past shows

Winner of the 1998 Tony for Best Musical Revival, Cabaret is a provocative and wildly entertaining production of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s dark masterpiece. Cabaret is the story of a young American writer who comes to Berlin, the capital of Germany, just before the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party. As he struggles to write, the young man finds himself more and more tempted by life at the decadent Kit Kat Klub, and by the club’s star attraction, Sally Bowles. From the authentic 1930s Berlin club setting to its haunting, unforgettable music, Cabaret is divinely decadent entertainment at its best!

Book by Joe Masteroff
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Music by John Kander

Directed by Steven Tangedal
Choreographed by Nicholas Sugar
Musical Direction by Donna Debreceni

Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood.

Presented by special arrangement through Samuel French, Inc.

Time: 1929–1930

Place: Berlin, Germany

starring
Dave W. Ballew • Joci Brinkman • Lori Duncan • Jennifer Kiatta • Melissa McCarl • Braddon McDonald • Shanna Meek • Jim Miller • Caleb Murray • Alex ryer • Nicholas Sugar • Kristin Teig Torres • Kevin Wenning • Paula L. Whitaker • Chris Whyde • Joey Wishnia

band
Donna Debreceni • Harry Grainger • Scott Smith • Gabe Steele • Michael Weaver • Tag Worley • Larry Zeil

stage manager: Steven Neale
set design: TDA Design and Production
set construction: C.J. Hoosier
costume design: Lamecia Landrum
costume intern: Dustin Poche
sound design / follow spot operator: George Pulver
light design: T Marc Stevens
house manager: Shelly Bordas

tina anderson (Set Design and Construction) is co-owner and Director of Production for TDA Design and Production. She is excited to start her second year designing for the Theatre Group. Cabaret was an adventure in structural needs and technical design. A special thanks to C.J. Hoosier, without you the band would not be straight. On a personal note: Meow Meow, Thank you!

david w. ballew (Victor) Cabaret marks David’s first appearance on the Theatre On Broadway stage, but he appeared in the Theatre Group production of Tony ’n Tina’s Wedding. Some of his favorite roles include the Emcee in Cabaret, Paul in A Chorus Line, Jeffrey in Godspell, Chrissy in Hair, Sebastian in Twelfth Night, and Skippy in Aunt Edith’s Wake. He was last seen in Town Halls’ production of Just So. David wishes to dedicate his performance to his family back in Dallas.

shelly bordas (House Manager) became a slave to the Theatre Group in 1995. When not appearing onstage (most recently in Parallel Lives at the Phoenix and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told at Theatre On Broadway), she can be found in the lobby selling tickets and wine to patrons. She is proud of every production at the Theatre On Broadway, and especially proud to be part of the family -- still. Thanks to Steve and Nick for years of bliss.

jodi brinkman (Sally Bowles) is thrilled to work with such a talented cast in the finest musical of our time. This is her first (and hopefully not last) show with the fabulous Theatre Group. She moved here from her home back East almost two years ago, where she received her B.F.A. in musical theatre. There she played fun roles like Polly in Three Penny Opera, Lucy in Dracula, and Rapunzel in Into the Woods. Jodi would like to thank her beautiful husband, Bobby, and her very supportive family for everything.

donna debreceni (Musical Director) is a native Coloradoan and has been playing for theatres, clubs, piano bars, and corporate events for... well, let’s just say, quite awhile! She has also composed for film and television in Los Angeles, performed and recorded for country artists in Nashville, and toured the country and Taiwan with West Side Story. She has performed and music-directed numerous times for the Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton, Shwayder Theatre in Denver, Magic Moments (an annual benefit production with and for people with special needs) and here at Theatre On Broadway. Cabaret is her third show with Theatre Group, following Howard Crabtree’s When Pig’s Fly and Whyde Awake, which she music-directed, arranged, and recorded tracks for. She is thrilled to be doing Cabaret live -- with a fabulous band -- and wonderful cast and crew. She would like to thank her husband, Todd, for his love and support, and her mom for making her practice.

lori duncan (Fritzie) Willkommen! Lori is excited to begin 2002 with Cabaret. She was most recently seen in 12 Steps of Christmas, a sketch comedy show, and is thrilled to be doing a musical again. She thanks Nick, Steve and Donna for this opportunity... and her loving husband, Chris.

wendy foster (Set Design) is co-owner and Director of Marketing for TDA Design and Production. She holds a degree in Interior Design from North Dakota State University and is involved with the design and marketing of theatrical productions and special events. Outside the theatre and events, she is a abstract artist, working primarily in monotypes.

harry grainger (Reeds) In a previous life, Harry was a highly placed Priest in the court of a WELL KNOWN PHARAOH. Harry grossly misused his powers to seduce ASTONISHINGLY BEAUTIFUL PRIESTESSES, who trusted him implicitly. This life has not had as many fringe benefits, but he is delighted to be playing woodwinds for Cabaret, one his favorite musicals. He has played woodwinds for many theatre productions in the Denver Metro area. He enjoyed playing for Swing Time Canteen at the Denver Galleria theatre, and just recently received critical acclaim for reading a book on-stage in the Littleton Town Hall’s production of Oliver.

