Music and Passion, 'Copacabana' is Back in Fashion

Call it reverse age discrimination. The Santa Cruz Follies is the only employer in town that requires its staff to be over 50.

But who else would know the intricacies and style of glamorous gun molls, glitzy showgirls, and "Rat Pack"-mannered mobsters?

The notorious club out of New York sets the scene for this 1960s rendition of the hotspot known for big talent and movie sets and was celebrated by Barry Manilow in his Grammy-winning musical Copacabana.

“This is a first-class show and it’s worth coming to see, with a lot of local talent,” says Lynn Knudsen, a Follies member for four years, who plays the part of a Mafia girlfriend. Of the cast of 50, more than 40 are women.

Kathryn Adkins, voice coach and acting teacher at Cabrillo College, is the new Follies director.

After seeing many past performances, Adkins thought Copacabana would be a perfect fit for her debut, with its music that stretches from Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra to Motown, Jazz and Pop/Rock.

The view is just as impressive, with showgirl dancers accessorized with feathers, sparkles, mobsters and talent.

The expected attendance will be near 3,000 over four days, Sept. 12-15,  with people streaming in from the North and East. Some 29 tour buses usually come from around California, Oregon and Nevada.

Showtime is 1 p.m. with two shows Friday, one at 7:30 p.m.

The 'Follies' fund the Senior Citizens Opportunity Inc., A.K.A. Market Street Senior Center at 222 Market Street.

Please visit santacruzfollies.net for more information and tickets, which are $20 and $5 for kids 10 and under.