Friday, August 25 | 7pm

Saturday, August 26 | 3pm

Sunday, August 27 | 7pm

Cast

(In Alphabetical Order)

Molly Alexander

Damon Banks, Jr.

Travis Harold Coles

Bailey Connor

Hannah Dodson

Ethan Goble

Cami Nicole Hall

Lauren Ledger

Treyla Trash

Written, Produced, and Directed by

Rick Garman

Lighting Design

Erin Muller

Lighting and Sound Operator

Gwen Leahy

Spotlight Operator

Toria Nicole Shaw

Photographer

Travis Spangenburg

Set List

“Village People Megamix”

Ensemble

Featuring four of the legendary Disco group The Village People’s biggest hits including “Macho Man,” “Go West,” “In the Navy,” and “YMCA.”  The Village People was the brainchild of French music producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo.  They hired singer Victor Willis to sing songs they had written and then recruited dancers and background singers to create the band’s signature look.

“Le Sneak Commercial”

Donna Sue Robertson (Lauren Ledger) and Gloria Granada (Cami Nicole Hall)

Parody lyrics by Rick Garman.  To the tune of “Le Freak” by Chic, a song that dominated 1979, hitting #1 on the singles chart, the R&B chart, and the dance chart where it sat on top for an astounding seven weeks! “Awww freak out!” became a rallying cry for the anything goes ethos of the Disco era although a bit of trivia – it was originally “Awww f**k off!” and intended for the doormen at Studio 54 who wouldn’t let members of the band in to meet Grace Jones.

“Car Wash”

Al Sunshine (Ethan Goble)

It’s easy to dismiss this song by Rose Royce as a craven bit of fluff designed to sell soundtracks for the movie of the same name, but it was actually the other way around. The score and soundtrack were written before the move was made and this song became such a huge hit that it drove people to the theaters.

“Knock on Wood”

Bianca Bel Vivienne Lucianne Dupree (Hannah Dodson)

This song had already been done twice, first by Eddie Floyd who had a #1 hit with it in 1966 and then by none other than David Bowie in 1974. But it is Amii Stewart’s 1979 cover that became the definitive version, a drum-fueled dance floor rager that is sent into the stratosphere by a belting, growling, soaring lead vocal. Interesting side note: Stewart’s step-brother is Miquel Brown, who had a huge Disco hit with “So Many Men (So Little Time).”

“Mr. Dentist Commercial”

Donna Sue Robertson (Lauren Ledger) and Gloria Granada (Cami Nicole Hall)

To the tune of “You Should Be Dancing” by Bee Gees.  Parody lyrics by Rick Garman.  And yes, that is an actual Mr. Dentist, circa 1979.  This was one of dozens of products created by Ronco, the company of TV pitchman Ron Popeil.

“Got to be the Best of My Love”

Farrah Farmingham (Bailey Connor)

“The Best of My Love” by The Emotions was written by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire (further cementing its Disco roots). After this chart-topping hit in 1977, The Emotions never really had another radio success until 1980 when they teamed up with EWF for “Boogie Wonderland.”  “Got to be Real” by Cheryl Lynn is one of those enduring hits that seems to transcend generations. Put it on in any club and it’ll get people on their feet and dancing from the first brass flourishes to the “soo hoo, soo hoo, soo hoo, I’ve got to have you baby” refrain.

“It’s Raining Men”

Shaun Macho (Damon Banks Jr.)
Additional Background Vocals by Carrie Kitchen

The Weather Girls released this song in 1982 so it was technically not a part of the official Disco era but there are few songs that represent the genre better. The vocals are provided by Martha Wash and Izora Armstead, who got their start as a duo known as Two Tons O’Fun, backup singers for Sylvester. It’s big, silly fun and was a huge hit on the radio and in the clubs, especially the LGBT variety where this has become an enduring anthem.

“Veg-O-Matic II Commercial”

Donna Sue Robertson (Lauren Ledger) and Gloria Granada (Cami Nicole Hall)

To the tune of “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson.  Parody lyrics by Rick Garman.  Jackson released the song as the first single from his 1979 album “Off the Wall” when he was 21 years old.  It was a huge hit, reaching #1 on charts all over the world.  It is said was the first recording over which he had full creative control includng as a songwriter and producer.  The Veg-O-Matic was another Ronco product, first invented in the early 1960s by Ron Popeil’s father.  The Veg-O-Matic II that you see on stage is circa 1975.

“Turn the Beat Around”

Tenille El Capitan (Treyla Trash)

“Love to hear percussion!” Yes, we do, and it’s that “syncopated rhythm with the rat tat tat tat on the drums” that sends this song to a totally different level than most Disco tunes. Latin rhythms infuse this hit with an energy that is undeniable and unique amongst its dance floor peers. Staccato bursts of strings, dramatic harmonies, and the unmistakable “scratch” of the guitar makes it signature Disco and the impassioned vocal from Vickie Sue Robinson, who had been a Broadway star before recording this, completes the package.

