Cast albums
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Cabaret
An archive introduction to the musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff: a story set in Berlin during a period of political uncertainty and social change.
A landmark musicalAbout the work
Private lives, public change.
Cabaret draws on Christopher Isherwood's Berlin stories and John Van Druten's I Am a Camera. Its central relationship follows cabaret performer Sally Bowles and American writer Clifford Bradshaw as they navigate a restless Berlin.
Alongside them, the relationship between Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz reveals how widening political pressure reaches ordinary lives. The musical places intimate choices against a sharply changing social landscape.
Creative record
The artists behind the score.
MusicJohn Kander
LyricsFred Ebb
BookJoe Masteroff
Source materialChristopher Isherwood and John Van Druten
Archive context
A production with a long afterlife.
The original Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1966 and ran for 1,165 performances. Its original company included Joel Grey as the Emcee, Jill Haworth as Sally, Bert Convy as Clifford, Jack Gifford as Herr Schultz, and Lotte Lenya as Fräulein Schneider.
A later Broadway revival opened at the Imperial Theatre in 1987, with Grey returning to the role of the Emcee. The 1972 film adaptation featured Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, and Michael York.
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Sheet music
Find the sheet-music section within the companion record for this title.
Open sheet musicThe film
Continue to the archive note on the screen adaptation and its place in the work's history.
Read about the movieUseful notes
Archive questions
A few ways to place this musical within the collection.
Who wrote Cabaret?
The music is by John Kander, the lyrics are by Fred Ebb, and the book is by Joe Masteroff.
What are the source works?
The musical is based on Christopher Isherwood's Berlin stories and John Van Druten's play I Am a Camera.
Where is the story set?
The action is set in Berlin in the years before the Nazi rise to power, with the cabaret world serving as an important setting.
When did the original Broadway production open?
The original production opened in 1966 at the Broadhurst Theatre and ran for 1,165 performances.
Does this archive include recordings?
Yes. The companion page links to cast-album material, sheet music, and a note on the film adaptation.
Where can I find broader theatre research paths?
The theatre links collection offers a concise route to related theatre-reference material.
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