Weitz Details Weimar Republic with 5th St Spotlight 'Cabaret'

University of Minnesota history professor and author of "Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy" (2007) Eric D. Weitz is making a special appearance at Spotlight Night: Cabaret on Tuesday, March 11 from 7 - 8:30PM at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Cabaret director Bill Berry drew inspiration from this book as he planned The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of the Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece, playing March 25 – April 13. Directly after the presentation, The 5th Avenue will host a book signing in the lobby.

Weitz will give a brief history of Germany's "Weimar Republic" of the 1920s and early 30s. This rich period of modernization, innovation and creativity spawned a flowering in the arts that made Berlin a cultural mecca, until it was all wiped out by the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party.

5th Avenue Producing Artistic Director and Spotlight Night host David Armstrong will also explore the distinctive talents of the songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, whose hit Broadway and film musicals include Cabaret, Chicago, New York New York, Kiss Of The Spider Woman, and the current hit Curtains, with performances by some of Seattle's best singers, including Sarah Rudinoff, Mary Jo DeGaw and Timothy McCuen Piggee.

Spotlight Night, sponsored by US Bank, is free and open to the public. To guarantee admission, register online at www.5thavenue.org/spotlight or call (206) 625-1900. Seating is general admission. Reserved priority seating is available for donors of $250 or more. For more information, call (206) 315-4681 or e-mail devo@5thavenue.org.

For more information about The 5th Avenue's production of Cabaret, visit www.5thavenue.org.

For more information about "Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy" and Eric D. Weitz, visit http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8460.html.