Several productions of The World Goes ‘Round have played in theaters across the U.S., and last week’s performance by The Academy@PBD of this revue is a wonderful example of what Palm Beach Dramaworks does best. To get a behind-the-scenes look, Director of Education and Community Engagement, Gary Cadwallader, weighed in on The Academy’s mission to train young performers in Palm Beach County, emphasizing rigorous training and collaboration with professional stage managers and designers.
The World Goes ‘Round is a musical revue celebrating the songs of legendary Broadway composers John Kander and Fred Ebb, conceived by director Scott Ellis, choreographer Susan Stroman, and librettist David Thompson,” he explained.
The show, which premiered Off-Broadway in 1991, had no traditional plot—instead, it wove together hits from shows like Cabaret, Chicago, and Kiss of the Spider Woman into a non-stop, energetic celebration of life, love, and the human spirit, featuring songs like "Cabaret," "New York, New York," and "Mr. Cellophane."
The young performers each learned many songs and the importance of respect, teamwork, and the intricacies of behind-the-scenes production. “The Academy aims to prepare students for professional careers in the theatre arts,” Cadwallader pointed out as he introduced The World Goes ‘Round cast.
It included rising junior musical theatre majors at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Kayla Brown, Bella Catania, Tristan Dominguez, and Max Leighton; and Cardinal Newman High School student, Danica Slavin, who started her training early on at Bak Middle School of the Arts and the Patel Conservatory. And Assistant Stage Manager, Jayden Moreno, who graduated from Atlantic Christian Academy in West Palm Beach this spring.
At last Sunday’s matinee show, the audience was wowed by the young talent and their dazzling vocal and dance performances. The revue featured a treasure trove of songs, requiring immense versatility from the young actors.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how The Academy@PBD prepared the cast and crew to tackle a highly choreographed, high-pressure operation to create the illusion of an effortless show.
The Interview
MC: Give us inside intel on The Academy@PBD.
GC: We started this program because I thought it was important that young people understand what it takes to perform in a professional production. So, everything's professionally aligned. Everyone gets to audition, from cast to stage managers, to be in The Academy. We see students from all over Palm Beach County, and they get to work with our PBD staff. I take great satisfaction and joy in watching young people rise to the challenge of working as professionals.
MC: Why did you choose The World Goes ‘Round specifically for this year’s production?
GC: The World Goes ‘Round is a musical revue with songs by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and it has always been on my bucket list and on our Producing Artistic Director, Bill Hayes’s, to perform in Palm Beach Dramaworks. It is truly the best revue ever written, with extraordinary music.
MC: [To the cast] What song did you sing for your audition, and why did you choose that one?
Kayla Brown: I did "Willing to Ride" from Steel Pier, and I picked that song because it kind of had the same vibe and essence as The World Goes ‘Round.
Bella Catanya: I sang "I Get a Kick Out of You" from Anything Goes. I picked the song because I liked its jazzy feel and thought it showcased my voice well.
Tristan Domingues: I sang I Don't Care Much from Cabaret, which is one of my favorite musicals. I really love the song because there's so much subtext and storytelling.
Max Layton: I sang "I Am What I Am" from La Cage aux Folles. Although it's not a Golden Age song, it has the same classical, musical-theatre feel as many of the Kander and Ebb songs. There's good storytelling, the message is beautiful, and I felt that it would showcase my voice the best.
MC: This is a revue, so I understand that there are no specific characters, but you still had to play some kind of role as you sang these songs, correct?
Kayla: Yes, I feel like we all are characters in some way. The World Goes ‘Round I’m saying, "Here, I'm going to show you a bunch of songs and stories that we’re going to sing, and some are happy, and others are heartbreak, perseverance. Like this song that I sing that’s about her husband leaving her.
Bella: I have a very fun track and journey in the show. I really enjoy the arc my character has in Act One, especially the dancing. In Act Two, my character matures, and I really enjoy the challenges that come with this track.
