Theatre & Dance Department to Present ‘Black Cat Cabaret’ May 8-17

Students perform a new Theatre & Dance original work. | Photo: Ian Billings

Cal Poly’s Theatre & Dance Department will present an original work, “Black Cat Cabaret,” at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 8-10 and May 15-17 in the Spanos Theatre on campus. 

Harkening back to the days of early Parisian cabaret, “Black Cat Cabaret” is a showcase of theater, song, dance, poetry, art and spectacle. Audience members will witness a night within the cabaret that could have transpired last evening or 100 years ago. Patrons of the club attend to present and view art, to socialize, to be inspired and one, in particular, with hopes to find love.

Assistant Professor of dance Christy McNeil wrote, conceived, directed and choreographed the work to exhibit the talent of the entire department. Faculty and staff contributions include Thomas J. Bernard, costume design; Clint Bryson, technical direction; Tim Dugan, lighting and set design; and Kathy Dugan, costume shop supervision. 

Cast members include theatre majors and minors and dance minors. Student Ian Billings will assist with the lighting design, and other students will build the set and design the costumes. 

Tickets for “Black Cat Cabaret” are $20 for the public and $12 for students, seniors and children. This show is not recommended for children younger than 13. Tickets are sold at the Performing Arts Center Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To order by phone, call 805-SLO-4TIX (805-756-4849).

The performance is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Theatre & Dance Department, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Instructionally Related Activities program.