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THEATER An intimate peek at Oregon Cabaret Theatre's 'Cabaret' Actor Jillian Van Niel interprets cabaret performer Sally Bowles Comment By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 6, 2015 at 9:00 AM By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 6, 2015 at 9:00 AM » Social News 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, at Oregon Cabaret Theatre, First and Hargadine streets, Ashland. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Fridays through Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays; 1 p.m. for Sunday matinees. Tickets cost $39. Bistro seating is available for $25. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, online at oregoncabaret.com or by calling 541-488-2902. Rachelle and Van Niel’s professional relationship dates from Rachelle’s days as casting director, director and choreographer at Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria on the Central California coast. Rachelle cast Van Niel in a summer stock season at PCPA while Van Niel was a drama student at California State University, Fullerton. She then transferred to PCPA to complete her training. Van Niel has also previously worked with Stevens. They were both in the national company of “The Addams Family,” and Stevens directed Van Niel in regional theater productions of “Grease” and “A Christmas Carol.” This is Van Niel’s fourth appearance at the Cabaret. Rachelle cast Van Niel as Betty Jean when Rachelle directed “Winter Wonderettes” at OCT in November 2012. At that time, Artistic Director Jim Giancarlo asked Van Niel to read for Daisy, the lead in the April 2013 production of “Dog Park,” written by Jahnna Beecham, Malcolm Hillgartner and OSF’s Michael J. Hume. “ ‘Dog Park’ was such a sweet show,” recalls Van Niel. “It was fun working with Jahnna and Malcolm.” 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 at 11:30 p.m. after the performance of “Cabaret” on Friday, July 31, Saturday, Aug. 8 and Monday, Aug. 10. 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 will move 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 OCT. “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 the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 6, 2015 at 9:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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