local dancer and choreographer who has taught at Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Creative Artists Institute, and Creative Cauldron.
In addition to performances at Catholic University, he has directed and choreographed at Keegan Theatre, Toby's Dinner Theatre, Adventure Theatre, Imagination Stage, and Montgomery College. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, and Adventure Theatre.
Boehm graduated from Catholic University in 2005 with a bachelor of music degree with a concentration in musical theatre.
