What is Cabaret?
Chalice Cabaret is an extravaganza of song and dance. The music is centered around a theme, with songs pulled largely from the Broadway catalog. There is singing, dancing, a live band, and professional sound and lighting. The chapel is turned into a theatre, complete with bistro-style seating and a stage! Chalice Cabaret is a very special event that brings members and friends into close community as we celebrate the Arts and our UU values.
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How did Chalice Cabaret come about?
In 2005, Tim McKnight was brainstorming with two theater- oriented Chalice youth, Lauren Schulz and Tina Leef, about their mutual love of musical theater. What if, they wondered, they rallied some of the singers at Chalice to put on a little fundraiser? And Chalice Cabaret was born.
Cabaret was performed every year through 2010, and each year a little more was added to the experience: sets became part of the production; a stage was built; the production became more organized to involve more of the congregation; more performance dates were added; children became a more prominent part of the production. But, wow, did this endeavor take a lot of time and energy to put together each year! So Chalice decided to relax and do a Cabaret every few years. This year’s Cabaret is the first since 2013, and all in the cast and crew are excited to be preparing for a show again!
Revolution!
From 2005-2012, each Cabaret performance featured sets of songs from only 6 or 7 different musicals. Starting in 2013, the Cabaret Production Team decided to select one overarching theme for the entire show. The songs are chosen from a much wider variety of musicals (as well as other sources) but they all weave into that overarching theme. This allows the production to take on more meaning above and beyond any individual musical’s plot, and allows for a more powerful audience experience.
In 2013, the Cabaret theme was “Journeys of the Spirit,” where we explored life’s many journeys, from the amazing journey of birth…. through childhood… and adolescence… into adulthood… continuing through old age… and even the journey to death and beyond… The theme for Cabaret 2016 is “Revolution!” where we will explore many types of revolutions and revolutionary ideas, including industrial, political, personal, religious, and social revolution. We will honor many of the great human struggles throughout the ages, such as the famous American and French Revolutions, but also cultural revolutions like the American Civil Rights Movement, the sexual revolution of the 1960’s, and many more.
Supporting the Community
Cabaret started out as a small fundraiser for Chalice, but over the years it has grown into an event which not only supports the Chalice community, but also many of Chalice’s important community partners. Funds raised through Cabaret ticket sales have been donated to Interfaith Community Services (ICS) and North County mental health programs for Youth at Risk. A sizable portion of the Cabaret proceeds always goes toward the Chalice operating budget. So in addition to great entertainment, which is easily worth the price of admission, you know that your dollars are going to support Chalice and people in need in our community.
This Year’s Charity
The North County LGBTQ Resource Center is a 501(c)3 organization that serves the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and questioning (LGBTQ) community of North County San Diego. Their service area includes the communities of Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Fallbrook, Camp Pendleton, and other outlying areas.
Through the vision, dedication, and hard work of their supporters, the North County LGBTQ Resource Center became a reality in November 2011. They come together to share ideas, resources, and expand their presence in the local community. They envision the Resource Center as a visible symbol of the LGBTQ community in North County San Diego. The Resource Center will support, build, educate, and improve the relationships of the LGBTQ community and their friends and allies. Services include support groups for youth, seniors, military service members, HIV/AIDS testing and prevention, counseling, civil rights advocacy, classes, and workgroups.