Tristan: I wanted to characterize it almost in a way, like an animal, so in some songs you'll see me be like a full peacock, doing "All That Jazz." And then, in other songs, I’m kind of a chicken—meek and shy. In Act Two, I also have an arc with Bella, and I feel that those animals just completely go away, and I'm myself.
Danica: I feel like my character is constantly looking for more, trying to find her purpose and what makes her fulfilled. Sometimes she thinks she's found it, and sometimes it's like, oh, this isn't really what I want. "How Lucky Can You Get," and it's all about how material things, money, and fame aren't really what could make a person happy.
Max: So, my character relies on others to find fulfillment. I sing a song called "Kiss of the Spider Woman," about this girl who gives him life and kind of gets him through the day. I sing another song called "We Can Make It," which conveys the message of relying on other people for happiness. So, I think he has an interesting role, and I really connect to a lot of his songs.
MC: So, how do your roles and the songs you play interact?
Danica: Like Kayla said, after she sings The World Goes 'Round, we each sing songs about crazy things that are happening in our lives, but the world keeps going around.
Kayla: We talked about this during table work. New York, New York Life is like a cycle, and we’re all connected in some way. At the end of the show, there’s the hope that we can all make it in life—even though everyone is going through different things, we're still on the same trajectory—we're trying to just figure out life as it comes.
Bella: Through each song, each character is learning a lesson and teaching lessons to each other and to the audience.
Kayla: This show is about how we’re all learning how to work through the challenges of life and how to deal with them.
MC: And what lessons did you learn?
Danica: It's so easy for it to feel bigger than life. You can’t get wrapped up in the smallest things. That's what has resonated with me the most.
Bella: Not letting fear stop you from doing what you want or can do. There's a song called Yes, and where we say yes to everything, and I think that's a really nice thing to remember. If you can say yes, like anything is possible. You just need to want it, and then do it.
Tristan: Yeah, it's like there's no one way to do your life; you just must figure out what your purpose is—what you want to do.
Max: Also, no one's alone in this experience. Sometimes we think “nobody understands me or has gone through this,” but many people are going through the exact same thing. And we must realize that other people are there for us as well; they know what we're going through and can help us.
MC: Those are good. Now, that's the lesson from the musical, but how about the lesson from The Academy? This experience—what are you taking with you?
Kayla: I learned that this industry in general is a small world. Everyone knows everyone, so we must treat everyone with kindness. The cast, crew, musicians, directors, music director, and designers. Everyone needs to be treated with the utmost respect and kindness. You can’t think that you’ll never see them again. In this industry, you will, so you can’t burn bridges.
Bella: Understanding that everyone works hard, we are all tired, but everyone wants to be here and is here for a reason. It takes a village.
Max: Especially this week, before the show. There’s the stage manager, lighting designers, sound engineers, musicians, music director, director… There are so many little facets of the show that all come together to create the final result.
Kayla: I’ve been in The Academy for three years, and the analysis of songs is so important. We're telling a story with songs, and we want to impact people. So, writing down your objectives makes a huge difference in your performance.
MC: Are you planning to go into the musical theatre industry in the future?
All: Yes.
MC: And Jayden, how about you? What was your experience like as an assistant stage manager?
Jayden: I've learned so much working with Carley Knotts, Production Stage Manager. She taught me blocking, sound cues, lights, the sound board, and so much more. It was a lot to learn, and I've learned so much throughout these past three weeks.
MC: And how’s that synergy of the cast and crew working together?
GC: Yeah, what's going on backstage over the last couple of days?
Kayla: The tech crew helped us so much, like when we need something like a prop, they're ready for us. Everyone is just so kind. We all sit and eat lunch together, and that's kind of the message of the show, too. We all come together to create one beautiful thing, and it's the world—the universe in general.
Palm Beach Dramaworks has a great season coming up. Single ticket sales begin on July 14. Don't miss it!