One-night cabaret to support Stowe Theatre Guild’s return

September 11, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

Stowe Community Church. Courtesy photo

After a multi-year hiatus, Stowe Theatre Guild announces that the curtain will rise again and a Sept. 21 cabaret benefit is poised to give the nonprofit theater company a boost to kick off its return. 

Titled “Encore! A Night on Broadway!” the one-night event boasts a program of Broadway show tunes performed by an alumni cast of many familiar faces from past Stowe Theatre Guild productions. 

“This intimate, candlelit concert promises to be a night of nostalgia, delight, and performances the audience will talk about for years to come,” the group’s announcement promises. 

The program will include selections from Broadway classics to contemporary gems and the ensemble includes performers from all three decades that the company has been active since its founding in 1995. 

“From Broadway World award-winning singers to critically acclaimed directors and everything in between, this cast truly represents the heart and  soul of Vermont's vibrant theatre community,” the group notes.  

“This is more than just a show -- it's a homecoming,” said Tanya Kateri, president of  Stowe Theatre Guild. “For nearly three decades, STG has been a second family for so  many in the Vermont theatre community. 'Encore!' is our chance to reunite on stage and  celebrate the magic that happens when we come together to create art.” 

The “Encore!” program will be presented under the direction of Thomas Piercy, an internationally renowned musician and conductor based in New York City and Tokyo. 

“STG was foundational in my theatrical journey,” recalls Kim Anderson, who first  appeared with the guild at age 11 and has since held numerous leading roles. "Now, as an adult, I'm thrilled to give back and help ensure that future generations have the same opportunities I did." 

The event aims to raise crucial funds to help the guild bounce back from what it describes as “the pandemic plot twist that shut many community theaters down forever and the  temporary loss of its theater space due to essential repairs.”

After the COVID-19 closure in 2020, Stowe Theatre Guild has struggled to resume its regular programming due in part to issues with the theater space inside the Akeley Memorial Building owned by the town of Stowe. Air-handling system issues needed to be addressed, resulting in the group canceling its 2023 season.

Tickets for “Encore! A Night on Broadway!” are $50 and available online in advance and at the door if available. Showtime: 7 p.m., Sept. 21, at the Stowe Community Church.