Stage Door Productions is bringing another in its series of Cabaret Shows to the Ringland-Smeltzer House Jan. 18- 19. There will be music and laughter, old favorites and new music fresh from Broadway, according to Director Shelly Bottorff. 

“The Ringland-Smeltzer House is such a good home base for this show,” Bottorff said. “It reminds me so much of what people would have been doing in the house decades ago, socializing, listening to music, having parties with friends.” 

Each performance kicks off with a social time beginning at 6:15 p.m. followed by show time at 7 p.m. It will be a true cabaret atmosphere, with refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres included in the $25 ticket price. Local beverage choices will be provided by Shiny Top Brewing and Soldier Creek Winery, along with non-alcoholic offerings.  

A dozen or more area singers will perform in the intimate confines of the home’s first floor. The audience will fill the surrounding area and be quite close to the individual performers. Bottorff will accompany the evening’s performers on the grand piano that has long been in the home. 

“The piano has been really well maintained; it’s one of the reasons we love the house so much,” Bottorff said.  

True to the cabaret tradition, the show will include a mix of new music and old favorites. Perhaps the best known will be “Trouble,” from “The Music Man,” performed by Jeff Halter. Another familiar tune will come from Vickie Reeck, with her rendition of “Beauty and the Beast”. 

Billy Crystal — the man who inspired “I’ll have what she’s having,” from “When Harry Met Sally,” is hardly a name associated with musical theater. But Crystal is also known for Broadway’s “Mr. Saturday Night.” Jason Laird will be performing” A Little Joy,” from that show. 

Cameron Nelson will be offering up a little new music with “Last One Picked” from “Whoop Dee Do.” 

Baylor Ulrich, a St. Edmond Catholic School student, will perform “If Only You Would Listen” from “School of Rock,” and you can bet the audience will be listening to every word from this young singer. 

Other local singers set to perform include Dennis Morgan, Laura Klein-Ferry, Mary Alves, Reese Pedersen, and many more. 

For Bottorff, much of the fun of the cabaret shows is finding new performers and matching them to the right songs. She rehearses one-on-one with each of the performers. The rehearsal schedule is quite flexible and is based on how much or how little each performer needs for any given song. Finding the right mix of music for each show is something Bottorff enjoys. 

“I look at the tempo of the songs, and I try to think about how the mood can fluctuate,” Bottorff said. “It’s all about the entertainment factor when I choose the songs. I want them to have an interesting story, and I want them to be right for each person. Sometimes we work on a song for several weeks, and then say we need to switch it out because it doesn’t fit that performer.” 

The goal is a mix of music that will not only entertain, but also broaden the musical experience for the audience. 

“We always do a couple of songs that people haven’t heard before, and then we do some that are nostalgic for most people,” she said. “I look for a variety of pieces that will work well together and make it a great evening.” 

Steve Kersten will serve as master of ceremonies for the show, offering a little history on the Ringland-Smeltzer House, and then talking a bit about each performer as they come on throughout the evening. 

The show is meant for mature audiences, and designed to be a wonderful date night for couples, or a fun night out for a group of friends.  

“We do some material that’s not necessarily G-rated, but that’s what I love about this show,” Bottorff said. “There’s nothing vulgar at all, just maybe a few swear words and mature content.” 

The cabaret show is the perfect outlet for including music from shows that otherwise would not get much local attention. Here, local audiences can get a taste of the music, and then perhaps see the full show at a metropolitan venue. 

“Although Fort Dodge has a ton of theater, and our area has a ton of theater, there are some shows that would not work in our community, but they have beautiful songs. So this is a fun way to kind of educate the community and let them hear some new material,” Bottorff said. “There are so many musicals out there, and this is a chance to let people hear some of the music being produced.” 

Bottorff lives to encourage people in the arts. While this show is set, she is always looking for talent for future cabaret shows. No experience required, just a desire to perform and to grow in one’s musical passion. She said most of the performers have not necessarily done any local theater in the past. 

“If there are people that would like to be considered for an upcoming show, I would love for them to reach out to me,” Bottorff said.  

Stage Door Productions and the Cabaret Show are always looking for new talent, and new volunteers. See the email and web contacts with the ticket information to learn more. 

Tickets for the Cabaret Show are available at Shiny Top Brewing, online at www.stagedoorfd.org, or by emailing fdfinearts@gmail.com. Tickets may also be available at the door, but because of very limited seating, guests are encouraged to get their tickets early.