OCC Theatre Set to Perform Cabaret Musical

Orange Coast College’s theatre department will stage a production of “Cabaret,” a musical by Joe Masterhoff, from May 4 until May 13 in the school’s Drama Lab Theatre. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on May 4–6, and May 11 and 12. There will be a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 13.

Cabaret takes place as the 1920s draw to a close, with a garish Master of Ceremonies welcoming the audience and assuring them that they will forget all of their troubles in the cabaret. Director and OCC Theatre instructor, Tom Bruno, chose the musical with current events in mind.

“The musical takes place during the rise of the Nazi party in Berlin, and people are just interested in having a good time, not paying attention to the political landscape,” says Bruno. “We’ve recently seen a resurgence of unkind and downright hateful rhetoric within our political system, and it seemed to me that Cabaret would be a very timely production to remind audiences that, as Edmund Burke said: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’”

Students actors will perform in the production, which has been in the works for months. “The students involved are some of the most dedicated, committed and talented performers I have ever had the pleasure to work with,” says Bruno. “They show up to rehearsals hours beforehand to work on their own, I really cannot speak more highly of them. I am truly blown away by the extraordinary talent we have assembled here at OCC.”

Tickets run $12 in advance at www.occtickets.com or $15 at the door ($8/$10 for students and seniors).