A student carrying a cello entered the Katzen Art Center at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and walked into a group of men and women dressed in brightly colored evening attire singing in the rotunda area. As he danced through the crowd, the unfazed performers continued to smile and sing to the invisible dress rehearsal audience.
To close the semester, student-run theater troupe AU Players is producing its first musical showcase, "MT Unplugged: A Musical Cabaret." Sixteen performers, ranging from freshman to seniors, sang the lesser-known works of famous lyricists and composers including Stephen Sondheim, Jonathan Larson, Stephen Schwartz and Jason Robert Brown.
Directors Meredyth Pederson, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Vishal Vaidya, a senior in CAS and the School of International Service, developed the concept for the cabaret in the spring of 2008 with the hope of exposing students to musical works uncommon in college repertoires.
"Since the musical theater program is growing, this show is a good outlet for performers and I hope that this tradition continues," Vaidya said.
Pieces alternate between group numbers, duets and solos. Highlights include CAS freshman Sophie Schulman rebelling through her song "Blue Hair" and CAS junior Kyle Encinas' and CAS sophomore Dewey Musante's questioning each others' motives in "Impossible." The bright colors from the performer's costumes pop against the gray background of the rotunda's staircase. The cast's chemistry keeps the atmosphere natural and the transitions smooth.
"This show is definitely different from anything I have seen at AU since it uncovers some buried treasure of musical theater," said Amanda Scheirer, a senior in CAS and an "MT Unplugged" performer.
The AU Players produce an average of between eight and 10 shows a year, ranging from classic theater to contemporary plays and new works. In addition, the club provides a variety of workshops for the students at AU.
Performances are this Thursday and Friday at 9 p.m. in the Katzen Rotunda. A $3 donation is requested to support AU Player's future works.
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
