Cabaret at The Merc's Summer Series to Feature SPRING AWAKENING & More

In 2014 Cabaret at The Merc presented their first Summer Series, fully staged shows in a unique non-traditional environment! In May 2012, Lyricist Jordan Beck and Director J. Scott Lapp teamed up with Temecula Presents to bring Cabaret at The Merc, an exciting new Broadway Cabaret to beautiful Old Town Temecula. From Billy Joel & Elton John, to Contemporary Broadway to nights of Disney, Queen & Motown, Cabaret at The Merc has quickly become the go-to spot to see the hottest theatrical talent in Southern California and beyond. Having had such incredible success with their monthly cabarets, they believed it was time to move into Phase 2, launching an annual Summer Series of fully produced musicals in their uniquely intimate space. This year, with The Merc being closed for refurbishment, the Summer Series will take place at The Truax Building, just a couple of blocks away. The new, yet unfinished space will retain the intimacy that made last year's Summer Series so unforgettable, yet allowing for more performances and slightly more seats. Producers Jordan Beck and J. Scott Lapp also recently announced the formation of The Barn Stage Company, a new non-profit theater company that will develop and produce new theatrical work as well as their monthly Cabaret at The Merc series. To learn more, visit www.CabaretatTheMerc.com

The 2nd Annual Summer Series kicks off with Jason Robert Brown's The Last 5 Years July 23-August 2. Starring Cabaret at The Merc favorites Allen Everman and Lisa Livesay in the roles of Jamie and Cathy respectively, The Last 5 Years is an emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show's unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show. The production will be directed by Susan Jordan DeLeon, who starred in the Summer Series production of Next To Normal in 2014.

The 2015 Summer Series continues in August with Urinetown The Musical, a show that won three TONY Awards, three Outer Critic's Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards! Written by Mark Hollman & Greg Kotis, the show will Directed by J. Scott Lapp, with Choreography by Chelsea Nicole and Musical Direction by Taylor Peckham. Here is how the show is billed: In a Gotham-like city (not too different than the one we live in today), a terrible water shortage (sound familiar?), caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets (Hey...It Could Happen!). The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!

'Urinetown' will run for 2 weekends from August 20th - 30th

Finally, after last Summer's blockbuster run, Cabaret at The Merc will be remounting their sold-out production of Spring Awakening based on the play by Frank Weidekind! With book and lyrics by Steven Sater & Music by Duncan Sheik, this show explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable. We are thrilled to welcome back this blockbuster cast one more time! Directed by J. Scott Lapp with choreography by Evan D'Angeles, ff you missed out on tickets last Summer, now is your chance to see it again! The electrifying production will run from September 17- 27.

Cabaret at The Merc's 2nd annual Summer Series will be presented at The Truax Building at 41923 Second Street, Temecula, CA. 92590. Tickets are $30.00 and can be purchased by visiting www.CabaretAtTheMerc.com or www.TemeculaTheater.org or by calling the Old Town Community Theater Box Office at 1-866-653-8696. A season ticket package can also be purchased for all 3 shows at a discounted price of $75.00. If you would like to help support Cabaret at The Merc's Summer Series, please visit their GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/barnstagecompany

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