West Chester University: Department Of Theatre And Dance Presents CABARET À La CARTE With Stars From Broadway As Benefit

Press release from West Chester University:

April 12, 2021

Cabaret à la Carte Cabaret à la Carte

Directed by associate professor Liz Staruch, the Friday, April 16 performance, entitled
W-O-M-A-N, highlights the work of female composers and lyricists from favorite Broadway
shows, as well as female contemporary singer/songwriters. ROAM, running Friday April
30, is about finding a physical or mental escape that brings with it a change of scenery
or fresh perspective.

Special professional guest performers are WCU alumni Donald C. Shorter Jr. ’02, and
Michael Thatcher ‘09. Shorter’s Broadway national touring credits include Hairspray, La Cage Aux Folles, A Chorus Line, and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He is currently an assistant professor of dance at Sam Houston State University
in Texas.

After obtaining his MFA in Theatre from the University of Houston in 2014, special
guest Michael Thatcher made his Broadway debut in The Play That Goes Wrong before taking the show on the road in the first Broadway national tour of the production
in 2019.

Director Staruch says, “When the Department of Theatre and Dance were discussing what
to produce for our musical theatre students, we decided that the challenge of doing
a traditional musical online was too great. But that the year’s events provided a
great avenue to teach our students about the genre of cabaret, crafting a cabaret
package of story and song, and meeting the musical obstacles of online production
head on to the best of our ability.”

The 14 student performers all crafted their own funny, poignant and authentic stories
that Staruch says, “allow audiences to see the performer behind the song.” Staruch
also contacted the two alums who will participate in the show.

She says, “We're all trying to find ways of connecting through song, dance, and text
in this virtual world. Donald Shorter has done so well to represent WCU in the fields
of Theatre AND Dance. I thought he would be inspirational for our students and audiences
to hear and learn more about. Michael Thatcher was on tour in Wilmington, DE, when
the world shut down. When we reached each other by phone during quarantine and I mentioned
this project, he immediately agreed to join.”

The two beneficiaries are the West Chester Food Cupboard, which provides a variety of fresh and nonperishable healthy food to those in need, and the West Chester University Resource Pantry, which provides a host of goods and services
to help WCU students experiencing financial challenges.

This press release was produced by West Chester University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.