“I Love the Nightlife”

Candi Darling (Molly Alexander)

“I love the nightlife, I’ve got to boogie on the Disco round, oh yeah.” Does any lyric encapsulate the Disco ethos better than that? Alicia Bridges co-wrote this song and while it really was her only serious hit, it has had a number of lives. It made it onto the charts again in several countries after being featured in the 1994 movie “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” and is now included in the musical stage version.

“No More Tears (Enough is Enough)”

Donna Sue Robertson (Lauren Ledger) and Gloria Granada (Cami Nicole Hall)

Put two of the world’s best vocalists (of any gender) – Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer – on an empowering, take-no-prisoners anthem about standing up for yourself and the results are going to be enduring.  Sadly, Summer and Streisand never performed the song together.  Johnson & Johnson’s No More Tears shampoo is still made today, but the bottle you see onstage is vintage – maybe not from the 1970s, but it was the closest we could find.

“Disco Inferno”

Ensemble

This song that almost missed its shot at glory. It was originally included on a 1976 album from The Trammps but it never gained any momentum. Two years later, producers decided to include it on the soundtrack to “Saturday Night Fever” and the song blew up, dominating the dance floors and the pop charts alike.

INTERMISSION

“I Will Survive”

Ensemble

If not for a DJ with a good ear, this song could have never become the enduring hit it is. It was never intended to be released as a single, going out as the B-side to another song that singer Gloria Gaynor and the label liked better. But Studio 54 DJ Richie Kaczor reportedly took one listen to the female-empowerment anthem and put it into rotation in the club in 1978, and before you could say “At first I was afraid” it had become a phenomenon and was released as a proper single that topped the charts around the globe.

“Boogie Megamix”

Al Sunshine (Ethan Goble)

Featuring four Disco “boogie” classics including “I’m Your Boogie Man” and “Boogie Shoes” by KC & The Sunshine Band;  “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by Taste of Honey; and “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions.

“Dancing Queen”

Candi Darling (Molly Alexander)

Amazingly enough, this was ABBA’s only #1 hit in the US but it wasn’t just big here – it also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, West Germany and the Soviet Union.  While it is a little light on the usual genre trappings, this is the type of song for which they invented dance floors.

“Rubber Baby Boogie Bumpers”

Donna Sue Robertson (Lauren Ledger)

Parody lyrics by Rick Garman who laughed like an idiot while he wrote them because he’s 12 years old.  The songs are done to the tunes of “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge; “You Make Me Feel” by Sylvester; “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward; and “Mamma Mia” by ABBA.

“That’s The Way I Get Down Tonight”

Benji Bickerson (Travis Harold Coles)

A mash-up of two of KC & The Sunshine Band’s biggest hits.  Few lyrics encapsulate the Disco era better than “Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight.” KC&TSB’s signature funky flourishes give this one life, but it’s the spacy guitar and synth that drive it home and help make it the band’s best song and one of the best Disco songs ever made.  Quick – what does the KC in the band’s name stand for? Trick question, it doesn’t stand for anything. The lead singer’s name was Harry Wayne Casey… KC. Get it?

“September”

Shaun Macho (Damon Banks Jr.)

This was one of Earth, Wind & Fire’s biggest hits, a song written by band members Al McKay and Maurice White along with songwriter Allee Willis.  Willis was initially bothered by the gibberish “ba-dee-ya” lyric White used through the song, and begged him to rewrite it: “I just said, ‘What the f***does ‘ba-dee-ya’ mean?’ And he essentially said, ‘Who the f***cares?’ I learned my greatest lesson ever in songwriting from him, which was never let the lyric get in the way of the groove.”

“Don’t Leave Me This Way”

Farrah Farmingham (Bailey Connor)

This track by Thelma Houston is about as pure Disco as it gets. Originally a hit for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Houston’s fiery, gospel-tinged vocal on the deeply yearning lyrics give this a fierce emotional heft – an almost palpable sense of “need” – that is missing from a lot of Disco songs. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” is designed to make you feel everything and if you aren’t moved by that volcanic build to the chorus… “Awwwwwww, BABY!”… then you might just be dead. It is the definition of a “throw your hands in the air” moment and if Disco taught us anything, it is that we need more of those types of moments.

“Golf King Commercial”

Gloria Granada (Cami Nicole Hall)

Parody lyrics by Rick Garman to the tune of “Shake Your Groove Thing” by Peaches & Herb.  Trivia: while there was only ever one “Herb” (Herb Fame), there were seven (!?!) different “Peaches.” Linda Greene was the Peaches on this particular song and the part of the duo’s biggest hits including this and “Reunited.” The Golf King was a product from Ronco’s biggest rival, K-Tel.  The one you see on stage is circa 1975.

