Cabaret (musical)

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Musical dates
Title: Cabaret
Original title: Cabaret
Original language: English
Music: John Kander
Book: Joe Masteroff
Lyrics: Fred Ebb
Literary source: John Van Druten: I Am a Camera
Original direction: Harold Prince
Premiere: November 20, 1966
Place of premiere: Broadhurst Theater, New York City
Roles / people
  • Emcee
  • Sally Bowles
  • Clifford Bradshaw
  • Miss Schneider
  • Mr. Schultz
  • Ernst Ludwig
  • Miss Kost
  • Max
  • Mausi
  • Inge
  • Heidi
  • Helga
  • Sailors
  • Visitors
  • Nazis

Cabaret is a musical from 1966. The music was written by John Kander , the lyrics by Fred Ebb , the book Joe Masteroff based on the play I Am a Camera (1951) by John Van Druten , which is based on the autobiographical novels Mr. Norris ( 1935) and Lebwohl, Berlin (1939) based by Christopher Isherwood . The musical premiered on November 20, 1966 at the Broadhurst Theater in New York City . Harold Prince produced and directed the production; in the role of Master of Ceremonies was Joel Gray , seen as Miss Tailor Lotte Lenya .

action

Berlin at the beginning of the 1930s.

Cliff Bradshaw, a young American writer, travels to Berlin to write a novel. Through his acquaintance with Ernst Ludwig, he found accommodation in the pension of the elderly Fraulein Schneider. Through Ludwig, Cliff also got to know the Kit-Kat-Club, where he met the English singer Sally Bowles. She is the star of the show - and not just because of her artistic talent. When Sally is released, she takes refuge in Cliff's boarding house and the two become a couple.

Two other pensioners also met happiness, albeit late. Mr Schultz is successfully soliciting Miss Schneider. But when it turned out at the engagement party that soon followed that Schultz was a Jew and that Ernst Ludwig, who was present as a guest, was a National Socialist , Miss Schneider could not escape the poisoned atmosphere that was looming. The engagement is broken; Mr. Schultz is leaving the pension.

After this incident, Cliff wants to leave Germany, whereas Sally continues to dream of her great career in Berlin. When she then aborts their child, nothing can stop the American. But those who stay behind face an uncertain future.

Kander's music, inspired by ragtime and early jazz , as well as the revue-like numbers in the Kit-Kat-Club inserted by Masteroff , which frame the plot, are reminiscent of the musicals of the 1920s.

backgrounds

The most famous songs from the musical are: “Willkommen” , “Two ladies” , “If you could see her through my eyes” , “Marriage” and “Tomorrow belongs to me” .

The songs "Maybe this time" , "Mein Herr" and Money, Money, on the other hand, were not composed for the musical, but for the 1972 film version. Because of the popularity of these songs, they are usually added to new performances.

Cabaret ran in New York from 1966 to 1969 and won the 1967 Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Composer and Songwriter, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Best Stage Design, Best Costume Design, Best Choreography and the best direction of a musical. It was performed again in 1987 and 1998. The production by Madonna choreographer Vincent Paterson has been running in Berlin since 2004.

filming

The piece was filmed very successfully in 1972 with a changed plot and additional songs by Kander and Ebb. Directed by Bob Fosse , Liza Minnelli played the role of Sally Bowles. The film received eight Academy Awards .

Premieres and important performances

Awards

literature

Web links