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Review: Cabaret for a Cause
Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2010
By Ashley Bergner, senior
Although Cabaret for a Cause was originally meant to raise money for AIDS research, a tragic event occurring a week before the show’s scheduled date inspired event organizers to change the theme.
John Logan Scott, the father of Friends University student and Singing Quaker Dani Scott, died March 1 after suffering a sudden, massive heart attack. Cabaret for a Cause organizers decided to hold the event in his honor instead and donate the proceeds to Dani and her family.
Cabaret for a Cause, a joint production between the Theta Phi Drama Club and the Group, was held March 8 in the Cornerstone Studio Theatre. Shayn Guillemette, president of the Drama Club and friend of Dani Scott, spoke about her father, John Scott, briefly before the concert and what his example had meant to him.
“He had a big heart, and he truly loved everyone that he met,” Guillemette said.
The evening was filled with many heartfelt performances by students, and the songs were both uplifting and poignant. From show tunes such as “In His Eyes” from the musical “Jekyll & Hyde” to pop songs such as Michael Bublé’s “Hold On,” the songs were well chosen and communicated the themes of love and hope. The crowd, clearly moved by the music, gave an enthusiastic response after every song.
The Cornerstone Theatre also provided the perfect venue for the event. It is much smaller than Sebits Auditorium, providing a more intimate environment that fit well with the event’s theme.
Dani Scott wished her father could have seen the concert. “He really liked music,” she told the audience. “He would be blown away by this.”
The show raised $100, which the Scott family will be donating to a Singing Quaker memorial fund that has been established in John’s name.
“I thought it was all really great,” junior Jessica Wilkins said of the concert. While not having a clear-cut favorite, Wilkins thought all the songs fit in well with the event’s theme, and she thought it was touching that Dani Scott decided to give the money back to the school.
It was obvious that for both the singers and the audience, Cabaret for a Cause was more than just a performance. Although it certainly showcased the multitude of talent at Friends, it also showcased another feature of the University – the strong sense of community. The concert was professional and emotionally moving, showing how students were willing to come together to help another student in her time of need.