Aurora Arts Theatre’s 2023 'Cabaret' Playbill

5635 EVERHART RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

Ed Chapa was a fiercely passionate man with big aspirations and a love for the arts. What started as a simple thought shared with his wife, Mary, grew into a vision that was realized with the inception of the Aurora. The dream to open a quaint community theater on the Southside of Corpus Christi became a driving force in Ed’s life, and his dedication to the cause served as an inspiration to all he met.

The success of the Aurora lives on as a testament to the strength of his vision and of his faith in the many volunteers and community supporters who gave of their time and hearts as much as he gave of his.

A Note From the Executive Director

Welcome- such a remarkable word- one that summons feelings of appreciation, acceptance, and esteem. While our production of Cabaret this evening opens with the song Willkommen, it most certainly was not the sentiment of 1930s Germany. This terrible time in history when the political climate and ideologies clashed with the very right to exist, reminds us of the darkness that can consume us if we allow it. When plays such as Cabaret are performed, we are for a moment immersed with what was, what could be,

and what must never occur again. It not only depicts a devastatingly terrible time in the history of mankind, but it also stands as our commitment to fight against such injustice and persecution.

I welcome you to the Aurora Arts Theatre, and I hope that you are always welcome at every stop on your life’s journey.

Mary Chapa

Owner & Executive Director

Office Staff

Mary Chapa, Owner & Executive Director

Dylan C. Rios, Marketing Director

Charlie Chapa, Theatre Manager

Christin Espinoza, Box Office Manager

Bryan Meza, Camp Director/Box Office

Jacqueline N. Perez, Box Office

Vanessa Moreno, Staff

Aurora Arts Theatre

5635 Everhart Road

Corpus Christi, TX 361-851-9700

info@auroraartstheatre.com

Box Office Hours

Wednesday-Saturday: 11am-3pm

Show Days: Fri & Sat: 5pm-9pm

New Neighbors League Corpus Christi

Playbill Advertising

361-851-9700

drios@auroraartstheatre.com

Community Projects

Couples Dinners

Book Clubs

Programs

Games

Luncheons/Coffees

Ladies Night Out

Social Events

Wine Clubs Movies

Presents

Cabaret

Book by Joe Masteroff

Based on the play by John Van Druten

and Stories by Christopher Isher wood

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Director

Peter M. Lopez

Assistant Director

Alex Chapa

Assistant Vocal Director

Holly Braly

Scenic Artist

Bryan Meza

Prop Master

Ernie Pruneda

Lighting Op

Hollina Carlier

Jacob Zamarron

Stage Manager Vocal Director Peter M. Lopez

Choreographer

Brandon J. Besse

Sound Design

Amber Basaldu

Musical Director

Tanya Stegall

Technical Director, Scenic & Lighting Design Corey Ranson

Sound Op Amber Basaldu Photography Alex Chapa

Costumers

Lauren Cantatore-Causey, Christy Stockman, Mary Chapa, Cast

Tech Crew

Jacob Zamarron, Sarah Beth Rodriguez

Piano Woodwinds

Tanya Stegall Bass Derek Galvan

Debra Aguilar Guitar Luke Alvarado

Percussion

Justin Herrera

Trumpet

Joe V. Holland

Special Thanks

St. Paul United Church of Christ, Shara Haghjoo, Del Mar College Theatre Department

The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distribution recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under United States Copyright Law. For more information, visit: www.concordtheatricals.com/resourses/protecting-artists.

Cabaret is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on Behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.

A Note From the Director

It happened once……. Let us pray it does not happen again…..

Cabaret is foremost an adaptation by librettist Joe Masteroff of John Van Druten’s play “I Am A Camera,” itself a dramatization of Christopher Isherwood’s Berlin Stories (The Last of Mr. Norris and Goodbye to Berlin)…. this musical features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Though the setting and music of this musical may be fun and satirical, the underlying story

goes beyond the relationship of a young English girl and an American novelist. The political feelings of the time could not be ignored. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg. The Third Reich came into power and changed the world forever. The focus of the production was clearly centered around both couples and the world that surrounded them. Our personal lives are influenced greatly by those around us, and those influences often lead us to places we may not have imagined. These influences reveal to us that life is not always fun and that the twists and turns we encounter along the way may manifest themselves in ways that are neither expected nor desired.

