Cabaret comes to the University tomorrow when 19 vocal students from the College of Musical Arts look to stretch their vocal strings in a program titled, “We’re Not Sick, We’re Just in Love.”
The cabaret’s director, Dr. Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers, said it will be a revue, consisting of musical skits from “West Side Story,” “Chicago,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and others.
A cash bar and light snacks will be available to patrons, for whom admission is free.
“It’s in the trend of the European cabaret where you’d sit and eat, drink and watch the show,” said Rodgers, an assistant professor of voice at the University.
This is the first time Rodgers has directed but she is no stranger to cabaret — she has performed in Ann Arbor, Bowling Green and Toledo.
It would seem her experience is paying off. Sarah Flanning, a performer in the cabaret, said, “It’s all just coming together this week.”
“I love it,” Flanning said of the show. “It’s a lot of fun. Everybody in the show is friends and I love the show, it’s really funny.”
She said the performance mixes humor both in the characters being portrayed and the innuendoes frequently made.
“I don’t have a favorite song,” she said, “because they’re all so different; they all flow together.”
Flanning said the song selection is a great mix of familiar things in addition to songs people can be introduced and exposed to.
The cabaret will debut tomorrow in room 228 of the Union at 7 p.m. with a second performance to be held later that evening at 9 p.m.
“I hope [the College of Musical Arts] does this again,” Flanning said. “It’s been a really good experience.”
If their dispositions are any indication, the experience has been a good one for everyone involved with the production.
After a rehearsal, smiles and lighthearted conversation filled the choral room of the Moore Musical Arts Center as the performers left for dinner.
“Come and see it, these kids are havin” a good time,” Rodgers said before turning to Teresa Batterson, a performer, and saying, “At least I think they’re havin’ a good time!”
Both of them laughing, Batterson nodded and said with a smile, “Yeah, we’re having a good time.”
