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reviewed by Adam Crowe

This post-Holiday weekend’s adventure was to make my first visit to The Cat in Carmel. Located in the Design District, The Cat serves as a space for multiple arts groups in Hamilton County (and beyond).This weekend The Cat is home to The Magic Thread Cabaret and their production Katy Gentry – Judy Garland Live. It is NOT to be missed.

Regular readers may recognize Miss Gentry as the winner of the 2017 ASOTA MITTY Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role when she played Judy Garland in Beyond the Rainbow at Actor’s Theatre of Indiana. Here, in a relaxed cabaret setting, Gentry neither mimics nor impersonates Garland. Instead, between stories of her own life and her feelings of connection to Judy Garland, Ms. Gentry employs many of the late star’s vocal mannerisms and phrasing in singing some of Garland’s beloved classics. As she said in a recent edition of the Carmel Current: “I will be dressed as Katy and talking like Katy, but when we feature the songs, Judy will arrive. It’s a performance that allows me to share some of my connections with Judy. Then, I go into her (persona) and bring her spirit out in the songs.”

Gentry

And bring it she does! From “The Boy Next Door” all the way through “Over the Rainbow”, Ms. Gentry covers a remarkable variety of Garland classics in a way that, while reminiscent of the legend, also allows Gentry’s own star power to shine through. Accompanied by Magic Thread’s Artistic Director Dustin Klein on keyboards, Christian Starnes on bass, and Greg Wolff on percussion, this show provides a delightful evening of song as well as touching stories of life and art intersecting. The opening night crowd certainly agreed with me, offering the performers a well-deserved standing ovation.

Katy Gentry – Judy Garland Live runs THIS WEEKEND ONLY. Seating at The Cat is a bit limited, so I encourage you to get your tickets without delay. The Cat Theatre is located at 254 Veterans Way in Carmel. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the website http://www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006.

As always, I send my gratitude to Ken for another chance to catch some of Central Indiana’s finest stage talent. This weekend, I also offer gratitude to Magic Thread Cabaret, Klein and Alvarez Productions, and Ms. Katy Gentry – for providing a captivating evening of cabaret!

  • – photos provided by Magic Thread Cabaret