The renowned and beloved musical “Cabaret” is coming to San Mateo High School this October! The production takes place in a nightclub in Berlin, Germany, and explores the frenetic lives of Berlin natives as the Nazis rise to power in the early 1930s. It follows the romance between English singer Sally Bowles (to be casted by Katie Maupin) and the newly arrived young American writer, Clifford Bradshaw (to be casted by Joe Gloss).
Why “Cabaret,” you ask? “I have directed ‘Cabaret’ once before,” Stephanie Wozniak, Artistic Director of three years tells us. But, back then she staged the original version of the production. Now SMHS will be putting on the 1998 version. “The 1998 version feels more modern and while this story takes place very firmly in Berlin in 1930, the themes are still very relevant today,” she explains.
The musical was actually inspired by John Van Druten – an English playwright and theatre director – and his play “I Am a Camera.” The book “Goodbye to Berlin,” written by Christopher Isherwood (a novelist, playwright, screen-writer, autobiographer and diarist) also greatly influenced “Cabaret.”
With characteristics of such great works as the foundation of the musical, it has become a timeless classic, capturing many of the struggles we face in our own lives today. It is just one of the many reasons why “Cabaret” has stuck around for so long, and why it isn’t going away anytime soon.
Receiving 10 Tony Nominations the year it premiered, the latest “Cabaret” musical is not to be missed. Of the three, the 1998 version is the only one to contain the musical numbers “Mein Herr” and “Maybe This Time.” It also features a new version of “The Money Song,” though the title has since been changed to “Money.”
Despite these differences, all three follow the same story and have been enjoyed by many for over half a century. Ultimately, the production is a “beautiful haunting reminder of what we as humans are capable of,” as Ms. Wozniak puts it, and that is why it has continued to hold us enraptured throughout the years.
This year though, we’ll get to see SMHS’s drama cast and crew work their magic and present us with something unforgettable. One member of the crew provides us with a sneak peek at what’s happening behind the scenes right now. “We will be using some props and backdrops from another play at Hillbarn,” says Jocelyn Zhu, Freshman and drama crew member. “But we will also be making a lot of our own props,” she continues. “The scenes are going to be assembled, painted and modified by the tech crew,” adds Clara Kim, a freshman and drama crew member herself.
But not only will they be borrowing Hillbarn’s props, the Artistic Director at Hillbarn Theatre is co-directing with Ms. Wozniak and Zoe Swenson Graham, who choreographed Crazy For You.
In case you haven’t heard of it before, Hillbarn is a very high quality theatre, with a track record of putting on excellent productions. With the crew borrowing such nice stage sets, working with experienced producers and working hard to create their own props, there is absolutely no doubt “Cabaret” will be worth your while – and that’s not to mention the cast who are working just as hard. Speaking of the cast, we’ll also get to see some very familiar faces, as well as plenty of new ones making their SMHS acting debut. So keep an eye out for them!
Besides welcoming new cast members to the team, the play itself is rather new in the ideas it explores, compared to some other plays put on by SMHS in the past few years. “This show is definitely darker than anything we’ve done,” Ms. Wozniak tells us. “The actors will be dealing with some really heavy material and there is no happy ending in this production.” However, she is confident in their ability to handle it all, and is blown away by their continual professionalism and talent. Showcasing such dedication and expertise, we’ll surely all be blown away as well.
So, whether you want to support a friend who’ll be performing, support the school, or just want to mingle with classmates and have some entertainment for the evening, don’t miss out! Ticket sales start three weeks before the opening night on October 20, but they’re sure to sell out fast. The musical will go on for three nights, the last showing to be performed on October 23. So, make sure to come to the PAC then for a show you’ll never forget!