Alumni play starring role in Cabaret

When UW-Green Bay Music and Theatre programs were preparing for their largest Weidner mainstage performance in a decade, they turned to those who know the ins and outs of the program — UWGB alumni — for a little help. OK, more than a little help.

Although the bulk of the Cabaret actors are UW-Green Bay students, professional actor Eric Lindahl ‘02 who now makes his home in Chicago, returns as the flamboyant emcee of the Kit Kat Club in 1930 Berlin.

The Weidner stage is one he knows well, having starred in Pippin — the last UW-Green Bay Theatre and Music performance in Cofrin Family Hall — more than a decade ago. He was also featured in campus productions Company and The Last Night of Ballyhoo, and is a repeat nominee for a “Jeff Award,” the Chicago equivalent of a Broadway Tony, for his 2010 performance in The Who’s Tommy.

Playing large roles behind the scenes are other alumni Dean Kolze ‘99 (lighting designer) and Stacy Nellen Kolze ‘98 (wig and hair supervisor), RJ Kenny ‘08 (sound designer), Erin Torkelson ‘08 (wardrobe crew supervisor and costume technician) and Richard Perry, who also attended UW-Green Bay (rehearsal pianist). More than 100 students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are involved both onstage and backstage.