CABARET – MSU DENVER

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Willkommen. Bienvenue. Welcome.

 

I have had so much fun bringing Cabaret to life with my students! This beautiful, messy, funny, and ultimately heartbreaking musical has given us so much to explore, and we cannot wait to share it with you.

 

Set in Berlin in the early 1930s, Cabaret follows Cliff, an American who crosses the pond in search of inspiration for a book, and perhaps a little escape from the problems back home. Along the way, he meets people looking for love, laughter, freedom, and a good time. Unfortunately, the world has other plans. History, as it turns out, is not particularly good at giving us a heads-up.

 

Our production invites you to look beyond the history books and experience this story through Cliff’s eyes: an American watching another country unravel, and while the story takes place nearly a century ago, its questions feel uncomfortably familiar. What do we see? What do we ignore? And how long can we keep enjoying the party?

 

A huge thank you to my incredible artistic team: Erik, Nadia, Ren, Caleb, and ZEREK! And a big shoutout to my students for their bravery, artistry, and willingness to dive headfirst into this challenging material. Art is protest, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way this company has pushed, questioned, and grown throughout this process.

 

Enjoy the show. Enjoy the music. Enjoy the party. But keep your eyes open. I’ve always thought of Cabaret as a rotten apple. Perhaps even one Herr Schultz might have tossed out of his shop. It looks beautiful. It smells sweet. You might even take a bite. But something is happening underneath, and by the time you notice, it may be too late to spit it out.

 

-Carrie Colton (Director/Choreographer)