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 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 was adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin. The musical is set in Berlin in 1929–1930, amid the decline of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Nazism.

Background

Cabaret was created by composer John Kander, lyricist Fred Ebb, and librettist Joe Masteroff. It draws on earlier works by John Van Druten and Christopher Isherwood that depict life in pre-war Berlin.

Plot and setting

The musical is set in late Weimar-era Berlin, where nightlife and political instability intersect. The Kit Kat Klub serves as the main performance setting and a symbol of the broader social changes around the characters.

Production history

Cabaret premiered on Broadway in 1966 at the Broadhurst Theatre. It became a major success and later inspired additional productions and a 1972 film adaptation.

Themes

The work contrasts hedonistic entertainment with the growing threat of Nazism. It is often discussed as a musical about decadence, political warning, and social decline.