Cabaret

Cabaret is a 1966 American musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Joe Masteroff.

Cabaret is a 1966 American musical set in Berlin during the decline of the Weimar Republic. It follows American writer Cliff Bradshaw and performer Sally Bowles at the Kit Kat Klub as political darkness rises.

What it is

Cabaret is a stage musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Joe Masteroff. It is based on John Van Druten’s play I Am a Camera, which itself was adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin. The story centers on the Kit Kat Klub, a nightclub where hedonism collides with the growing threat of Nazism.

Setting and plot

The musical is set in Berlin between 1929 and 1930, during the late Weimar Republic. The main story follows the relationship between Cliff Bradshaw, an American writer, and Sally Bowles, a British performer at the Kit Kat Klub. The club’s Master of Ceremonies serves as a narrator, blurring the line between entertainment and political commentary.

Production and awards

Cabaret premiered on Broadway on 20 November 1966 at the Broadhurst Theatre. It won the 1967 Tony Award for Best Musical. The title song, "Cabaret," became one of its most famous numbers. A 1972 film adaptation starring Liza Minnelli further cemented its legacy.