I wish to thank the many who have helped make this production possible. Thank you, Mary Chapa, for allowing me to direct this show; It’s been an eye-opening experience. Thank you, Michael Mora, for getting my adrenaline going for this show back in 2020 when we were going to revive it before Covid shut everything down. Thank you to Alex Chapa, Brandon Besse, Holly Braly, and Jacob Zamarrón my Assistant Director, Choreographer, Vocal Assistant, and Stage Manager respectively. Your hard work helped bring this production to life. In addition, I’d like to thank our musicians under the direction of Tanya Stegall our Music Director, our Technical Director Corey Ranson for the amazing set and bringing our vision to life, and Dylan Rios our Marketing Director for keeping the Aurora name out there. Lastly, I need to thank the entire cast & crew of Cabaret.

You’ve had many physical and emotional challenges along the way, and as I have told many of you, we have the right cast and right crew for the right show at the right time. To everyone listed above…. I will forever be in your debt.

Lastly…. I would like for each of you to look around the theatre this evening. If history were to repeat itself, each of us would have to deal with the negative forces and events in one way or another. Friend…. Foe.... Ally…. Enemy…. Fake…. True. Who are we to decide what someone else is? Let us go forth without judgment and persecution. Thank you all for your continued patronage of this and everything theatre in the South Texas area. We would not be here without your support.

“I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking. Recording the man shaving at the window opposite and the woman in the kimono washing her hair. Someday, all this will have to be developed, carefully printed, fixed.”

-Christopher Isherwood, 1939

PETER M. LOPEZ Director

A Note From the Assistant Director

A success in every decade, Cabaret continues to evolve in its form, but its message remains the same, and is sadly still very relevant in today’s world. This show is about fight, failure, joy and sorrow, running and staying, love and loss; all to which we have endured, but also have learned from. But amazingly, this production still manages to captivate audiences across the world with it’s enduring scores and its shrewd script. I was fortunate enough to play a Kit Kat Girl back when AAT first did their production of Cabaret in 2011. Never did I think I would be on the other side of the stage 12 years later. Thank you so much to everyone who has made this production possible. Peter Lopez, thank you so much for trusting me with being your “right hand woman” and giving me the opportunity to learn from someone who has been apart of our local theatre community for 20 years. Thank you to my Aunt Mary Chapa for always being one of my biggest supporters and of course allowing me to AD such an iconic show. To our production team: Holly, Brandon, Jacob, Corey and Bryan – your artistic ideas, knowledge and creativity have made such a huge impact on our show and I cannot wait to share it with our community. And lastly, our Cabaret cast, you were ALL made to be performers and share your talents with the world. The way you all have embraced your characters and the hardships that come with acting, there is no doubt in my mind that this is one show that will leave a mark on anyone who gets to experience it. I will be forever grateful and motivated by you ALL.

Now, right this way, your table’s waiting...sit back, relax and enjoy AAT’s production of CABARET.

ALEX CHAPA Assistant Director

“Leave your troubles outside. In here, life is beautiful...”

Adam Eliff

Christopher Salinas

Kayla Alvarado

Miranda Dean

Sabrina Delgado

Avery White

Bowie Boland

Brandon Besse

Desiree Phoenix Elizabeth Gonzales Joseph Guzmaz

Kyler Brooklyn Merideth Owens

Michael Jay Salinas

Monica Flores

Nic Sears

Peter M. Howard

Adam Eliff (Cliff Brashaw) is delighted to return to the stage after an 11-year hiatus, where he was last seen playing Seymour in Aurora’s 2012 production of Little Shop of Horror. He is honored by the opportunity to participate in one of his favorite shows – the message of which seems hauntingly pertinent in a modern world that is continuously plagued by hatred and threatened under fascism. Adam would like to thank his family and friends for their support and his incredibly talented castmates who have deeply moved and inspired him with their performances.

Avery White (Fritzie) is so excited to be back at Aurora! She thanks her family for their endless support and is excited to do what she loves.

