Photo Flash: Actors' NET's CABARET

The Actors' NET of Bucks County concludes its 15th season July 15 -31 with the brilliant musical blockbuster, Cabaret. With a book by Joe Masteroff, based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, Cabaret boasts an explosive score with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

"The title song, Cabaret, along with Don't Tell Mama, Tomorrow Belongs to Me and the scathingly satirical Money, Money, Money, are just a few of the melodic treasures to be presented," explained Actors' NET General Manager Joe Doyle of Morrisville, who directs the show, with Pam Jorgensen of Franklin Park, NJ as assistant director.

"Our tiny Heritage Center stage in Morrisville has expanded out into the house - to make the audience feel more a part of the action than ever before," explains Doyle. "Set against the backdrop of the rise to power of the Nazis in the 1930s, Cabaret follows the lives of the performers and patrons of the scandalous Kit Kat Club in Berlin."

Tess Ammerman of Arneytown, NJ stars as Sally Bowles, the club's headliner, who becomes romantically involved with a struggling American writer, played by John Bergeron of Hopewell, NJ. She tries to seduce him into the hedonistic lifestyle of 1930s Germany, but he recognizes the danger of the Nazis -- even as he is duped by his friend Ernst Ludwig (played by Ken Ammerman of Morrisville) into helping the brown shirts' rise.

Susan Blair of Philadelphia costars as Fraulein Schneider, who runs a rooming house where Cliff and Sally reside. One tenant - Tami Feist of Yardley -- is a prostitute. Another, Herr Schultz, romances the landlady until their engagement party is shattered when Ernst launches his anti-Semitic party line against "the Jews."

"Cabaret is no simple ‘boy meets girl' musical," Doyle said. "It explores young love, mature love, lust, bigotry, bravery and cowardice - showcasing mankind at its best and worst. And ever present, demanding your attention, is the club's enigmatic and androgynous Emcee, played by Scott Lutz of Philadelphia."

Dani Tucci-Juraga of Morrisville choreographs and leads the Kit Club Dancers, played by Brenna Bajor of Morrisville; Jaci D'Ulisse of Trenton, NJ; Kat Ross of Ewing, NJ; Heather Santos of Philadelphia; Jenna Schottlander of Millstone, NJ; Kate Skelly of Hamilton, NJ; and Sarah Webster of Morrisville.

"Dani's choreography is stunning," Doyle says. "It is pure fun one minute, raw sexualitythe next - reflecting ‘the world is going to hell so what have we got to lose?' attitude of so many who felt helpless as Germany's economy collapsed and the Nazis goose-stepped into power."

"There are so many dimensions to Cabaret, mere words cannot describe it," he noted. "It must be seen. Once seen, it will never be forgotten."

Pat Masterson of Mount Airy, NJ is the show's musical director and leads the company's live orchestra. Matthew Cassidy of Morrisville stage manages. Andrena Wishnie of Morrisville lights the set, designed by NET Artistic Director Cheryl Doyle, who is also costume designer.

"Enhancing the work of our terrific leads and dancers is the work of our ensemble members, who portray the Germans who flee the chaos outside, only to find it is seeping into the Kit Kat Club," Doyle observed. "Each ensemble member has his and her own storyline to tell and they can be witnessed throughout the show. Some will rise, others will perish, but no one survives unchanged."

The Cabaret ensemble includes (alphabetically) Lurie Armandt of Doylestown; Genevieve Donahey of Yardley; Jeannine Ducharme Haight of Pennington, NJ; Tim Kline of Ewing, NJ; Patrick J. McGuire Jr. of Fairless Hills; Sarah Opielski of Fairless Hills; Jim Palmer of Hatboro, Nicholas Pecht of Hamilton, NJ; John Russell of Mercerville, NJ; and Dominick Sannelli of Levittown.

Running weekends July 15 - 31, Cabaret performs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There are also performances at 8 on Thursday July 21 and 28 and one special Saturday matinee, July 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (62+) and $10 for children 12 and under. Due to mature themes and sexuality, parental discretion is advised.

The Heritage Center is located 635 N. Delmorr Avenue (Route 32), Morrisville - near the Calhoun Street Bridge.

To reserve, call the nonprofit theatre company at 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com. The NET website is www.actorsnetbucks.org. Tickets may be purchased

on-line at www.brownpapertickets.com.

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