A Valentine’s cabaret will be staged at The Argyros
BY DANA DUGAN
Love and music go together like hearts and flowers. And this Valentine’s Day there will be joyous expression of love on Friday night at the Argyros Performing Arts Center, in Ketchum, with an original cabaret performance called “Love It!”. The evening of music and dance celebrating the holiday will be staged in association with Sawtooth Productions.
Under the artistic direction of Melodie Taylor-Mauldin and the musical direction of R.L. Rowsey, the show will be presented in true cabaret style with 14 tables, as well as auditorium and mezzanine seating.
The cast will include Taylor-Mauldin and her husband John Mauldin, David Janeski, Aly Wepplo, Chris Carwithen, Andrew Alburger, Courtney Loving, Ward Loving, Terresa Shreve and Teddy Cunningham. All but two of the performers are based in the Wood River Valley, and are among the busiest actors with a variety of companies. Shreve performs professional theatre in Utah, and Cunningham performs with a band at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson, Wyo.
Shreve is also part of the Sun Valley Carolers with Taylor-Mauldin, and they perform together around the country, including with the Glenn Miller Orchestra on tour.
“These are my friends,” Taylor-Mauldin said. “I wanted to show them off to the theatre crowd.”
Cabaret—meaning any sort of gathering performance that serves alcoholic beverages—originated in France in the 1800s. It’s been celebrated consistently around the world in one form or another ever since. And yes, there will be bottles of wine on the tables, and beverages for sale in The Argyros lobby.
In “Love It!”, performers will sing a mixture of musical styles, including jazz, musical theater and opera while focusing on all aspects of love—romantic, familiar and friendship. Accompanying the performers will be a top-flight, three-piece combo featuring Rowsey on the piano.
The show is not organized around couple singing despite there being three married couples participating in the show.
“But there will be many moments where we will do that,” Taylor-Mauldin said. “There are solos, duets, trios and group numbers made up of all sorts of combinations that R.L. and I created.
“John and I will duet together, as will David and Aly, and Ward and Courtney. The way I created it, we will spend some time coming out into the seating area. You can be a part of the intimacy of The Argyros.”
They wanted to use The Argyros to celebrate the high-end sound technology of the new performing arts center, and the history of cabaret. The idea is to interact with the audience in true cabaret style.
“There’s a section with ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’ for me as a choreographer and performer,” Taylor-Mauldin said. “There’s also opera for John and Ward—both classically trained singers—to do together. They will knock your socks off.
“R.L. is so great with this kind of thing. We have collaborated on the material for each performer, and we deliver a message that we all have access to love. I want to celebrate that.”
‘Love It!’
- Cabaret performances will be 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14 and 15
- Tickets range from $20 to $60 in addition to special table seating close to the stage.
- Tickets are available at theargyros.org