Bowie Boland (Emcee/Dance Captain) is a recent graduate of NYCDA in NYC. Some notable past roles include Mark in A Chorus Line, Ms. Fleming in Heathers, and Mitch Mahoney in Putnam. They are very excited to be playing their first ever lead. This is a dream role come true. They dedicate this show to their friends and family for all the love and support they have given them. (They/Them)

Brandon Besse (Hans/Choreographer) is excited to be back at Aurora as the choreographer for Cabaret and onstage as Hans! He wants to thank AAT for allowing him to choreograph his very first musical and for welcoming him so warmly to the theatre community. “Enjoy the show!”

Christopher Salinas (Bobby) was last seen on Aurora’s stage in A Christmas Story. He would like to thank his family, friends and cast members, past and present, for sharing these wonderful memories.

Desiree Phoenix (Texas) is happy to be back at Aurora! Desiree was last seen as Linda in The Wedding Singer and as Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show. She would like to thank her family, friends, and her dog for their love and support.

Elizabeth Gonzales (Lulu) is excited to be back on the Aurora stage after four years! She has recently been in In the Heights, A Christmas Carol, and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. She would love to thank her friends and family for all the support!

Joseph Guzman (Ernst Ludwig) grew up in the Coastal Bend. This is Joseph’s second performance at Aurora; his first being in Rocky Horror as a Phantom. He briefly studied at TAMUCC and is honored to be a part of this amazing cast! Joseph would like to thank his husband and family for supporting him and always believing in his dreams.

Kayla Alvarado (Helga) is thrilled to be back on stage at the Aurora Arts Theatre. She was most recently seen as Kristine in AAT’s production of A Chorus Line and Heather McNamara in Harbor Playhouse’s production of Heathers. She would like to thank her family, friends, cast and production team for their constant support.

Kyler Brooklyn (Frenchie) is ecstatic to perform in her first production here at Aurora! She is pursuing a BA in acting/ directing at TAMUCC. Recent roles include: Holly in Wedding Singer and Heather Chandler in Heathers. She wants to thank her family, friends, boyfriend, and dogs for all their constant support!

Who’s Who

Merideth Owens (Sally Bowles) hails from Seattle, WA, where she received her BA in Musical Theater in 2019. Her most recent roles were Heather Duke in Heathers at Harbor Playhouse and Ms. Shields in A Christmas Story at AAT. She is honored and thrilled to be crossing this incredible role off her dream role bucket list, and is so grateful to be given this opportunity. “Willkommen!”

Michael Jay Salinas (Herman) is excited to be part of this amazing production. “This was my first musical ever! To be doing it again 12 years later at the same theater is just so special. I would like to thank the production team, my friends, and my family for all their support!”

Miranda Dean (Fräulein Schneider) recently graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with her BA in Acting & Directing. While at TAMUCC, she was a part of numerous main stage productions including The Convent, Hamlet and Mamma Mia. In the community, Miranda recently played Ursula in Port Aransas Community Theatre’s production of The Little Mermaid. She is thrilled to make her debut at AAT!

Monica Flores (Fräulein Kost) is IMMEASURABLY grateful/terrified/ thrilled to be back on stage after a brief five year “extended intermission!” Prior to her hiatus, Monica acquired over forty stage credits and was last seen as Daniela in In the Heights (2017). Beyond grateful for divine timing, unwavering friendship, and a beautiful community for never ever letting me forget “what I did for love.” (This one’s for you, Joel.) (she/her)

Nic Sears (Victor) is beyond excited to be in his first show at Aurora! He would like to thank his family and most importantly, his friends for their constant validation and support! “This is for y’all!”

Peter M. Howard (Herr Shultz), a veteran of theater over 30 years, is honored to be a part of this spectacular production of Cabaret! He would like to thank Aurora for giving him the opportunity to perform and the production team for pushing everyone to be their best. Most of all, he would like to thank his beautiful fiancé Andrea and his (future) stepdaughter Lila for putting up with him while he traversed the challenging process of putting the show together.

Sabrina Delgado (Rosie) is so happy to be back on the Aurora stage. You’ve recently seen her as Diana Morales in A Chorus Line and as Flick’s mom in A Christmas Story. She would like to thank the production team for giving her this amazing opportunity.

FIFTEEN-MINUTE

AURORA ARTS THEATRE’S

YOUNG ACTORS SUMMER CAMP