While in New York, Joel Ferrell (choreographer for Cabaret) and I took the train out to Darien, CT to meet with Skip Mercier (our set designer) to talk through the whole show. If you’re like me, the only connection you have to Darien, CT is the trip Auntie Mame makes to visit her nephew’s prospective in-laws. Though I heard no one talking about “stepping on a ping pong ball” there were a lot of khakis on view.

Skip and his partner Rob bought their house 15 years ago, when it was a ranch – and added an entire floor above so that Skip’s design studio could fit above the garage. Way cool room.

Since the last iteration of the design, Skip had added (at my request) a catwalk along the back wall that will allow performers to be visually present in the Kit Kat Club without having to be in the central area. He also devised a “library ladder” that will roll along the length of the catwalk for access to the main playing area.

At a session like this we are really thinking through the logistics: “Okay Wilkommen ends, and the upstage curtain tracks off (is that mechanized or actor-driven?) and the train seats ride the revolve to their downstage position. Then the down stage right curtain comes in behind that unit.” “Hey - what if the Emcee showed up at the end of the scene dressed as the ticket taker?” “Yeah, yeah – perfect.” “The Emcee should just keep popping up from different locations and in different costumes.” “Can he pop out of the bed for ‘Two Ladies’” “We can’t trap underneath the revolve.’” “Right.” “Could he come out of the orchestra pit?” “Hmmmm, maybe.”

For any of you who want to know more about the woman who is playing Sally Bowles in our Cabaret – here is Storm’s pic. Check out her blog at www.stormlarge.com.