When the lights dim and the Kit Kat Club comes to life, audiences might expect a dazzling night of high kicks, glitter, and jazz hands. But “Cabaret” is more than just a flashy musical.
It tells a powerful story about denial, danger and the consequences of ignoring what’s happening around us.
Set in 1930s Berlin during the rise of the Nazi regime, “Cabaret,” originally directed by Harold Prince with music by John Kander and Fred Ebb, follows performers and citizens clinging to the illusion of safety on stage as the world outside grows darker.
The theater department chose “Cabaret” for this season, Director Shaheen Vaaz feels it was an artistic match for the students and a timely reflection of the world today.
“It has turned out to be uncannily in sync with what our community is experiencing right now,” Vaaz said. “The horrors and tumult of World War II are also constantly with us, the fears that our actors, creatives and crew are struggling with are not so far away either.”
Ali Suliman, who plays Emcee, describes the emotional extremes the show carries.
“It feels like I’m at the top of Goliath and also at the top of Superman,” Suliman said. “I’m sinking into despair but also reaching into madness. Those extremes make it very challenging, but it’s fun to flex between those two modes of humanity.”
The cast aimed to approach the show’s intense themes with sensitivity and purpose.
“It’s a heavy story but we can say it’s dark and sad, so I’m not going to look at it,” cast member Donna Accardo said. “Theater allows us to tell stories, even sad ones, and honor the people who went through it.”
Despite the intense narrative, the show is filled with vibrant dance numbers influenced by the stylized work of Bob Fosse.
“With the choreography, you’ll see a kind of clown-like, but also very sexy, circus-style 1930s club dancing,” cast member Tori Swick said. “A lot of energy, very fast movements, high kicks, rolling on the floor.”
While the choreography delivers high energy and bold expressions, the cast says “Cabaret” also dives deep into the emotional complexities of its characters.
“I think people will be surprised by how much range this show has,” Suliman said. “It’s funny and there are silly songs, but it’s also heartbreaking. I hope the audience feels the whole range and remembers they are allowed to feel all of it.”
More than anything, the cast hopes audiences walk away feeling more connected to each other.
“We felt something deeply while working on this play,” Suliman said. “I hope that comes through in our performance, so people are reminded that society only exists because we band together with a unified vision.”
Cabaret opens Friday, May 9, and runs through Sunday, May 18, with a special sign-interpreted performance on May 17.
Showtimes for Fridays and Saturdays are at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for students and seniors and $25 for general admission.
