Life in Germany before the Nazi era was a free-wheeling time for music and dance, and the Seattle Men’s Chorus production called “Life Is A Cabaret” highlights that time.
This diverse concert puts on stage the spirit of the pre-war Weimar period with music by Kurt Weill, Kander and Ebb — “Ca
baret” — and songs made popular by German icon Marlene Dietrich.
This act features tunes such as “Mack the Knife,” “Love for Sale” and “Falling in Love Again.”
The show was created and arranged by the Seattle Men’s Chorus assistant artistic director, Eric Lane Barnes.
The men’s chorus returns to the Edmonds Center for the Arts for a third season.
This production is scaled down in size from a full Seattle Men’s Chorus show, with about 200 men on stage as opposed to 400 at the bigger Seattle venues. And the show is a portion of what the chorus will perform during its April “Falling in Love Again” show at Seattle McCaw’s Hall.
Still, the audience won’t feel at all short-changed.
In fact, get ready for the whole package of entertainment: great vocals, dancing and performance art, said Beth Braun, marketing manager for the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
“The really cool thing about the program is I always think of it as multimedia,” Braun said.
“The first thing that comes to mind is the variety. They are not just choral and not just vocal. They do such a great interpretation with such a great delivery to the audience.
“It’s quality singing mixed with everything else.”
The men’s chorus will be joined by the Love Markets featuring Angie Louise and Nick Garrison.
Garrison will re-create his role as the master of ceremonies in the 5th Avenue Theatre’s performance of “Cabaret,” said Frank Stilwagner, the marketing director and a singer in the chorus.
“It’s a great evening of music cabaret style, with the chorus and with the Love Markets and dance,” Stilwagner said.
The Love Markets play songs of the old Weimar artists, “and new songs written in the Weimar spirit,” according to their website.
Also on the ticket is the contemporary jazz group Spectrum Dance Theater, under the direction of Donald Byrd. The dancers will be there to “interpret this riveting chapter of gay history through dance,” according to press material.
“Whenever I think of Spectrum I always think quality, though they may not be traditional,” Braun said.
Braun said she likes to book the Seattle Men’s Chorus because it gives the Edmonds Center for the Arts’ local audience an opportunity to see a quality performance without having to go to downtown Seattle.
“They are somewhat of a Seattle institution,” Braun said, “and there are people who won’t make the trip downtown so it’s a bonus for us and a great opportunity for our audience to see them here.”
“Life is a Cabaret” starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave N., Edmonds.
Tickets are $25 to $30 general and $15 for youth. Call 425-275-9595 or go to www.ec4arts.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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