PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE CABARET BOOK You may download a complete copy at www.floridastudiotheatre.org
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What is Cabaret? It began in Paris on November 18, 1881, the year in which the first and most famous cabaret of all, the Chat Noir (Black Cat), was established. Paris, during what the French like to call the Belle Epoque, was the cultural capital of Europe, the mecca of the arts to which admirers and young hopefuls flocked from one end of Europe to the other, and indeed from still farther away. If something caught on in Paris, the immense reputation of the city as the source of fashion and innovation ensured its rapid diffusion across the continent and beyond. Besides giving rise to many cabarets in Paris itself, in its own time and after it became history, the Chat Noir also inspired the introduction of cabaret in major cities throughout Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In the beginning, cabaret arose as an informal grouping of artists painters, poets, musicians, and theatre people who felt the need to come together. It was intended as something essentially private. From 1881 to 1917, audiences were made up predominantly of artists, their friends, and a variety of cultural fellow-travelers. In post-world War I Europe, the cabaret ceased to be a novelty and by and large fulfilled its function as a locus of an emerging avant-garde. Cabarets became places of entertainment; their facilities were expanded and enhanced, their doors thrown open to the public. When developing FST s Cabaret, we took the diverse and rich history of the form to create the atmosphere you see today. Set in a turn-of-the-century Parisian cafe, and offering fresh baked food, the Cabaret is an intimate space for an intimate form of theatre. Artwork by Théophile Steinlen Turn-Of-The-Century Cabaret by Harold B. Segel
Welcome to the Renaissance The Renaissance, or rebirth, of art and literature spread across Europe at a snail s pace, starting in Italy around the late 14th century and ending in England early in the 17th century. While Leonardo da Vinci and William Shakespeare are both known as legends of the Renaissance, neither the great artist nor bard met, or were even in the same country at the same time. In fact, Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519 one year before the English Renaissance began. The English Renaissance began at the end of the War of the Roses, with the Tudor Dynasty taking the throne and crowning Henry VII King of England. Although this is lauded as the beginning of the English Renaissance, the peak of the cultural movement was under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the late 16th century. It was in this time period that Shakespeare took up the quill to write the works we know and love today. The Italian Renaissance focused on the visual arts and surrounded
itself with painters, sculptures, and architects. The English counterpart celebrated literature and theatre, giving birth to famous writers like Francis Bacon, Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe, and of course, William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was writing for the theatre during the reigns of two monarchs, Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. The plays he wrote during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, such as A Midsummer Night s Dream, are often seen to embody the generally happy, confident, and optimistic mood of the Elizabethans. Under the Elizabethan crown, his acting troupe was named The Lord Chamberlain s Men, after the queen s lord in charge of entertainment. When James I took the crown in 1603, the king himself changed the name to The Kings Men and gave the troupe exclusive rights to perform Shakespeare s plays. During his reign, plays,such as Macbeth and Hamlet, are darker and more cynical, reflecting the insecurities of the Jacobean period. The death of this time period can be attributed to war, religion, and exploration. Towards the end of the rebirth, King Charles I ruled England and was quick to start wars with his neighbors. At the end of the English Renaissance, the king had gone to war with Spain and eventually caused a civil war in England in 1642. It was at this time that the Puritan government banned theatre as a form of art and closed all playhouses. With nowhere else to turn, the remaining artists of the Renaissance fled to the new world of America to pursue their craft without government control. Queen Elizabeth I King James I
The Life and Times of the Immortal Bard Apr 23, 1564 The Bard Is Born William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-upon-Avon to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare as the fourth of eight children. 1590 Shakespeare Writes His First Play Around this time, Shakespeare writes Henry VI, Part One his very first play. Also around the same time, Shakespeare leaves Stratford to begin work as a playwright and actor in London. Nov 28, 1582 Shakespeare Marries The Bishop of Worcester issues a marriage license formalizing the marriage of 18-year-old William Shakespeare and 26-year-old Anne Hathaway. 1599 Globe Theatre Built The Chamberlain s Men build the Globe, a wooden theatre in London. Many of Shakespeare s most famous plays are performed for the first time here.
Mar 24, 1603 Elizabeth Dies, Jacobean Age Begins Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I, King James ascends the throne. The Chamberlain s Men change their name to The King s Men, and perform before King James eleven times between 1 November, 1604 and 31 October, 1605. 1613 Final Plays Shakespeare composes his final plays Henry VIII and Two Noble Kinsmen. The Globe catches fire during a performance of Henry VIII and burns to the ground. 1609 Sonnets Published Publisher Thomas Thorpe prints a collection of 154 of Shakespeare s sonnets. Apr 23, 1616 Shakespeare Dies After suffering from an unknown illness, William Shakespeare dies on his 52nd birthday. Shakespeare is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, the same church where he was baptized. His marker orders a curse on anyone who disturbs his grave.