teresa harris (Frenchie) is excited to perform in her first Theatre Group show. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a B.A. in musical theatre. Some of her recent roles include Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Diana in Lend Me a Tenor, and Rapunzel in Into the Woods. She has also appeared in Gypsy, 42nd Street and Carousel at Boulder’s Dinner Theater. She also works at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities doing costume construction and design.

jennifer kiatta (Texas) Cabaret marks Jenny’s third production with Theatre Group. She was last seen in Parallel Lives at the Phoenix Theatre, and played the disabled Rabbi in The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told at the Theatre On Broadway. Jenny is very excited to be part of this production, and to be working with such a talented group of artists.

lamecia landrum (Costume Designer) has done tons of costumes for over 10 years, primarily for the Theatre Group, but she does occasionally wander off somewhere else. That might be due to age.

melissa mcCarl (Lulu) has performed all over the U.S. and on the seven seas. Recent Denver appearances include Swingtime Canteen at the DCTC, George M at Littleton, and many shows at Heritage Square. She is a produced playwright, and will premiere a new one act via Colorado Dramatists in January. Thanks to Nick for this artistic reunion.

braddon mcDonald (Bobby) recently moved to Denver from Sydney, Australia. Braddon has danced with Opera Australia, a regional modern dance company, as well as in large spectacular shows for the famous Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Braddon is thrilled to have landed on his feet so soon after arriving in Denver by finding the Theatre Group, and is grateful for the opportunity to perform in Cabaret.

shanna meek (Helga) graduated from OCU with a B.S. in Dance Management. She’s received numerous awards and scholarships for professional dance programs in New York and Los Angeles. Her performance experience ranges from principal roles in classical ballets to theme park entertainment. She’s been performing, choreographing, and teaching in Denver for three years.

jim miller (Clifford Bradshaw) is making his debut performance with Theatre Group. He has performed at the Arvada Center, Country Dinner Playhouse, Germinal Stage, Town Hall Arts Center, Nomad, LIDA project, Six Flag Elitch Gardens, as well as local and regional television commercials. He holds a B.A. in theatre, and continued his studies at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.

caleb murray (Herman) is making his debut performance with Theatre Group. With a minor in music theatre, he has spent the last five years fronting an alternative band, as well as writing and producing for a private musical theatre. Past performances include Godspell and The Secret Garden.

steven neale (Stage Manager) is very excited about working with all the talent involved in bringing Cabaret to the stage. He has served as stage manager for the Theatre On Broadway for close to four years for such shows as Never the Sinner, Whyde Awake, A Question of Mercy, Corpus Christi, and Poor Super Man. Steven also is the designer of the Theatre Group’s programs and newsletters, as well as serving as Webmaster for the Theatre Group Web site. Thanks to Steve and Nick for the creative freedom, and all my great friends who have wandered into my life.

deborah persoff (Fräulein Schneider January through March) returns to the Theatre On Broadway where she appeared in A ... My Name is Alice, Closer Than Ever, Tidy Endings, Six Degrees of Separation, A Perfect Ganesh, Laughing Wild, Emma’s Child, Marvin’s Room, Henceforward, and most recently in A Question of Mercy. She also directed The Belle of Amherst. Deborah has most recently performed in Sylvia and The Sisters Rosensweig.

george pulver (Sound Designer) feels privileged to do technical work for Theatre Group in this production, as well as for past productions, including: Never the Sinner, Whyde Awake, A Question of Mercy, Execution of Justice and Poor Super Man. Also, he recently appeared onstage in Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly, Party! and Howard Crabtree’s Whoop Dee Doo!

alex ryer (Fräulein Schneider April through May) lived and studied in New York City for six years before returning home to open a recording studio and be close to her family. In Denver, Alex has continued to teach and work professionally in voice overs, narration, film and theatreg. Her numerous regional credits include Swingtime Canteen at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun at the Arvada Center, Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera at the Ascot Dinner Theatre, the Witch in Into the Woods at Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, and the Reverend Mother in Nunsense at Stagewest.

todd simmonds (Ernst Ludwig January through March) was last seen as Big Daddy in Industrial Arts’ production Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He has appeared throughout Colorado in such roles as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Sancho in Man of La Mancha, and Daddy Warbucks in Annie. Todd previously strode the boards of Theatre On Broadway as The Player in Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead, and is thrilled to join them again for this production of Cabaret.

scott alan smith (Bass/Banjo) has been the guitar instructor at Regis University for the past 14 years. In addition to winning a regional Emmy, producing numerous CDs (including “The Quen’s Minstrel” on Windham Hill Records), Scott has two original CDs of his own. Somewhat of a fixture in the local music theatre scene, Scott first met Donna Debreceni in the summer of ’76!!

gabe steele (Bass/Trombone) has been playing bass and trombone in the Denver area for the last five years. Gabe is a music student of Scott Smith at Regis University. Recent performances include Oliver at Littleton Town Arts Center, and Damn Yankees at the Denver Center.

