Feel Groovy This Spring

With Cabaret 

By James Scarborough

Published: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 3:59 PM PDT

If you find yourself kicking down the cobblestones looking for fun, you should experience the enchanting “Feelin’ Groovy,” a cabaret show performed by Tibbies Great American Cabaret and Dinner Theatre aboard the Queen Mary.

The production focuses on hits from the 1960s, a decade that didn’t just feature the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Mamas and the Papas and Donny Osmond, but theme songs from “Mr. Ed,” “Batman,” the “Tonight Show” and, lest we forget, the incalculable effervescence of Mr. Champagne Music himself, Lawrence Welk.

The production gave the packed house just what it wanted — songs that make them feel upbeat.   

For anyone who was around then, it was a trip down memory lane; for those who weren’t, it’s a wonderful opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. Under the masterful musical direction of Todd Vigiletti and the deft choreography of Jennifer Vigiletti, the six talented, engaging, energetic performer/servers (dinner’s optional but is highly recommended) create a carousel of emotion-packed, spot-on covers and dance numbers that will have you dancing in the aisles, just like the cast.

The focus? Well, since the ’60s were a decade of peace, friendship and, mostly, love, it’s love songs — the agony and the ecstasy — that are served up. The songs are positive and hopeful, good synonyms for the decade.

The cast is accompanied by a live band — Chris Booke, Brian Sherick, David Hall and Al Politano. Their rendition of “Lil Darlin’” alone was worth the price of admission. The evening’s neatly broken up by music groupings that flow, one into the other. There are songs by Girl Groups (Kristin Mulligan, Jasmine Jacobs and Jennifer Vigiletti), including a fantastic medley of “It’s My Party,” “Please Mr. Postman,” and “Baby Love.”

There are songs by Guy Groups (Mark Donahue, David Marchesano and Michael Mulligan), including rousing versions of “Go Away Little Girl” and “Runaway.”

And there’s a galvanizing “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” done by the entire cast. There’s a surfing set, a hippie set, including the unbelievable harmonies of “Monday, Monday,” an angelic “Scarborough Faire” by Kristin Mulligan, and a very funny send-up of The “Twilight Zone” meets “Gilligan’s Island” meets “Star Trek.”

The evening had the tone of a Las Vegas show from the ’60s: elegant, classy and restrained. Tibbies nailed their demographic — it’s entertaining, it’s kid-friendly, it’s the perfect venue for any manner of celebrations, romantic or otherwise, including the commemoration of some guy who had proposed to his girl 30 minutes prior.

An attention to detail provided the perfect accompaniment to a memorable evening.

The room’s red and black décor, along with its Crayola crayon colored drinks served in Art Deco glasses contributed to the cabaret intimacy of the posh Queen Mary. Whether it’s evoking memories or creating them, “Feelin’ Groovy” perfectly embodies a bygone dream of a cabaret engagement.

    Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday. The show runs until June 27, 2010.

    Tickets are $40 (for the show only) to $63.95 (meal included).

The Queen Mary is located at

1126 Queens Highway

Long Beach, CA 90802

    For more information, call 499-1757 or visit www.tibbiescabaret.com.

Center Stage Theater, Fontana

      The Center Stage Theater in Fontana is Stargazer Productions' (the parent company of TIBBIES Great American Cabaret) newest permanent venue.  This state-of-the-art theater and conference space will serve the Inland Empire and beyond.  The latest in Audio/Visual, projector, and Broadband Technologies will all be installed at this historic location, and Stargazer's team of professionals will manage all aspects of the faculty on behalf of the City of Fontana.  From expert catering and amazing dinner theater productions, to executive conferences and touring concerts, Stargazer will provide the solutions for this multi-use facility.  

Upcoming Production

Weekends May 7th – June 13th, 2010 

TIBBIES KICKS OFF the 4th of July SPECTACULAR!

For the 5,000+ attendees at the City of Fontana's Patriotic Spectacular Show, it was truly a fantastic experience. TIBBIES was invited to entertain the masses on July 4th, and they delivered in spades! Crowds enthusiastically applauded the TIBBIES cast members and their incredible voices as they presented a half hour tribute to our nation: its past, its present, and its glorious future.

Feelin' Groovy!

Opens March 26th and runs through June 27th. Call:

1-888-4TIBBIES

READ letters from our guests

… more»

"They sing, they dance, they freshen your drink..."

A.K. Whitney of LA.com reviews DANCING QUEEN...!

Kayte Deioma of About.com calls DANCING QUEEN a "dazzling, high energy production" ...check out her

online REVIEW!

TIBBIES was voted "BEST DINNER THEATER!"
by the Orange County Register - Readers' Poll

OC METRO MAGAZINE
•Review •

--by Steve Thomas

"Superb Song and Dance--TIBBIES Great American Cabaret is putting on the Ritz in downtown Santa Ana."

Run, don't walk, dash, don't dally, to catch one of the remaining performances of TIBBIES "Silver Screen Spectacular," playing through the end of April. The song and dance review of music from classic Hollywood movies is great entertainment - a delight overall… more »

• REVIEW •
(TIBBIES at the Queen Mary, Long Beach)

"Classy Setting for Feel-Good Show!"

Well, it’s true the Queen Mary no longer cruises. It’s also true that the new TIBBIES At The Queen Mary is a mix of dinner theater and lounge act, with the entertainers serving the salad. But you get the picture. TIBBIES has been a part of the entertainment scene in the Southland for a decade. Creators Todd and Jennifer Vigiletti took the time-honored dinner theater format and twisted it to fit into performances of musical reviews… more »

•REVIEW•
(for our Santa Ana location) in
"Fun Places In Southern California" Guide Book

"More than just dinner, and more than just a show -- TIBBIES in Santa Ana is a wonderful three-hour, dinner, musical song and dance revue in an upscale atmostphere. The show's high energy, beautiful voices, numerous costume changes, and well-choreographed dance moves make any show here a delight!"
- Susan Peterson -
(Former columnist for the L.A.Times &
Author of "Fun Places in Southern California")