Copious Notes

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The University of Kentucky Opera Theatre presents the world premier production of composer Joe Baber and librettist Jim Rodgers’ River of Time Oct. 8-10 at the Lexington Opera House. The opera, commissioned by UK Opera, looks at Abraham Lincoln’s early years including his search for purpose in his life and the roots of his desire to fight slavery. Photos by Rich Copley | staff.

Feature: Lincoln Opera portrays a ‘journey to greatness’

William Arnold, Henry Zahn, and Chris Duncan perform Greased Lightning, during the the second annual Paragon Music Theatre Cabaret at Natasha's Bistro & Bar. Photos by Mark Cornelison | Herald-Leader staff.

Most of us who follow musicals have had those wow moments, where we see a song we’ve known for years in the context of the show it’s from and get what it’s all about.

One of the secrets to the success of Paragon Music Theatre’s Summer Cabaret at Natasha’s Bistro & Bar is that it would leave you with few of those wow moments for the tunes it presents. Under Robyn Peterman-Zahn’s direction, the 90-minute show-tune revue delivers plenty of mini-dramas and comedies representing 17 different shows, and it has plenty of wow moments of its own.

Wow moments like:

■ Javier Pereira nailing Frankie Valli’s “I love you baby!” in Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You from Jersey Boys.

Jan Hooker performs Taylor, the Latte Boy.

■ Jan Hooker’s precious rendition of Kristin Chenoweth’s Taylor, the Latte Boy.

■ Carmen Geraci leading a conniving take on Annie’s Easy Street.

■ Katie Owen’s Meadowlark with a fluttery dance by Haley Fish.

■ A stirring five-song distillation of Les Miserables, a show we have yet to see here in Lexington, though you could have left Natasha’s feeling like you had.

In a market that’s coming dangerously close to being oversaturated with cabarets and show-tune revues - Grand Night for Singing, the Lexington Singers pops concerts, and the proposed Actors Guild of Lexington cabarets - Paragon’s offering makes a clear case for itself both to be seen as this edition continues Aug. 17 to 19 at Natasha’s and when the cabaret returns in the winter. Paragon will reconstitute its schedule this coming season to present Hello, Dolly! at the Lexington Opera House from Oct. 22 to 25, the cabarets in the winter and The Sound of Music at the Opera House next summer.

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