For all those who braved the freezing, snow-ridden trek down the hill to The Palace Theater on Friday, November 21 or Saturday, November 22, expectations for the Student Musical Theater Company’s (SMuTCo’s) Cabaret were set high.? On Broadway Cabaret, which featured musical performances ranging from classics shows like RENTand South Pacific to new hits like In the Heights, showcased the talents of more than thirty Colgate vocalists and musicians. Under the direction of SMuTCo Publicity Representative junior Laura McDonald and SMuTCo General Manager junior Lindsey Simpson, the cabaret proved to be both a musical union of favorites for Broadway fanatics and a fast-paced fun-loving introduction for the inexperienced theater-goers. ???????????

Though endeavoring to live up to Broadway standards can often be a setup for failure, the cast members of the Cabaret held their own against their city competition. Belting out hits like “The Wizard and I” from Wicked or flawlessly harmonizing to “The Bitch of Living” from Spring Awakening, the performers threw themselves into their songs and enjoyed their moments in the spotlight.? Although costuming and props were minimal, the voices of the cast provided plenty of entertainment value without the help of sequined outfits or papier-m??ché sets.? Despite often being a forgotten art, there was no shortage of support in the theater during the performance, as many members of the cast were honored with their own personal (however embarrassing and rowdy) cheering sections who screamed for their classmates and friends during the numbers. As an eye and ear-opening tribute to Broadway (especially for the few young viewers who in fact should have covered their ears during modern classics like “Totally F*****”)? the Cabaret drew in a diverse but fun-loving crowd excited to see this year’s cast bring Colgate class to the Palace stage.

While the performance itself only lasted an hour, the cast dedicated many long hours prior to the opening performance.? Although at first working individually for each number, performing sophomore Samuel Christie explained that everyone united and rehearsed together during the last week. Reflecting on the Cabaret itself, Christie described the entire process as “very laid back” and “very relaxed.”

“You only have one or two numbers, so you can devote a lot of time and energy to those two numbers alone,”?Christie said.

Sophomore performer Rebecca McArthur shared Christie’s sentiments when describing her own affinity for the show.

“My favorite part was show week [when] everyone comes together and you get to watch everyone else’s numbers,” McArthur said, explaining that her fellow cast members’ dedication was obvious when watching their performances on stage.

Despite the economic hardships that are currently leaving many Broadway plays with thinning audiences and forced retirement, the members of the On Broadway Cabaret drew a crowd which filled The Palace Theater to capacity, demonstrating that the winning combination of music, singing and free admission keep the Colgate community actively involved in the arts.