Liz Power Returns to "Reel Music"

FST's latest Cabaret production, Reel Music, celebrates some of the greatest music to be made famous by the silver screen. For cast member Liz Power, this show marks her sixth production at FST, in which she performs iconic songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz and “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard.

We sat down with Liz to talk about how it feels to be back on the Cabaret stage, her favorite song in Reel Music, and how audiences have been responding to the show.

FST produced the first version of Reel Music during the 2011-2012 Winter Season. This season, the theatre is bringing a completely different rendition of Reel Music to life in the Cabaret. You were a member of the original cast of Reel Music. What was that experience like?

Reel Music was my first Cabaret at FST. I absolutely love the process of creating something "new", so this type of project was right up my alley. Since 2012, I have done three more Cabarets at FST, but Reel Music has always been my favorite. The show connected with the audience in a very organic and authentic way.

A memory that sticks out from the 2012 version of Reel Music happened, without fail, every night. One of my cast mates, Gil Brady, asked the audience what their favorite movie songs were. Every time we would hear, "Singin' in the Rain!" Unfortunately, we had to cut the song in 2012, and Gil had to break the news to them every night. Audiences will be thrilled to hear, though, that “Singin’ in the Rain” is in the show this time around.

Do you have a personal connection to any of the songs in Reel Music? If so, what does that song mean to you?

When I did Reel Music the first time around, I had a favorite song in the show. Ironically, it was one of the few songs I wasn't familiar with prior to rehearsals, but it quickly became my favorite: “The Windmills of Your Mind” from The Thomas Crown Affair. There is something so beautifully haunting about that piece, and I looked forward to singing it every night. Fortunately, I also get to perform the song in this season's edition of Reel Music.

This Season's production of Reel Music has been playing in the Court Cabaret for a couple of months now. What has that experience been like so far?

I’ve loved being back in the Cabaret space. My 8-year-old daughter even came to see me perform for the very first time during this run, and that’s something I’ll never forget!

Audiences have been so connected to this show and its music. One minute, people are dancing in their seats, the next minute they are wiping tears away.  I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a production where, on any given night, people will give standing ovations in the middle of a show (and for different numbers!). 

Reel Music is now playing in FST's Court Cabaret. For tickets and more information, click here.