“Donna Summer Megamix”

Tenille El Capitan (Treyla Trash)

Four songs from the undisputed “Queen of Disco” including “Dim all the Lights,” “Bad Girls,” “Hot Stuff,” and “I Feel Love,” which is, simply put, one of the most important songs ever written and produced. Released in 1977, Summer and longtime producer Giorgio Moroder set out to create a concept album in which each track would represent a different decade, and “I Feel Love” is what they came up with for “the future.” Almost entirely electronic (other than Summer’s vocals and the kick drum), this was revolutionary for the time and quite literally changed the course of music, fueling everything from house and techno to new wave and beyond, even providing the DNA for modern EDM today. It is the foundation on which most of the popular music of the 1980s was made and has been said to be a major influence on artists like David Bowie, Madonna, and more.

“Kill the Lights”

Bianca Bel Vivienne Luciane Dupree (Hannah Dodson)

Disco was not an era, it is a musical style, and this song proves it.  It was released in 2016 as track from the soundtrack to the short-lived HBO series “Vinyl.” With soaring vocal by Alex Newell and Jess Glynn and guitar work from Chic’s Niles Rodgers, a musician songwriter, and producer behind some of the biggest Disco hits of the era, this glitter ball confection is both classic Disco and perfectly modern at the same time.

“Buttoneer 2 Commercial”

Donna Sue Robertson and/or Gloria Granada (Lauren Ledger and Cami Nicole Hall)

Parody lyrcs by Rick Garman to the tune of “Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor.  Although it had just been a major hit for the Jackson 5 a few years earlier, Disco royalty Gaynor decided to upend the mid-tempo original and turn into a dance floor celebration, and to great effect. In fact, it was the #1 song on the very first Dance/Disco chart published by Billboard.  The Buttoneer 2 was another Ronco product, one that helped make Ron Popeil a multi-millionaire (before he went bankrupt in the 1980s).  The one you see on stage is circa 1977.

“Stayin’ Alive”

The Murderer (TBA)

This Bee Gees song became an iconic part of the Disco scene when it was used during the opening credits of “Saturday Night Fever” as John Travolta sauntered down the street.  It reached #1 on the US charts in 1977 and stayed there for four weeks.

“Last Dance”

The Victim (TBA) and Ensemble

This Donna Summer song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Released as part of the soundtrack for “Thank God It’s Friday,” in which Donna Summer had a role, this went on to become one of her most beloved songs and a staple in the Disco pantheon. “Yes, it’s my last chance, for romance tonight.” Who hasn’t felt like that at some point in their life?.

The Cast

Molly Alexander as Candi Darling

Molly Alexander is a STEM-major sort of person who has been successfully infiltrating the musical and theatrical world for years. One day, the people in charge will realize that she has degrees in Wildlife and Veterinary Technology and never actually studied the arts, but they haven’t wised up yet so she keeps getting away with it. She has sung a capella with The Ecotones, presented the Bard’s works with Savannah Shakes, gotten weird with Odd Lot Improv, and voice acted for various audio dramas. She also moonlights in stage management because there is nothing quite like a color-coded spreadsheet. Now she is delighted to be on stage with the Savannah Cabaret!

Damon Banks Jr. as Shaun Macho

Damon Banks Jr. is an elementary music educator in Savannah, GA. He is also a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor’s of Music Education with a concentration in classical voice. He regularly performs with the Savannah Philharmonic chorus and is a staff singer at Skidaway United Methodist church. Damon enjoys performing classical literature; some of his favorite works were: “Un Certo Non So Che” (Vivaldi), “Your Daddy’s Son” (Ragtime), and Lonely House (Street Scene).  Damon is excited for the opportunity to perform with the Bay Street Cabaret, and is looking forward to many great opportunities to come.

Travis Harold Coles as Benji Bickerson

Travis Coles is thrilled to be working once again with the Savannah Cabaret! Travis has been involved in theatre in Savannah for over 15 years. As Executive Producer of the Bay Street Theatre, Travis has been involved with some of Savannah’s most exciting community theatre productions, such as Cabaret, Chicago, Avenue Q, Sweeney Todd, Rocky Horror, and many more. Travis is also a member of the Collective Face Theatre Ensemble, performing in Gatsby, Calendar Girls, Big Love, and Jesus Christ Superstar, among others. When not managing Club One or serving on the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Planning Commission, Travis enjoys helping people buy or sell property as an agent with Keller Williams Realty. In his free time Coles enjoys sleeping. Enjoy the show!

