Kendra Kassebaum is Glinda. She rules the big stage as the not-yet-Good-Witch in the popular musical Wicked. Along with some of her friends and cast members (alas, not the not-yet-Wicked-Witch-of-the-West Elphaba), Kassebaum performs on a smaller stage at the “Cabaret to Fight AIDS.” This 8-year-old benefit supports local groups doing research, and its show-tunes roundup theme has been, surprise surprise, very popular. The Broadway pros are joined by leading lights of the Bay Area stage, including Lara Bruckmann and Darla Wigginton. These two have extensive and serious opera experience, yet both constantly manufacture excuses to jump into fishnet stockings, as in their adorable shows under the name “Girlkulture,” which pay tribute to Kurt Weill and the like. A sassy group of high talent that brings musical theater numbers, standards, and the occasional pop or even (gasp) country song? You probably already own tickets.
Mon., May 18, 8 p.m., 2009
