Back in the Black Box: STU Musical Theatre Students Reflect on Live Performance of Cabaret

STU Musical Theatre returned to the Black Box this term with their production of Cabaret—the program’s first live, in-person performance since before the pandemic. 

A Return to In-Person Theatre at STU 

Gregory Robinson, fourth-year English and Fine Arts student who played the character of Herr Schultz, said performing live theatre again “meant everything” to him. 

“It's been such a long time since theatre artists have been able to produce and perform a show with one another, and it was really special to be able to do it with this cast and crew,” he said. 

While rehearsals for the show this term were interrupted by changing COVID regulations and a month of online classes, Robinson said the cast coming together to overcome those challenges was unlike any other cast he’s been a part of before. 

Fourth-year Fine Arts and Native Studies student Julia Haldeman, who played Fraulein Schneider, agreed. 

“When we returned to in-person classes, we had only about three weeks to put the show on its feet. It was a very uncertain time for many of us, but with collective dedication and determination, we made it happen,” Haldeman said. 

For Ben Geurts, a second-year Fine Arts student, being a part of Cabaret was a long-awaited opportunity to step from behind the scenes. 

Geurts said he’s been involved in theatre before, but mostly with backstage work. Geurts played the role of Rudy, a sailor, and was also a member of the ensemble. 

“For a really, really long time I was too scared to actually audition for anything,” he said.  

“Right when I had figured out that I really enjoyed physically being present on stage, the pandemic hit. Performing live theatre again has, for me, meant finally being able to enjoy being in a show again with the added incentive of knowing why you’re there.” 

Intimate Audience Experience 

In past years, productions in the Black Box have been open to the public. With COVID-19 restrictions, STU Musical Theatre’s Cabaret was invite only, making for a small and intimate audience. 

Drew Hudson, a third-year English student who played one of the Kit Kat boys, said because of the nature of the show, a smaller audience felt more appropriate. 

“These weren't audience members, they were patrons sitting at cabaret tables, experiencing these moments in real-time,” he said. 

For Hudson, who had performed online last year in a student-directed show, just “being able to have a live audience really was a whole other realm of joy.”  
 

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To learn more about STU Musical Theatre and the Fine Arts program, go here.