Cabaret performance held at Idaho State University Frazier Hall

Musical performers Valerie Rachelle and Kevin Nakatani performed in a cabaret performance titled “Songs They Won’t Let Me Sing” on March 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bilyeu Theatre in Frazier Hall on Idaho State University’s campus. The performance was free and open to the public.

Rachelle and Nakatani performed songs from classic and contemporary musical theater, and explored the range of characters they will never be allowed to play. With the music and dialogue intertwined, the duet took a journey of exploration through their careers as singers, dancers, actors and directors. Dallas K. Heaton played piano during the performance.

An audition workshop were held on Friday, March 13 from noon-2 p.m. in the Stephens Performing Arts Center Theatre Classroom. The workshop was free and open to the public.

Rachelle is a professional director and choreographer, and now the artistic director of Oregon Cabaret Theater. She has worked at theaters around the west coast including the Fresno Grand Opera, Glendale Center Theater, Performance Riverside, Lucid By Proxy, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater, Utah Shakespeare Festival, El Camino College, Summer Repertory Theater, PCPA TheatreFest and many others.

Nakatani has performed with Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre for the past nine years, appearing in 27 main stage productions and numerous concerts. He has also performed with West Bay Opera, Opera San Jose, Livermore Valley Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Opera Idaho and Utah Opera.

Heaton is a collaborative pianist and vocal coach, and works regularly with Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. He has served as their assistant conductor, Chorusmaster, vocal coach, and rehearsal and pit pianist for their musical theatre and opera productions. He recently joined the faculty in the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University.