WEST WINDSOR — The Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) in conjunction with Theater To Go continues to push the boundaries this season with the landmark musical production “Cabaret.” This 1998 revival of the 1966 Broadway hit, based on the short novel “Goodbye to Berlin,” harkens back to authoritarian 1930s Germany where nightlife at the smokey Kit Kat Klub offers a refuge for escapists. Decadence, sexual ambiguity and good times are the norm until a dark turn brings everything to an end. A timeless musical drama that hasn’t lost its punch, “Cabaret” runs from Jan. 31 through Feb. 9. 

Winner of 12 Tony Awards since its original Broadway premiere, this tawdry, vibrant and high-energy musical explores the dark and tumultuous nightlife of pre-war Berlin natives and expatriates with some of the most memorable songs in theatre history, including “Cabaret,” “Willkommen,” “Tomorrow Belongs To Me” and “Maybe This Time.” The play was so popular that it became a groundbreaking eight-time Oscar winning 1972 movie-musical starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York and Joel Grey, and many increasingly edgy revivals.

The Los Angeles Times succinctly describes the ever-changing dynamic of “Cabaret” over the years as a barometer of the times: “ …The musical’s evolution can be seen as a mirror of American society over the last half-century: what has changed and what hasn’t.”

Producer/Director Ruth Markoe of Lawrenceville, with musical Director Israel "Buzz" Herman of Hamilton, Choreographer Haley Schmalbach of  Palmyra and Stage Manager Dennis Tolentino of Manalapan bring this masterpiece to life with Steven Brandt of Mountainside as Emcee, Jenna German of Cherry Hill as Sally Bowles, Matthew (Hewie) Swanson of Ewing as Cliff Bradshaw, Jim Morris of Hamilton as Ernst Ludwig, Linda Cunningham of Yardley, Pa. as Fraulein Schneider, Melissa Rittmann of Ewing as Fraulein Kost, Nathan Parker of Manalapan as Herr Schultz, Christopher Schmalbach of Palmyra as Max, Shawn Simmons of Hamilton as Bobby , Reise Bridgers of Hamilton as Victor, Samuel Zdanowicz of Hamilton as Hans/Herman, Lauren Suchenski of Yardley, Pa. as Rosie, Karaline Rosen of Robbinsville as Lulu, Emily Cargill or Annandale as Frenchie,  Jenna Moschella of Ewing   as Texas,  Mikayla Nelson of Trenton as Fritzie, and Emma Bryce of Hamilton as Helga.

Performance Dates:

Friday, January 31, 2020 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 2, 2020 at 2 p.m.
Friday, February 7, 2020 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 2 p.m.

Tickets

Tickets are $22 and may be purchased online or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at (609) 570-3333. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible with free parking next to the theatre. For a complete listing of adult and children's events, visit the Kelsey website http://kelsey.mccc.edu or call the box office for a brochure.

  

Kelsey Schedule

Kelsey Theatre Website

MCCC Home Page

 

 

The full cast of “Cabaret” which opens Jan. 31 at the Kelsey Theatre. (Photo by Mark Violi)

 

 

Matthew (Hewie) Swanson as Cliff and Jenna German as Sally. (Photo by Mark Violi)

 

Karaline Rosen as Lulu with Steven Brandt as Emcee and Shawn Simmons as Bobby. (Photo by Mark Violi)