The Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society is proud to be bringing Kander and Ebb’s iconic musical Cabaret to the Harold Greenspon Auditorium from May 29 to June 16, 2019.

“Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome…” With this friendly yet eerie salutation, The Emcee has greeted decades of audiences who have come to forget their troubles in the story of American Cliff Bradshaw and his brief but indelible affair with British Berlin cabaret darling, Sally Bowles.

One of the great musicals of a generation, Cabaret leads us between the worlds of the notorious nightlife and political turmoil of Berlin in 1931. An important and iconic piece of musical theatre, with book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Cabaret invites audiences to witness the decadence and decay of a place teetering on the brink of catastrophe.

We have an incredible cast lead by veterans of the CSLDS stage: Jeanne Motulsky (Penny in Hairspray, Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) playing Sally Bowles, and Craig Dalley (Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) playing The Emcee. Relative newcomers to the CSLDS, Calder Levine (Almost, Maine) and Ed Le Vasseur (Almost, Maine) will be playing Cliff Bradshaw and his shifty friend, Ernst Ludwig, respectively. Our very own lighting designer, Linda Babins, and newcomer to the CSLDS stage, John Kovac, will be bringing to life the relationship at the heart and soul of Cabaret – that of Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz. Fraulein Kost, nemesis to Fraulein Schneider will be portrayed by another CSLDS newcomer and McGill Jazz vocalist, Maria Jimenez. Maria will be playing double duty as Lulu in the Kit Kat Klub as well. Our Kit Kat Klub is full of gorgeously talented performers, some new to the CSLDS and some long-time veterans. Our Kit Kat Girls are: Genevieve Pertugia (Rosie); Marina Mendoza (Frenchie), who comes to us from Cirque Eloize; Concordia Theatre Performance student Gabrielle Banville (Texas); McGill Jazz Vocal student Isabelle Rachiele (Fritzie); Ari Sterlin (Helga), veteran CSLDS performer, choreographer, writer and director; Nicole Arrage (Zelda) (Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), and Kaylah Langburt (Totsie), Vanier Music and Performance student (Almost, Maine). Our Kit Kat boys include: TY Jung (Bobby); CSLDS Veteran Natasha Lilliman (Victor) (Catch Me, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Jonah Zoldan (Hans/Rudy) (Joseph…), and Ryan Kligman (Herman), our Assistant Director (Hairspray , The Producers , Joseph…). Rounding out this amazing ensemble are: Shaun Nishmas (Grease , Catch Me…, Hairspray, Little Shop, Joseph…) as Kit Kat Klub owner, Max, and young rising star of stage and screen, 8 year old Ryan Hill (Wizard of Oy, Gramma Mia), as the voice of the young boy who sings “Tomorrow Belongs to Me”.

The production team, headed by Producers Mitchell Brownstein and Mitch Kujavsky and Director Anisa Cameron, also includes first time collaborator Musical Director Benjamin Kwong (Centaur’s Night at the Gayety ), our long time brilliant Choreographer, Alexia Gourd (Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Assistant Director Ryan Kligman (remembered fondly for his portrayal of Corny Collins in the 2015 production Hairspray), Assistant Choreographer Ari Sterlin, Set Design by the spectacular Sabrina Miller (Little Shop of Horrors), Costume Design by Elyse Malo, who has worked with the Dramatic Society on every show since 2014, and Lighting Design brought to life by Linda Babins (Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Almost, Maine). Our Technical Director is Scott Drysdale, who has been with the Dramatic Society since its inception in 2011. Samantha Stermer ( Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) serves as Stage Manager alongside Jordana Dobski (7-time veteran of the CSLDS stage ) as Production Manager.

On why she felt strongly the CSLDS should produce Cabaret at this moment, Anisa Cameron says, “ Cabaret stands as a staggering, sumptuous, scintillating and stark lesson in the dangers of complacency, denial and willful ignorance in the face of unbridled nationalism and the rise of a fascist tide. In the political climate that we find ourselves facing today, I felt strongly compelled to produce this show.”

Mayor of Côte Saint-Luc and founder of the CSLDS Mitchell Brownstein says, “From its inception, I was always intrigued by Cabaret. It’s musical numbers sparked my first interest in musical theatre, while it’s story taught me so much. This is why we will be bringing musical numbers from the show to the Senior’s homes in Cote Saint Luc and through a partnership with the Holocaust Museum we shall take, educate our High School and CEGEP students with special shows and talkbacks discussions in the presence of Holocaust survivors.”

Cabaret will run for 21 performances between May 30 and June 16, 2019. Tickets for the run range in price from $28 to $45 (for exclusive Cabaret style seating that includes a beverage and refreshment). There will be a special VIP Gala Fundraiser to usher in the run on May 29, 2019, with a dinatoire and entertainment before the show. Tickets for the Gala are $150. All tickets are available at The Eleanor London Public Library, The CSL Aquatic and Community Center , and online at CSLDramaticSociety.com, and can also be purchased at the door one hour before show time.

About The Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society:
Since 2011, The Côte Saint-Luc Dramatic Society seeks to bring together actors, writers, musicians and other artistically minded community members to produce theatrical works in an inclusive, collaborative environment where artistic excellence is nurtured and encouraged.

Also watch this Global News Report: https://www.facebook.com/cotesaintluc/videos/463018267576631/UzpfSTY3NjQzNjM3ODoxMDE1NjU3NTM0ODg0NjM3OQ/

Watch talk back with the cast and 96 year old Holocaust survivor Margaret Newman: https://www.facebook.com/cotesaintluc/videos/2043574612611094/UzpfSTY3NjQzNjM3ODoxMDE1NjU3MTI4ODk1MTM3OQ/