Nelsonville locals looking to spend an evening with Cliff Bradshaw and Sally Bowles are in luck, as Stuart's Opera House, located at 52 Public Square, is debuting its production of “Cabaret” Thursday.
The show closes Sunday and tickets cost $19. Those interested in watching must be 18-years-old or 17-years-old with a guardian to attend. Thursday’s production begins at 7:30 p.m., with an immersive pre-show experience in the lobby of Stuart's at 6:30 p.m.
Devin Sudman, executive director of Stuart's, is the director, music director and conductor of “Cabaret.” He said Stuart's is transforming the lobby into a “speakeasy burlesque nightclub” and serving drinks including specialty Manhattans and gin martinis.
Sudman said five burlesque dancers will be in the lobby during the speakeasy experience. Audience members are invited to mingle and prepare themselves for a night full of dancing and heartbreaking love stories.
This is Stuart’s first production of “Cabaret,” a 1966 musical from a book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. It is based on the 1951 play “I Am a Camera” by John Van Druten, who was inspired by the 1945 novel “Goodbye to Berlin” by Christopher Isherwood.
The musical is set in 1930s Berlin, following several characters’ attempt to adapt to the changes and conflicts in their city with the rise of the Nazi regime.
Sudman said the production is important for people to see because of the underlying dark themes of fascist regimes and the opprobrium of those who may be viewed as different.
“When they wrote this story and released it in 1966, it was two decades after World War II, and they were writing it as a history lesson, versus today, where it's more so of a warning for what can happen,” Sudman said. “I believe that there are so many themes that are shown in this production that are set in 1929 and 1930 that are so in front of our face right now in 2025, and I think it's really important that we, as audience members and humans, learn and also are in community with one another.”
Sudman said he is excited for the community to support the volunteer performers, who worked for nine weeks in rehearsals to put on a three-night show for locals and fans from afar. This production is not only for the attendees, but a place for locals to discover the fulfillment and joy of performing for a live audience.
“We listen to our community, and we respond through our programs,” Sudman said. “We are doing ‘Cabaret’ right now, not because I want to do a musical, but because there are dozens of people in this community that want to do and be a part of live theater. That's why we do it.”
Gracie Davidson, a local from McArthur, plays Frenchie in “Cabaret” and said she’s been doing shows at Stuart’s for about a year, with “Cabaret” being her fourth production.
Davidson said her favorite song to perform is “Mein Herr,” as she enjoys performing in dance-heavy roles. She also said Stuart’s is inclusive, and the cast and crew are one big family.
“I came to Stewart's because it was the one place that didn't turn me away for my speech impediment,” she said. “I had auditioned at a few other theaters, and they would not cast me for anything singing or speaking.”
Shroom Moellendick, a Vienna, West Virginia, native playing Fritzie in the production, said they had performed in “Cabaret” before and adore the music and costuming. Even though Moellendick is not a local, they have seen a couple shows at Stuart’s before and said the cast and crew were extremely welcoming to an outsider.
“Everybody that I've met is just super, super nice,” Moellendick said. “Especially since I'm not from here, I don't live here, they just like opened their arms to me, and I really appreciate that.”
The production is something Sudman said the audience has “never seen before,” with impressive tech, music and choreography.
“I think people are going to have just as much fun as they are going to learn from this production,” Sudman said.
Tickets for the production of “Cabaret” and information regarding pre-show festivities are available online.
