Last Thursday through Sunday, the 12th annual Winter Cabaret was performed in the PMAC gallery. The cabaret featured song excerpts from musicals performed by talented Choate singers. The company for this year’s Cabaret included Bailey Bennett ’10, Julia Discenza ’10, Marian Firke ’10, Shira Hereld ’11, Sarah Humphrey ’09, Kyra Lammers ’10, Angela Lee ’10, Lauren Provini ’08, Leah Rosen ’10, Akanke Small ’08, Taylor Visoski ’09, Yatta Zoker ’10, and special appearances by Mr. Bradford. Each year the Winter Cabaret has been a favorite student production among locals and students alike. This year people filled the PMAC gallery to enjoy the music, excited for the concert. A group of senior citizens from a local senior center traveled to the PMAC gallery to enjoy an afternoon of Broadway tunes during Sunday’s matinee perfomance.
The repertoire performed boasted a list of 25 songs, including a medly from Mamma Mia. One popular song was “Bosom Buddies,” sung by Sarah Humphrey ’09 and Lauren Provini ’08. The comical lyrics of the song prompted much applause from the audience. “Steppin’ out with my Baby,” sung by Mr. Bradford and the company, was also popular.
Dan Pahl ’10, a dedicated fan of the cabaret, said that the Mamma Mia medley was his favorite. “I thought it was just spectacular. I couldn’t help bouncing and smiling the whole time. I think the Mamma Mia medly was just amazing. I love Mamma Mia.”
For the performers, Winter Cabaret was more than just a concert--it was an experience from which they learned. This was Marian Firke ’10’s first Cabaret. She said, “It was a really fun experience. We spent the first few weeks in the recital hall with Melody, the musical director, just learning the songs, and after that we were up in the gallery with Mr. Tines, learning the movements to go with them. It was very fast paced, but I’ve learned a lot from them.”
Angela Lee ’10, another first-time Cabaret performer, commented that the singing experience differed from that at her previous school: “It was a really good experience for me--Mr. Tines and Melody, our teacher was really cooperative, and the teamwork was great. I learned a lot, like incorporating acting and style into singing. The repertoire was also different for me--at my old school, musicals were impossible for underformers, so I only sang pop songs or any songs that were popular. But singing these musical excerpts were really fun.”
The cast of Winter Cabaret sang “Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” a song featured in the musical Easter Parade, with Mr. Bradford. Performances were held on Thursday January 24-Sunday January 27. PHOTO/Ian Morris
