Celebrate all the Holidays In Bloomington, Indiana

CANDY CANES & DREIDELS: A Holiday Cabaret 2002-03 Cabaret Nouveau Series

Candace Decker and Rebecca Johnson unite in "CANDY CANES & DREIDELS: A Holiday Cabaret" on Saturday & Sunday, December 14th & 15th at 5:00 pm at the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP). Decker and Johnson share stories of joy, stress, laughter, tears and gifts to return as with any holiday celebration, but also tell us of the holidays they have shared with their families, each other and as married women, which will be the first holiday for newlywed Johnson with her husband and stepson. Performances of CANDY CANES & DREIDELS are at the Bloomington Playwrights Project (312 South Washington Street, Bloomington, IN - 812-355-9001). Tickets are $12 General Admission and $10 Students and seniors.

Friends for nearly ten years, they met through a mutual friend while they were both living in Chicago and immediately knew this was a bond for life. Decker was raised in a Summit, New Jersey and Virginia Beach, Virginia with a Catholic upbringing and Johnson was raised in Chicago, Illinois in both Jewish and Russian Orthodox religions - but their differences have brought them together as friends, actors and co-workers in the many day jobs they have had along the way. With guest accompanist Dustin Pappin who happens to be Johnson's old pal from Memphis, TN the songs are as diverse and unique as they are ranging from, "Snow! Snow! Snow!," "Sisters, Herman the Hanukkah Candle," and "Surabaya Santa" but also include favorite standards such as "Winter Wonderland," "Silver Bells," "What Are You doing New Year's Eve?," and the famous Judy Garland and Barbara Streisand duet "Get Happy / Happy Days are Here Again."

Candace Decker has worked regionally as an actress, a storyteller, an acting teacher and a cabaret artist. She was selected to attend the 2000 NYC Cabaret Symposium as a Cabaret Fellow at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center performing with such artists as Sally Mayes, Julie Wilson and Margaret Whiting. While working as an actress in Chicago she received the 1996 After Dark Award for her performance in Bailiwick Repertory's production "The Christmas Schooner" reprising her role as Alma for three seasons. While in Bloomington, Candace is a familiar face at the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) as their full-time Marketing Director as well as one of their School of Dramatic Arts (SODA) instructors. She created and is the producer of the BPP's Cabaret Nouveau Series, bringing cabaret talent from Chicago and Washington, DC to the BPP. She has written and performed in her own cabarets such as "Candy for the Holidays," "Love Candy," "O'Candy!" and "Pieces of Candy." She most recently directed and produced two cabaret shows, "Slightly Deranged: A Thinking Woman's Tour D'Vorce" and "HOT WET FUN" and will be reprise "Love, Candy" on Valentine's Day and with a grant from the Indiana Arts Commission create and perform "CANDYLAND - A Kid's Cabaret" in May 2003.

Rebecca Johnson earned a BFA in Theatre from Miami University. After graduating she headed to Memphis, Tennessee where she worked as an intern and then as a company member with Playhouse On the Square, where after moving to Chicago she returned as a Guest Artist in the role of Martha in "The Secret Garden" and the Narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Working as an actress and singer in Chicago she has appeared in many productions including "Three Penny Opera," "School House Rock Live Too!," "Heartbeats," "Starting Here, Starting Now," "Passion," and "Twelfth Night" as well as worked with companies such as Apple Tree Theatre, Bailiwick Repertory, New Tuners Theatre and Greasy Joan & Company. Rebecca can also be heard on the CD, FAMILY AFFAIR with her father, a Chicago Jazz Musician, Ron Kolber.

 

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