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THEATER An intimate peek at Oregon Cabaret Theatre's 'Cabaret' Actor Jillian Van Neil interprets cabaret performer Sally Bowles By Roberta Kent for Revels DailyTidings.com By Roberta Kent for Revels Posted Aug. 6, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Roberta Kent for Revels Posted Aug. 6, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Actor Jillian Van Niel was surprised when Oregon Cabaret Theatre Artistic Director Valerie Rachelle mentioned the role of Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” to her. She couldn’t see herself playing the character. “I always assumed that the Sally Bowles character was older, someone who had been around long enough to become disillusioned,” says Van Niel. Rachelle discussed “Cabaret” with Van Niel when Van Niel played the leading role of Ruby in “Dames At Sea,” Rachelle’s first production as the Cabaret’s new artistic director earlier this year. Van Niel did some research about the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical and then read “Goodbye to Berlin,” the Christopher Isherwood book on which the play was based. “Sally is only 19 in the book,” says Van Niel. “She and Cliff, the young writer, really care about each other, even though they are not in love. I feel that Cliff is the only person who has genuinely cared about Sally in her life. At the end of the play, she does what is best for him.”  Van Niel sent pictures of herself as the Sally Bowles character to Rachelle and read for her. Rachelle offered her the contract on the spot.  Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, "Cabaret" tells the story of nightlife at the gritty Kit Kat Klub and revolves around English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her doomed relationship with a young American writer. Galloway Stevens plays the master of ceremonies, a role made famous by Joel Grey in the Broadway and film versions of the musical. The show runs through Sunday, Aug. 30. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Fridays through Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays; 1 p.m. for Sunday matinees. Tickets are $39. Bistro seating is available for $25. Van Niel, Stevens and the rest of the “Cabaret” cast, along with Rachelle, will also perform in OCT’s new limited performance “cabaret variety show.” “Late Night at the Cabaret: Love, Lust, Laughter” is scheduled after the performance of “Cabaret” on Saturday, Aug. 8, and Monday, Aug.10. Showtimes are 11:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $10 for presale and $12 when doors open at 11:15 p.m. Appetizers, beverages and desserts are available during the hour-long performance. “The cast got to pick their own material,” says Van Niel. “It is a mash-up of different types of entertainment. It gives us a chance to showcase our talents and do different kinds of music.” When “Cabaret” closes at the end of August, Van Niel moves directly into rehearsals for the role of Evelyn Nesbitt in the national company of the Tony Award-winning musical “Ragtime.” The show opens in Las Vegas in October and continues touring until July 2016.  “I’m happy working in theater,” Van Niel says. “I’m going wherever the work takes me.” She has auditioned for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and would like to work at OSF. She would also like to come back to the Cabaret.  “I want to see what Val and Rick (Managing Director Rick Robinson) have in mind,” she says. “I want to see how the Cabaret blooms.” Roberta Kent is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach her at [email protected].       By Roberta Kent for Revels DailyTidings.com By Roberta Kent for Revels Posted Aug. 6, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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