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Photo Flash: Opening Night Of CABARET at Drury Lane Oakbrook

The international smash hit musical CABARET, directed and choreographed by Jeff Award winner Jim Corti, who also understudied Joel Grey on the National Tour of the Broadway revival, previews August 13, opens August 19 and runs through October 11 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Jim Corti directed last season's smash hit productions of SWEET CHARITY (Jeff Award winner for Outstanding Direction) as well as MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (Jeff Award nomination for Outstanding Direction). Set in Berlin on New Years Eve, 1930, CABARET is a provocative tale of love placed against the ominous threat of the Nazi rise to power.

The decadent world of the 1930s Berlin comes to life in this Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece. Based on Christopher Isherwood's novel "The Berlin Stories" and John Van Druten's play I Am a Camera, CABARET follows an English nightclub singer, an American writer, a German landlady and a Jewish shopkeeper who find their destinies linked and their futures uncertain on the eve of the Third Reich. By turns defiant and melancholy, brazen and gleeful, CABARET sizzles with show-stopping songs, including "Willkommen," "Don't Tell Mama" and the explosive title tune.

Considered one of the defining musicals of the postwar era, CABARET broke the mold of musicals by presenting the audience with a highly "conceptualized" production. CABARET won eight 1967 Tony Awards (including Best Musical and Best Score) and ran for 1,165 performances. It launched Kander and Ebb's success (Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman) and place in musical theater history. In 1972, the musical was adapted for the screen in one of the greatest movie musical hits of all time, winning eight Oscars, including Best Actress for Liza Minnelli.

Drury Lane Oakbrook's production of CABARET features an all-star cast including Jim Weitzer as Clifford Bradshaw, Zarah Mahler as Sally Bowles, Patrick Andrews as the Emcee, Rebecca Finnegan as Fraulein Schneider, David Lively as Herr Schultz, Christine Sherrill as Fraulein Kost, Brandon Dahlquist as Ernst Ludwig, as well as ensemble members Gary Carlson, Molly Curry, Jarret Ditch, Stephane Duret, Michael Glazer, Kent Haina, Jennifer Knox, Rob Lindley, Amber Mak, Nicole Pellegrino, Buddy Reeder, Summer Rich, Holly Stauder, Joey Stone, Richard Strimer, Amanda Tanguay, Erin Thompson and Melissa Zaremba.

Joining director and choreographer Jim Corti, the artistic team for CABARET includes Musical Director Doug Peck, Scenic Designer Brian Bembridge, Lighting Designer Jesse Klug, Costume Designer Tatjana Radisic, Sound Designer Cecil Averett and Props Designer Greg Isaac.

The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. ($29), Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. ($29) and 8 p.m. ($33), Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ($38), Saturdays at 5 p.m. ($38) and 8:30 p.m. ($38) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($38) and 6 p.m. ($36). Lunch and dinner theater packages range from $43.75 to $61 depending on the day of the week. For reservations, phone (630) 530-0111 or call TicketMaster at 312.559.1212. CABARET is for mature audiences. You may also visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.