Come out and play at the Black Cabaret

Photo: Contributed

“What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play.” 

Those iconic words from the musical Cabaret by Kander and Ebb remind me of the power of theatre. I think it is the perfect antidote to the cold, lonely month of February.

This weekend New Vintage Theatre artists and audiences will be going New York City chic by dressing up in top hats and “tails,” coming out to Black Box Theatre as we launch our season at our annual Black Cat Cabaret.  

The event is also a 10 Minute Play Festival which shines a spotlight on Okanagan playwrights. This year the finalists are Kirsten Zubak (Ritual Therapy), Christopher Lindsay (Vanna Helsing), Anita Macfarlane (Around Midnight) and Graham Daley & Blake Wilkins (Writer’s Block). All will be vying for a trophy and $300 cash prize, but the real honour is that the winner is chosen by the audience, who votes for their favourite at the end of each evening.  

Over 20 artists have been working with directors Kendra Hesketh, Josie Morrow, Graham Daley and Blake Wilkins, workshopping and staging the plays for the big night.

I originally conceived of the Black Cat as a fundraiser/season launch for our company that was fun and a way for our artists to show off their many talents. I had no idea that this fundraiser would be so popular and would have launched/developed so many careers of emerging playwrights, directors and actors. What was once a really dreary month is now one of the hottest we have all season long. 

Life is a cabaret, old chum, so don’t miss your chance to come to the Black Cat Cabaret. A few tickets remain for the public performances tonight (Feb.21) and 22 at 7 p.m. at the Black Box Theatre. 

Advance Tickets are $25 from Select Your Tickets or at the door for $35. 

New Vintage Theatre is a professional, not for profit charitable theatre company based in Kelowna. Check out newvintage.ca for more information. 

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.