nicholas sugar (Emcee, Choreographer) is the Artistic Director for the Theatre Group. He recently directed Never the Sinner, Stupid Kids, Whyde Awake and A Question of Mercy as well as last season’s award-winning Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly, The Blue Room, and Shakespeare’s R&J. Nicholas has been seen on stage in the critically acclaimed productions of Corpus Christi, The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, and A Perfect Ganesh.

steven tangedal (Director) started with Theatre Group in 1979, and has directed a wide variety of shows including the dramas Tracers, Burn This and Six Degrees of Separation; the musicals A ... My Name is Alice, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Closer Than Ever; the comedies Jeffrey, Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged) and Tony ’n Tina’s Wedding -- and the recent hits Parallel Lives, Beautiful Thing, Emma’s Child and The Boys in the Band. Steve hold a Music Education Degree and serves as the Executive Director for the Theatre Group.

tDA design and production is proud to be part of this production of Cabaret. They began their association with Theatre Group in January 2000, and have since designed and produced the sets for A Question of Mercy, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Stupid Kids, Gertrude Stein and a Companion, Parallel Lives, and most recently Never the Sinner. Additionally, TDA has designed for the Shwayder/Wolf Theatre at the JCC and St. Mary’s Academy. Outside of the theatre, TDA provides consultation, design, production, and installation services for the special events industry. A special thanks to David Williams, Nick Sugar and Steve Tangedal.

kristin teig torres (Fräulein Kost) is pleased to be back on the Theatre On Broadway stage having been a cast member of the 1999 production of Execution of Justice. A six year Hunger Artists member, she was in the award-winning Hunger Artists casts of Angels in America and Dancing at Lughnasa, and more recently played Beatrice in their production of Much Ado About Nothing.

michael weaver (Reeds) is a native Denverite who has been playing in musical theatre and various bands for many years. Local audiences may remember him from Swing Time Canteen at the Galleria, and he recently finished playing for the tour of Kiss Me, Kate at the Buell.

kevin wenning (Hans) is glad to be back with Theatre Group after appearing in Stupid Kids last summer. Cabaret is a wonderful musical experience following My Fair Lady and Oklahoma. Other shows include Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, Betty’s Summer Vacation, and film favorites Headlock and SON.

paula l. whitaker (Rosie) has been dancing for 25 years. Since receiving her B.F.A. in dance, she has danced in modern and jazz dance companies in the U.S. and abroad. Her theatre work includes a variety of roles in musicals and plays, as well as choreography. Most recently, Paula appeared as Molly Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Cha Cha in Grease.

chris whyde (Ernst Ludwig April through May) last appeared at the Theatre On Broadway in his “autobiographical romp,” Whyde Awake! He made his Theatre Group debut in Howard Crabtree’s Whoop Dee Doo in 1997. Other Theatre Group prodcutions include: Titanic, Cell Block Sirens of 1953, Tony ’n Tina’ Wedding, Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly, and Emma’s Child. Other stage credits include: The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Beauty and the Best, Tartuffe, and Romeo and Juliet. Chris feels fortunate to be joining the cast of Cabaret, and would like to thank them all for making him feel so welcome at the Kit Kat Klub.

david williams has worked for Colorado AIDS Project for five years, and brought his professional experience to the Theatre Group earlier this year for A Question of Mercy at Theatre On Broadway. He also served as stage manager for Porcelain at Theatre On Broadway, and for Parallel Lives, Gertrude Stein and a Companion, Blue Room, and Food Chain at the Phoenix Theatre.

joey wishnia (Herr Schultz) is very pleased to make his first appearance at the Theatre On Broadway. He was most recently seen as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, and in The Sisters Rosensweig -- also with Deborah Persoff. He has recently returned from New York where he performed off-Broadway, and devised a program of Shakespearian excerpts entitled Shakespeare Ð Man of Letters.

tag worley (Percussion) started his musical career playing shows at the tender age of 15. Since then he has performed in over 60 productions, including eight years as the pit percussionist at the Country Dinner Playhouse. A father of two boys, he shares his love of musical theatre with his wife, Alann, who with Paul Dwyer co-own the Academy of Theatre Arts. Tag is also currently the A/V sales manager at SoundTrack in Highlands Ranch.

larry ziehl (Percussion) After reuniting with Scott Smith, a college friend and band mate from a group called Rosewood Canyon, Larry has been playing in an acoustic jazz-rock group called “Onsombley” for the past four years with Scott. During that time, he has also played in Fiddler on the Roof, and How To Succeed at the Shwayder Theatre; The Boy Friend with PHAMALY at the Denver Center Performing Arts Complex; The 4 Whatevers & Arnold and New Years Eve presented by Magic Moments. Ziehl graduated from Loretto Heights College with a B.A. in music, and for six years after college earned his living as a drummer. In the last four years besides playing with Scott, he has performed with Donna and Harry, and is pleased to be working with them in this timely and meaningful production. Willkommen!

posted by theatre group at 4:11 PM