Amanda Palmer Starring As Emcee in New Production of Cabaret

Amanda Palmer is a true artist; it’s tough to pin her down because she’s always reinventing herself. One moment she’s a Dresden Doll, then she’s a conjoined twin, next she’s plunking out Radiohead covers on a ukulele, and now she’s playing The Emcee in the American Repertory Theater production of Cabaret. Yes, all of your coke-addled Uber-Nazi dominatrix fantasies are now fulfilled. We at ATF love and respect Amanda”Fucking” Palmer. A bold move indeed, but that’s what she’s all about.

Amanda Palmer Starring In Special Production Of “CABARET” This Fall!

Having now successfully released her cover of digital and online ukulele Radiohead covers, Amanda Palmer is making her next move…to the stage.  Palmer will be teaming up with the prestigious The American Repertory Theater (who, in 2006, also presented The Dresden Dolls theatrical journey “The Onion Cellar” to rave reviews) and her beloved high school drama teacher and artistic mentor, Steven Bogart, with whom she recently co-created (along with a cast of 20 drama students from Lexington High School) the Neutral Milk Hotel and Anne Frank-inspired original play “With the Needle That Sings in Her Heart” for a special production of “Cabaret”.

“This production has been ten years in the making – an ongoing fantasy I’ve had in the back of my mind”, says Palmer. “I’ve wanted to collaborate on ‘Cabaret’ with Bogart ever since I helped him with make-up & dialogue during his 2001 production of the show at Lexington High School. I was so inspired by his version of the show that I yearned for it to reach a wider audience – Bogart is truly a hidden gem of a director. Having worked with lots of directors now, I’ve come to realize how special and brazen he is in terms of the artistic risks he’ll take.”

“Cabaret”, a musical based on Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories”, is set in the seedy Kit Kat Klub nightclub in Berlin in 1931, and follows the Nazi rise to power against the backdrop of Weimar decadence.  Palmer will be playing the role of the Emcee/Master of Ceremonies.

“People often don’t have the slightest clue what ‘Cabaret’ is actually about – they know the Liza Minnelli tune and don’t realize that the actual song ‘Cabaret’ is about as dark as it gets – that it’s being sung by a strung-out coke addict about to get an abortion that she pays for by hocking her clothes. It’s an incredibly dark show with an incendiary message that’s still very relevant today.”

The venue, OBERON in Harvard Square, has a full bar and will be functioning as a proper nightclub with classic cabaret seating and table service. “It doesn’t make sense to me to do this show as a proscenium production – you want to be INSIDE of the Kit Kat Klub… not observing it.” She adds: “This production is going to be messy, risky, sexy and immersive. People won’t know what hit them the minute they walk in the door – we’re creating an entire world that covers every inch of the venue.”

CABARET
Book by Joe Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and
Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Directed by: Steven Bogart
Set and Costume Design by: David Israel Reynoso
Lighting Design by: Nicholas Vargelis
Sound Design by: Clive Goodwin
Music Direction by: Lance Horne & Deborah Barsha
Movement Director: Steven Mitchell Wright

CAST: (*) members of Actors Equity Association
Emcee: Amanda Palmer*
Sally Bowl: Aly Trasher*
Clifford Bradshaw: Matt Wood*
Fraulein Schneider: Thomas Derrah*
Herr Schultz: Remo Airaldi*
Ernst Ludwig: David Costa*
Fraulein Kost: Claire Elizabeth Davies*
Max: Jeremy Geidt*
Kit Kat Dancers: Renee-Marie Brewster, Lucille Duncan*, Tamara Hickey*,
Eric Johnson, Jordy Lievers, Gaetano Pugliese
Ensemble: Annika Franklin, Christopher I. Thomas, Edward Walsh

RATING: The production contains nudity, simulated sex, and drug use.
Recommended for 16 and older, unless accompanied by an adult.

WHEN: August 31 — October 29, 2010
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays at 7:30pm
Fridays at 7:30pm and 10:30pm

WHERE: OBERON, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

TICKETS: Begin at $25. Student rush $15. Seniors $10 off regular ticket price.
Group Rates available.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Performances will begin promptly at the times listed.
Doors open half hour before showtime.
No performances Saturday through Monday.

08/31: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/01: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/02: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/03: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm

09/07: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/08: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:00pm (Press Opening)
09/09: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/10: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm & 10:30pm

09/14: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/15: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/16: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/17: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm & 10:30pm

09/21: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/22: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/23: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/24: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm & 10:30pm

09/28: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/29: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
09/30: NO PERFORMANCE
10/01: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm & 10:30pm

10/05: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/06: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/07: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/08: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm & 10:30pm

10/12: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/13: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/14: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/15: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm & 10:30pm

10/19: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/20: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/21: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/22: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm & 10:30pm

10/26: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/27: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/28: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm
10/29: Cambridge, MA @ OBERON, 7:30pm

Tickets may be charged to American Express, Visa, or Master Card
Group rates are available
Box Office Phone and A.R.T. InfoLine: (617) 547-8300,
tickets also available online at www.AmericanRepertoryTheater.org