CABARET Opens at Keegan Theatre Tonight

The Keegan Theatre kicks off 2013 with John Kander and Fred Ebb's Tony Award-winning musical CABARET, opening tonight, January 26, 2013, at the Church Street Theater in Washington, DC.

CABARET, directed by Keegan company members Christina A. Coakley and Michael Innocenti, takes audiences deep into the seedy nightlife of the Kit Kat Klub on the eve of Hitler's rise to power in Weimar Germany. Based on Christopher Isherwood's Berlin Stories, CABARET follows the interlocking stories of a cabaret singer, a writer from America, and the denizens of Berlin as they are caught up in the swirling maelstrom of a changing society. Led by the enigmatic and dazzling Emcee, CABARET is an intoxicating theatrical experience, featuring well-known classics of the musical stage such as "Don't Tell Mama," "Maybe This Time," and of course "Cabaret".

"It isn't just that CABARET is a beloved and compelling piece of theater and the winner of 8 Tony Awards," says Mark A. Rhea, Keegan's producing artistic director and founder. "It's set in a seedy nightclub, with characters that are not only complex and dark, but funny and delightful - all in all, deeply human. In other words, a natural fit for Keegan in terms of setting and story - our venue and our Acting Company are a great fit for this piece. We've wanted to produce it ever since we came to Church Street, actually."

Rhea continues, "Michael and Christina (the musical's directors) have a great passion and vision for the piece, and we are thrilled to welcome back Keegan company members and audience favorites to this incredible cast, as well as some artists who are new to us. We anticipate that CABARET is going to be a huge hit for our audiences."

CABARET features Paul Scanlan (Spring Awakening) as the Emcee, Maria Rizzo (Spring Awakening) as Sally Bowles, Bradley Foster Smith (All My Sons, Laughter on the 23rd Floor) as the writer Clifford Bradshaw, Jane Petkofsky (Working, Steel Magnolias), as Fraulein Schneider, and Stan Shulman (August, Osage County, Translations) as Herr Schultz. CABARET also features Erin Ryan, Sarah Chapin, Alison Crosby, Shannon Cusello, Shayna Blass, Paige Felix, Sarah Lasko, Chris Gillespie, Timothy Adams, Charlie Abel, Ben Lurye, Ryan Patrick Welsh, and Matthew Rubbelke. J. Michael d'Haviland is the musical director; Rachel Leigh Dolan choreographs.

CABARET runs through February 23, 2013. The press opening is Tuesday, January 29 at 8:00pm. The Keegan Theatre is in its 16th season and is the resident company at Church Street Theater in Dupont Circle at 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC.

Performances run tonight, January 26- February 23, 2013, playing Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm Sunday matinees at 3:00pm **Special added performance: Tuesday, January 29, 2012 at 8:00pm. Runtime: 2 hours 25 minutes with one intermission.

Tickets: $40 - General admission/$35 -students and seniors. Group rates available. Contact the Box Office at 703-892-0202, email boxoffice@keegantheatre.com or go to www.keegantheatre.com.

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