Bailey Connor as Farrah Farmingham

A Savannah native, Bailey began performing at a young age in and around the Savannah area. Once she graduated from high school, her passion for performing drove her to enroll as a student at Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she is currently studying theatre.  This Fall, she will be furthering her theatre education at the British American Drama Academy in London. Recent credits include Grease as Jan (Savannah Theatre) and Are There Penguins in Space?, a new play in which she originated the role of Anne, a young mother struggling to overcome drug addiction. Her favorite credits include Cinderella as Ella and Newsies as Medda Larkin. Bailey is ecstatic to perform with the incredibly talented artists of the Savannah Cabaret!

Hannah Dodson as Bianca Bel Vivienne Luciane Dupree

Hannah Dodson is a local vocalist and actress that’s currently finishing up her BA of Theatre at Georgia Southern University. As a long time member of the Savannah Cabaret, Hannah is so thankful to continue to perform on the Club One stage! Some of her most recent credits include Grease (The Savannah Theatre), Elf: The Musical (The Savannah Theatre), The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (GSU), Love Songs/Love Stories 2, and multiple Savannah Cabaret productions!

Ethan Goble as Al Sunshine

Ethan is so excited to be performing with the Savannah Cabaret. He is currently working towards earning his BA in theatre from Georgia Southern University. Some of his recent acting credits include Eurydice (GSU), The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (GSU), Time Flies (GSU), and The Rocky Horror Show (Bay Street Theatre). In addition to acting, he has also contributed his technical skills to Master Class (Collective Face) and Spitfire Grill (Savannah Repertory Theatre) among others. When he’s not working on shows, Ethan enjoys traveling, writing music, and riding roller coasters.

Cami Nicole Hall as Gloria Granada

Cami Nicole Hall (she/her) was raised in rural Indiana and has been performing since she was born (just ask her mom). She grew up singing around the world with the prestigious Logansport Children’s Choir. Her first role in a musical was as a flying monkey in The Wizard of Oz, but some of her favorite roles to portray include The Cat in the Hat in Seussical and Marty in Grease. This Hoosier has been in the peach state for over a decade: paralegal at Morgan & Morgan by day, sound engineer at the Bay Street Theatre by night. When Cami isn’t on stage, you can find her watching wild birds with her wife and taking too many pictures of her dogs.

Lauren Ledger as Donna Sue Robertson

Lauren Ledger (she/they) is a recent graduate of SCAD where she received a BFA in Performing Arts on a full-ride scholarship for being in a performance ensemble with American Idol Winner Candice Glover and Showtime at the Apollo Winner George Lovett. You may have seen her sharing local stages with Hamilton’s Isaiah Johnson and Grammy Nominee Stacie Orrico, and her recent credits include Marty in Grease at the Savannah Theatre, Featured Choir Member in Hulus’ The Girl from Plainville, and Zoe (principle) in Lifetime’s Nobody Will Believe You. She would like to thank her friends, family, partner, and fellow artists for being such a light in this world.

Treyla Trash (Trey Norris) as Tenille El Capitan

A native to Savannah, Trey is an active member of The Bay Street Theatre, Collective Face Theatre Ensemble, and is the assistant General Manager at Club One Jefferson. His passion for music and stage gave birth to a drag character known to downtown Savannah as “Treyla Trash,” and is often seen at the Club One Cabaret on Thursday or Sunday evenings. You may have seen him as Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Christopher Boone in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, or Guilliano in Big Love. Trey’s passions include classical music, reading, and the art of female impersonation.

Written, Directed, & Produced by Rick Garman

Rick Garman grew up in Iowa but moved to Los Angeles as soon as he was old enough to be sure that his parents couldn’t send a sheriff to bring him back. He studied theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his writing debut with a stage production 17 Days which was produced in Los Angeles and in small theaters around the country.  His second play Mountains won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Los Angeles Theater Production.  Rick has published several novels including three volumes of the Savannah-set Interitas series and has written or produced more than three dozen movies for the Hallmark Channel and other networks including A Shoe Addict’s Christmas starring Candace Cameron Bure, Luke Macfarlane, and Jean Smart; Valentine in the Vineyard starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Brendan Penny; and Christmas at Pemberley Manor starring Jessica Lowndes and Michael Rady.  He currently resides in Savannah and is thrilled to be producing the Savannah Cabaret.

UPCOMING SAVANNAH CABARET SHOWS

  • December 2023: Christmas in Mistle Toe Falls – a musical parody of TV Christmas movies by a guy who writes a lot of them
  • February 2024: To Be Announced
  • April 2024: Time Traveling Drag Queens in the 1950s!
  • June 2024: To Be Announced
  • August 2024: Murder Noir
  • The Savannah Cabaret Underground will return with dates to be announced!

Join our mailing list and follow us on Facebook to get updates and exclusive offers!

UPCOMING LIVE THEATER IN SAVANNAH