Classic Show Runs July 14-17
The Wilmington College-Community Summer Theatre’s July 14 through 17 production of the classic musical, Cabaret, brings together a unique directorial collaboration that bodes well for the future of this popular, Wilmington summer tradition.
(PICTURED) Steven Haines (right) has teamed with Cole Haugh as co-directors of College-Community Summer Theatre's production of Cabaret.
Steven Haines, one of summer theatre’s co-founders 44 years ago and director for 40 seasons, has returned to directing after spending the past three Julys enjoying the shows as part of the audience. This year, he is sharing directing responsibilities with Cole Haugh, an accomplished choreographer who has worked with summer theatre the past five seasons.
“I am so lucky to be surrounded by such an amazing team of collaborators,” Haugh said about Haines and the longtime production team of Wynn Alexander (set and costumes), Becky Haines (light and sound) and Matt Spradlin (music). He spoke of the great talent and appreciation for live theatre that exists in the community.
“I have never been a part of a community of artists who work as hard or have as much talent as the folks with summer theatre,” he added. “The amazing education I have gained these past five years is priceless.”
Haines praised the guest directors from the previous three summers — WC alumni Bill Kincaid, Cherie Cooper-Darragh and Dan Hunt — “that kept our tradition very much alive.” He spoke about the significant role summer theatre has had in his life, an influence that dates back to when he was seven years old.
“My first really memorable theatre experience was provided by a summer production here in 1958,” he said. “Little did I know that attending that show would trigger a lifetime love of the theatre.”
Haines describes this tradition of “exceptional” theatre productions as one of the community’s “treasures” that has provided hundreds of persons the opportunity to “create, learn and revel in the joy that is the creation of live theatre and it has given thousands of people memorable, moving and challenging experiences as theatre-goers.”
This year’s show, Cabaret, continues that tradition as the Kit Kat Klub, featured as the Nazis are rising to power in Germany in the late 1920s, is a metaphor for a turbulent changes taking place in German society.
Haugh describes Cabaret as a “timeless story” that tells tales of people young and old living in uncertain times with uncertain futures.
“We are now living in a world that is changing every single day in many ways: social change, political change and environmental change to name a few,” he said. “And we all know, with change comes fear of the unknown. Just like in the Kit Kat Klub, much of the art that is produced today comments on and mirrors what we do as a society.”
While Haugh hopes that audiences may learn something about themselves and the world around them from the show, he especially wants them to be entertained because, as the Kit Kat Klub’s emcee says, “In here, life is beautiful.”
Wilmington College/Community Summer Theatre’s production of Cabaret runs July 14, 15 and 16, at 7:30 p.m., and July 17, at 2:30 p.m., in Hugh G. Heiland Theatre. Tickets, reservations and show information are available by contacting the Theatre Box Office weekdays, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., at (937) 481-2267.
