INDIANAPOLIS — The preFootlite Musicals, Indianapolis’ oldest continuing community theatre, opens its main stage season with Cabaret, running three weekends, September 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29, and October 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Footlite presents its productions at its home theater, the Hedback Community Theater, 1847 North Alabama St., Indianapolis. The curtain time for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances is 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matinee has a 2:30 p.m. curtain.
Based on the play “I Am a Camera” by John Van Druten and the novel “Goodbye to Berlin” by Christopher Isherwood, Cabaret has a book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb.
The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the musical is set in a Berlin nightclub, during the twilight of the Jazz Age. A garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget their troubles.
With the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the dark, heady, and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich.
Cliff, a young American writer newly arrived in Berlin, is immediately taken with English singer Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, Fraulein Schneider, proprietor of Cliff and Sally’s boarding house, tentatively begins a romance with Herr Schultz, a mild-mannered fruit seller who happens to be Jewish.
Produced by Susan Bott, Cabaret is directed by Isaac Becker-Chamberlin and choreographed by Conner Becker-Chamberlin and Emily Theurer. Mark Pipkins serves as the production’s vocal director, Kristin Cutler as the musical conductor, Ted Jacobs as scenic designer, Maria Matters as lighting designer, and Marina Turner as costume designer.
Lucy Fields as the Emcee, Addison Koehler as Sally, and Derek Savick-Hesser as Cliff head the cast of 17. Also featured in the cast are Marie Beason as Fraulein Schneider, Len Mozzi as Herr Schultz, Emily Gaddy as Fraulein Kost and Bobby Haley as Ernst.
Individual admission prices for the Fri., Sat. and Sun. performances are $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens (65 and older) and students (18 to 22, with an ID), and $15 for youth (17 and younger). The Thurs. and first Sun. performances are $15 for all seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www.footlite.org or by phone at the box office number, 317-926-6630. Questions and concerns may be directed to the Footlite box office at its phone number or at boxoffice@footlite.org.
Season tickets and individual show tickets are also on sale for the rest of Footlite’s 2024-2025 main stage season of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Next to Normal, Caroline or Change, and Kinky Boots.
Footlite has improved the air flow system of the Hedback Community Theater to increase circulation volume and has also increased its touchless capabilities in ticket entry and in the restrooms in order to prevent RSV and COVID-19 transmission.