Great Danes To say Shakespeare s Hamlet is a classic is a bit of an understatement. It has been estimated that Shakespeare s revenge tragedy set in Denmark is being performed somewhere in the world every minute of the day. Not to mention, there have been some notable actors and celebrities that have graced film and stage with their interpretation of Hamlet. Here are a few: Laurence Olivier Perhaps the greatest Shakespearean actor of our time, Olivier directed and starred in the 1948 film version of Hamlet. This film won the Academy award for Best Film and Best Actor in a Leading Role. Sarah Bernhardt While we don t know what actress first portrayed Hamlet onstage, it is certain that Bernhardt was the first female Hamlet on film in 1900. Christopher Plummer In his early days as an actor, Christopher Plummer starred in Hamlet for the first TV adaptation of the play in 1964.
John Neville This famed UK stage and film actor first played the part of Hamlet in 1957, starring opposite of Dame Judi Dench as Ophelia in her first ever stage role at the Old Vic in London. Kenneth Branagh The UK film adaption of Hamlet in 1996 was not the only Shakespeare movie Branagh has starred in. Outside of Hamlet, Branagh starred in movie adaptations of Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, and Love s Labour s Lost. Benedict Cumberbatch Known for his role as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock, and as Doctor Strange in Marvel s Doctor Strange movie, this classically trained actor starred in Hamlet in the West End in 2015. Paapa Essiedu In March of 2016, more than 50 years since the Royal Shakespeare Company was founded, the RSC cast Paapa Essiedu as the first person of color to play Hamlet on its stage.
Will The Real Shakespeare Please Stand Up? How would you like it if two hundred years after you died a bunch of scholars from around the world got together and told the world you didn t exist? Well, it happened to Shakespeare in the middle of the 19th century, and the debate continues today. Supporters who believe Shakespeare was just a pseudonym argue that the writer from humble beginnings lacked the familiarity with royalty, and could never have written such lofty poetic words without a university education. Here are some historical figures people believe to be the real William Shakespeare: Sir Francis Bacon The leading candidate as the true Shakespeare, Bacon was one of the great intellectual figures of Jacobean England. He was a lawyer, philosopher, essayist, scientist, and lover of cyphers. A scholar argued that the Latin word honorificabilitudinitatibus, found in Love s Labour s Lost, can be read as an anagram, yielding Hi ludi F. Baconis nati tuiti orbi, which translates to, These plays, the offspring of F. Bacon, are preserved for the world.
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford A court poet and close family friend to the royal family, Edward was also a prime suspect to be the true Shakespeare. A motivation could be that de Vere was Queen Elizabeth s lover. According to this theory, the Earl dedicated Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece, and the Sonnets to their illegitimate son, England s rightful Tudor Prince, Henry Wriothesley. Christopher Marlowe The poet and playwright was born into the same social class as Shakespeare, so it makes sense he could have been the bard as well. Marlowe fans believe he faked his death in 1593 to escape trial and certain death via beheading for his atheistic beliefs. Some believe after his death, he took up the quill as William Shakespeare, and none were the wiser. Group Theory When in doubt, why not think everyone wrote Shakespeare? This theory states that seven playwrights (including Christopher Marlowe, Edward de Vere, and Francis Bacon) all met up at the local pub and created the think tank that was William Shakespeare.
Songs of Shakespeare Shakespeare was a man of many talents. Within his plays and sonnets, Shakespeare liked to pen lyrics to many songs, short and long. We don t know what these songs would sound like, but neither did Shakespeare when he wrote them down. Here are a few examples of his lyrical prowess. Othello Act IV, S. III The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree, Sing all a green willow. Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee, Sing willow, willow, willow. The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur d her moans. Sing willow, willow, willow. Her salt tears fell from her, and soften d the stones. Sing willow, willow, willow. Lay by these. Sing willow, willow, willow... Sing all a green willow must be my garland. Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve, Hamlet Act IV, S. V To-morrow is Saint Valentine s day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose, and donn d his clothes, And dupp d the chamber-door; Let in the maid, that out a maid Never departed more. The Tempest Act I, S. II Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange. Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell Burthen Ding-dong Hark! now I hear them, Ding-dong, bell. As You Like It Act II, S. VII Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, Thou dost not bite so nigh As benefits forgot: Though thou the waters warp, Thy sting is not so sharp As friend remember d not. Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly: Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly: Then, heigh-ho! the holly! This life is most jolly.
