The 7th Annual Cabaret for Charity will grace The Little Theatre’s stage starting Thursday, Nov. 16.
The latest production at the Little Theatre, A Night at the Movies will feature music from cult classics like “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” and “Grease” for three consecutive nights. All proceeds from the show’s performances will go to the St. John’s Bread And Life program.
A Night at the Movies will feature clips from each movie and live vocals. Original choreography by Kassandra Matthews and a playful storyline will add a new twist to old favorites and give the audience an entertaining evening of acting, singing, and dance.
Bread and Life tries “to restore shattered hopes and human dignity” throughout the community. Its mission statement says that the program is motivated by Gospel values and the social teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
Operating out of the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, Bread and Life volunteers provide the public with emergency food programs, social services such as legal clinics and Sponsor-A-Family groups, and medical and employment counselling.
Following the Roman Catholic teachings, no one is left out of the society of compassion despite physical, financial or social inequities. Bread And Life sponsors an AIDS Support Group and runs an Advocacy and Referrals service for soup kitchen guests who may have a variety of issues, from trouble with their landlords to people who need help filling out forms and applications.
True to its name, the organization also focuses on dietary needs with Nutrition Counseling and a Mobile Soup Kitchen. The Family Food Pantry provides packaged meals to disadvantaged parents with children under 18.
Keeping body and soul together is not the only goal of the organization. Bread And Life hopes “to heighten awareness of the public’s responsibility to understand, confront and prevent poverty.”
The cabaret is a rewarding experience that draws in positive feedback from both the audience and cast and crew.
“A few years ago, Bread and Life brought the Mobile Soup Kitchen to the theatre and gave the cast a tour,” said Dave Virzera, this year’s cabaret writer. “That was pretty cool because we were able to see what we were contributing to. Many alumni (including myself) come back to help with the show for this reason,” he said.
The 7th Annual Cabaret for Charity will be running at the Little Theatre from Nov.17 to Nov. 19th at 8 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $6.
