Reviewer: Chloe Cerva
On September 8, the Saginaw Art Museum hosted a free evening of Cabaret in support of Pit and Balcony Theatre, following the devastating break-in and fire at the theater. What could have been simply a fundraiser became unforgettable evening of celebrating music and community.
The museum provided a gorgeous backdrop for the performances on a warm, late summer night. With many of the flowers in the garden still blooming, guests were able to enjoy the music surrounded by the colorful foliage. The turnout was awesome, a full house. The seats were so full I sat in some seating in the garden and it was honestly magical. Highly recommend a little garden moment. Loved seeing people walking along the paths together and taking it all in. There was a wonderful sense of community in seeing so many people come together to support local theater and I think everyone felt that warmly.
It was a free event for all, but felt grand, many people dressing up and looking their best. It was giving date night. Guests could purchase wine, soda, or LaCroix while enjoying a large selection of musical theater numbers. The museum was also open for people to view the exhibits at their own leisure, which makes these music nights really feel dynamic.
The performers were all incredibly talented, and the variety of the program kept the evening engaging from beginning to end. Amy Spadafore and Danessa Hellus did a fantastic and hilarious job as the hosts. They are sister-in-laws so they’d playfully joke around and their skits had everyone laughing out loud. There were plenty of lighter and more humorous moments, including “Agony” from Into the Woods and “Kindergarten Boyfriend” from Heathers, alongside more heartfelt performances such as “Mama Who Bore Me” from Spring Awakening and “I’ll Be Here” from The Wild Party. The evening also featured selections from Cinderella, Fun Home, Lucky Stiff, It Shoulda Been You, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, First Date, Clue: The Musical, Lizzie: The Musical, and Godspell, giving the audience a wonderful sampling of different styles and eras of musical theater.
The emotional high point was for sure the final number, “Seasons of Love” from Rent, performed by the entire cast of performers plus some in the audience. When the song’s famous high note was sang the atmosphere shifted. Looking around it was clear that many people were moved to tears, including me. It was a beautiful reminder of the emotional power of live theater.
The air that night felt very alive just from the enthusiasm of the performers themselves. Their passion for theater and pure happiness to be performing shined brightly throughout the performance. You can tell that together they have a lot of FUN! Supporting a fundraiser is one thing, being able to see artists who clearly love what they do come together to create something joyful for all to experience made it feel even more meaningful. Pit and Balcony rules.
The evening overall was a great example of the strength of the local arts community. This fundraiser was a powerful way to support and really celebrate the people and performances that make local theater worth protecting. It was a lovely, memorable night at the museum, and a reminder that when an arts community is faced with misfortune, it can respond by coming together and making something gorgeous and special.
Source: https://www.saginawartmuseum.org/review/a-night-of-cabaret-and-community-at-the-saginaw-art-museum/