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Overview

Synopsis

Cabaret takes place from 1929-1930, a time when Berlin, in the midst of a post-World War I economic depression, is transitioning from a center of underground, avant-garde cultural epicenter to the beginnings of Hitler’s totalitarian regime and the rise of the Nazi Party. Into this world enters Clifford Bradshaw, a struggling American writer looking for inspiration for his next novel. On his first night in Berlin, Cliff wanders into the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy nightclub overseen by the strange, omniscient and gender-bending Master of Ceremonies, “the Emcee.” Here, Cliff meets Sally Bowles, a vivacious, talented cabaret performer, and an utterly lost soul. Sally and Cliff begin a relationship, which blossoms unexpectedly into a dream-like romance. As time passes, however, the situation in Berlin changes from exciting and vital to ominous and violent; Ernst, Cliff’s first German friend, turns out to be an up-and-coming member of the Nazi Party, and Herr Schultz, a fellow boarder at Fraulein Schneider’s guest house (and Schneider’s fiancee), is the victim of an Anti-Semitic hate crime. When he finds out that Sally is pregnant, Cliff decides that they must leave for America at once, before things get any worse. Sally, afraid, confused, and unsure that she’ll ever really be able to trade the sexy, illicit cabaret lifestyle for motherhood, gets an abortion, and tells Cliff that he must leave without her. With a distinctly Brechtian dose of provocation and a score featuring songs that have become classics of the American Musical Theater, Cabaret is a fierce, meaty musical that pushes the boundaries of the form and literally holds “the mirror up to nature.”

Show Information

Music
John Kander
Lyrics
Fred Ebb
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1966
Genres
Drama
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1929-1930
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Clifford Bradshaw

Lead

Male

Baritone

Sally Bowles

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Emcee

Lead

Male

Tenor

Herr Schultz

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Ernst Ludwig

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Fraulein Kost

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Fraulein Schneider

Supporting

Female

Alto

Bobby

Featured

Male

Victor

Featured

Male

Herman

Featured

Male

Hans

Featured

Male

Lulu

Featured

Female

Rosie

Featured

Female

Texas

Featured

Female

Fritzie

Featured

Female

Frenchie

Featured

Female

Helga

Featured

Female

Girl

Featured

Female

Songs

Act One

  • *Willkommen -- Emcee and Company
  • So What? – Fräulein Schneider
  • Telephone Song – Cliff and Company
  • *Don't Tell Mama – Sally, Rosie, LuLu, Frenchy, Texas, Fritzy and Helga
  • *Mein Herr – Sally (replaced "Telephone Dance" in 1998/2012 revival)
  • *Telephone Dance – Company
  • Perfectly Marvelous – Sally and Cliff
  • *Two Ladies – Emcee and Two Ladies (Bobby replaces one of the ladies in 1998 revival)
  • It Couldn't Please Me More – Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz
  • Tomorrow Belongs to Me – Nazi Youth/Waiters/Emcee
  • Why Should I Wake Up? – Cliff
  • Don't Go – Cliff (replaced "Why Should I Wake Up?" in 1987 revival)
  • Maybe This Time – Sally (replaced "Don't Go" in 1998/2012 revival)
  • *Sitting Pretty – Emcee and Girls
  • *Money - Emcee and Company (mashed up with "Sitting Pretty" in 1987 revival, and replaced "Sitting Pretty" in 1998 revival)
  • Married – Herr Schultz and Fräulein Schneider (Fräulein Kost in German)
  • Meeskite – Herr Schultz (Cut in 1987/98/2012 revivals)
  • Tomorrow Belongs to Me (Reprise) – Fräulein Kost, Ernst Ludwig and Company

Act Two

  • *Entr'acte / Kickline – Emcee and Girls
  • Married (Reprise) – Herr Schultz (Cut in 2012 revival)
  • *If You Could See Her (The Gorilla Song) – Emcee
  • What Would You Do? – Fräulein Schneider
  • I Don't Care Much – Emcee (1987/98/2012 revivals)
  • Cabaret – Sally
  • Finale Ultimo – Company

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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