14 RICHARD HOPKINS is the Producing Artistic Director of Florida Studio Theatre. Mr. Hopkins has fostered the development of FST s Mainstage and Cabaret productions. His many directing Mainstage credits include: Inspired Lunacy, The Best of Enemies, Next to Normal, Race, Ruined, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Boleros for the Disenchanted, Permanent Collection, and Metamorphoses, among numerous other plays. Mr. Hopkins led the development of FST s Cabaret productions of Blue Suede Shoes, Mack the Knife, Older than Dirt, Piano Men, and The Prima Donnettes. Mr. Hopkins also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Florida Studio Theatre. This includes overseeing the creation and implementation of all FST programming, including Mainstage, Cabaret, Stage III, New Play Development, Education, and Touring. Since his arrival at FST in 1980, Mr. Hopkins has guided the theatre from a small touring company to a nationally-recognized regional theatre which impacts over 200,000 adults and children annually. He created the New Play Development Program, the Cabaret Series, FST s award-winning WRITE A PLAY Program, and he has directed the design and renovation of all FST s theatres. Mr. Hopkins is the recipient of numerous awards including the Arts Leadership Award from the Sarasota Arts Council, the Richard G. Fallon Award for Artistic Excellence from the Florida Professional Theatres Association, and the 2012 Cultural Champion Award from the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. In 2016, Mr. Hopkins was awarded the Luminaire Award, honoring excellence in creativity, philanthropy, advocacy, and all elements that are keys to future growth of the arts in Sarasota. In 2017, Mr. Hopkins was awarded the Florida Theatre Conference Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing to the rich cultural fabric of the Sarasota community and the state of Florida, and his dedication to developing future artists, educators, and advocates.
FST Cabaret: A History 1995 1996 Season Hot N Cole My Castle s Rockin by Larry Parr Back to the 40 s with the Boiler Sisters Forever Ivory Rowe by Mark Hunter and Barbara Bates Smith An Evening Wasted Song and Dance by Andrew Lloyd Webber The Jazz Club 1996 1997 Season By Gershwin I am an American by Kurt Weill Motown Cabaret Always...Patsy Cline by Ted Swindley 1997 1998 Season Honky -Tonk Highway by Richard Berg and Robert Lindsey-Nassif O Carolan s Farewell to Music by Patrick Ball and Peter Glazer License to Bash Over the Rainbow Gunmetal Blues Inspired Lunacy (revised) Rendezvous with Marlene Carreno Clearly Invisible by Carl Seiger Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross Liz Power in Dancing In the Street. Photo by Maria Lyle. 1998 1999 Season Harry Who? A Brief History of White Music conceived by Dee Dee Thomas and David Tweedy Shakespeare s Greatest Hits 1999 2000 Season Three Girls Berlin! Sophie Tucker: American Legend by Jack Fournier & Kathy Halenda The All Night Strut 2000 2001 Season By Mercer Harry Chapin and Friends Brassy Broads 2001 2002 Season The Rhythm of Life: The Songs of Dorothy Fields The Songs of Jaques Brel Laughing Matters Sophie Tucker Last of the Red Hot Mamas 2002 2003 Season My One and Only Gershwin Guitar Girls A Vaudeville Cabaret 2003 2004 Season Too Darn Hot: A Tribute to Cole Porter On the Road One-Hit Wonders
FST Cabaret: A History 2004 2005 Season G.I. Jive The Rise and Fall of Western Civilization According to Tom Lehrer Three Friends, Two Guitars (and a broken tambourine) 2005 2006 Season My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra by David Grapes and Todd Olson Piano Men Flip Side 2006 2007 Season Over The Rainbow, A Tribute to Harold Arlen The British Invasion Laughing Matters Too 2007 2008 Season Harry Who? The Lullabye of Broadway European Cabaret Outlaws and Angels 2008 2009 Season Steppin Out Hula Hoop Sha-Boop Laughing Matters 09 2009 2010 Season That s Life Reflections Night Train to Memphis 2010 2011 Season The Wanderers Brassy Broads: The Next Generation Laughing Matters 2011-2012 Season That s Life, Again! Shake, Rattle, & Roll Reel Music 2012-2013 Season Let s Twist Again: With the Wanderers Urban Cowboys By Gershwin: A Tribute to George and Ira 2013-2014 Season The Prima Donnettes Poems, Prayers and Promises Too Darn Hot 2014-2015 Season Dancing in the Street American Pie Never Marry A Girl With Cold Feet: and other life lessons from Vaudeville 2015-2016 Season Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville Yesterday Laughing Matters (vol. 5) Lock the Gates! 2016-2017 Season Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves Piano Men Older Than Dirt Arthur Marks in That s Life, Again. Photo by Maria Lyle.
Music Director Darren Server Choreographer Dewayne Barrett Costume Designer Susan Angermann Lighting Designer Thom Beaulieu Sound Designer Thom Korp Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director Directed by Richard Hopkins