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Health & Fitness

New Partnership Brings More Stage Productions to Area

In the 1970's, I attended several outstanding sold-out performances of The Decades musical revues at Bridgeport's Downtown Cabaret Theatre. Director Claude McNeal relocated stellar performers from Sacred Heart University and transformed the Bridgeport theater on Golden Hill Road into a weekend hot spot for theater lovers in Connecticut and New York. With its “Bring Your Own Bottle and Snacks,” the Downtown Cabaret became known for its upbeat shows featuring popular music from the 1940's, '50's and '60's, retro costumes and talented casts that included Black Rock's own Maureen Hamill.

Eventually, the Downtown Cabaret also brought Equity productions of popular musical theater book shows, such as Blood Brothers the historic venue.

Unfortunately, the economy, along with decreased financial support for the arts at state and federal levels, prohibited producer Hugh Hallinan from continuing to bring fully-staged shows to the theater. More recently, one-person acts (such as a celebrity impersonators) and tribute bands have been brought in to entertain local audiences. They've played to packed houses but the Downtown Cabaret longed to return to its original roots in musical theater.

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Hallinan was pleased to recently announce a new partnership with the Bridgeport Theatre Company, a non-profit organization, led by artistic director Eli Newsom.

“I have been exploring economical ways to bring back traditional musical theatre,” said Hallinan. “The question was how to smoothly transition from 25 years of award-winning professional theater to non-professional community theatre while still retaining a level of quality and professionalism our audiences have come to expect. Fortunately for us, a community theatre group has proven to have integrity and a passion for producing musical theatre right on our very stage.” .

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The Bridgeport Theatre Company uses unpaid, local actors for their musical and dramatic productions. The company was originally housed at Playhouse on the Green. For the past three seasons, though, Newsom's troupe has been “in residence” at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre.

“It's really been a matter of being in the right place at the right time for both theatres,” Hallinan noted.

The following shows will be produced in the 2013-2014 season: Little Shop of Horrors, Dreamgirls, To Kill A Mockingbird and Shrek.

An Opening Gala Fundraiser for the Bridgeport Theatre Company, called The Sounds of the '60's is on Sept. 7. Along with a performance by several Bridgeport Theatre Company regulars, the one-night only event also includes raffles, prizes and a live band. Tickets are $35. For more information about the Gala and purchasing tickets to this season's plays, call 203-576-1636.


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