Piedmont High School presents the musical Cabaret, directed and choreographed by Amy Moorhead. This Kander and Ebb musical, set in a Berlin nightclub as the 1920’s draw to a close, explores the exhilarating life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. The director has chosen to eliminate the use of swastikas and military uniforms in this production. Memorable songs from the show include “Willkommen,” “Perfectly Marvelous”, “Money”, “Maybe This Time”, and the title song “Cabaret”.
More than 70 Piedmont High and Millennium High School students are involved in this PG-13 version of the show including a student orchestra, conducted by PHS Band Director, Trevor Meseroll. Vocal Direction is handled by local professional Sandra Peter. The cast features Amelia Addington as Sally Bowles, Caitlin Boothby as the Emcee, Theo Ferguson as Cliff Bradshaw, Ben Wakefield as Herr Schultz, Ellie Broscow as Fräulein Schneider, Clare Weiss as Fräulein Kost, and Ford Andrews as Ernst.
Winning the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1967, Cabaret continues to impact its audience and performers. Sophomore Ben Wakefield shares that ”Performing in Cabaret has been a unique and profound experience for me as a Jewish high school student taking on the role of Herr Schultz. The Israel-Hamas War, which unfolded during our rehearsal period, did impact my feelings about performing in Cabaret. It heightened my awareness of the persistent relevance of the themes explored in the musical. Being part of Cabaret has allowed me to engage with history, art, and my own identity in a profound way. It has underscored the importance of using the performing arts as a platform for exploring and understanding the complexities of the human experience, both past and present.”
Sally Bowles and the Kit Kat Girls: Amelia Addington (front right) as Sally Bowles, while the Kit Kat girls look on (standing, L to R): Claire Warner, Ava Grochowksi, Kirstin Fedor, Clare Weiss (Fräulein Kost), Beatriz Donohoe, Haylee Cheang; (seated, L to R) Skye Prata, Kaeli Yeung, Breah Bell, Charlotte Mascola, Payton Cole 
“What Would You Do” performed by Ellie Hersch as Fräulein Schneider (right), with (from left) and Amelia Addington (Sally Bowles) and Theo Ferguson (Cliff Bradshaw) 
L to R: Theo Ferguson (Cliff Bradshaw) Amelia Addington (Sally), Caitlin Boothby (Emcee), Ben Wakefield (Herr Schultz) 
In the railroad car (L to R): Ford Andrews as Ernst, Theo Ferguson as Cliff, and Greta Schleuning as the customs official
Senior Ellie Broscow, who plays the role of Fräulein Schneider, reveals “Cabaret is an incredibly important musical to me and has been for quite some time. My love for the show has definitely grown throughout the rehearsal process as I’ve realized just how relevant the themes still are, 58 years since its premiere on broadway in 1996. The themes of anti-semitism especially resonate with me after the events of October 7th. I have seen how the world has turned against the Jewish people throughout history, and Cabaret addresses a particularly intense period, 1929, or the rise of Hitler. The vivid anti-semitism that existed then has continued to increase, especially right now, and we simply cannot turn a blind eye to it any longer. I hope that Cabaret will continue to be performed for years to come.”
Front, L to R: Haylee Cheang, Kirsten Fedor, Ali Atanasio, Payton Cole; 2nd row, L to R: Ava Grochowski, Skye Prata, Kaeli Yeung, Amelia Addington, Clare Weiss; 3rd row, L to R: Claire Warner, Caitlin Bootthby, Breah Bell, Charlotte Mascola; 4th row, L to R: Lucas Smolko, Yiyou Fang, Caleb Canada 
L to R: Theo Ferguson (Cliff Bradshaw), Amelia Addington (Sally Bowles), Caitlin Boothby (Emcee), Ellie Broscow (Fräulein Schneider), Ben Wakefield (Herr Schultz) 
Front row ,L to R: Sofia Lawrence, Skye Prata, Ava Grochowski, Payton Cole, Sparrow Lieu, Anna Marsala, Amelia Addington, Ella Smithers; Row, 2 L to R: Mara Kemp-Malone, Beatriz Donohoe, Kaeli Yeung, Charlotte Mascola, Breah Bell, Haylee Cheang, Ali Atanasio, Caleb Canada, Evolette Mak; Row 3, L to R: Tung Le, Lauren Kelley, Lila Schwab, Kirstin Fedor, Andrea Boothby, Greta Schleuning, Clare Weiss, Caitlin Boothby, Ellie Broscow, Ben Wakefield; Row 4, L to R: Yiyou Fang, Helen Winnacker, Sacha Andrews, Claire Warner, Etta Jenkins, Danielle Zaroukian, Theo Ferguson, Ford Andrews, Nate McKenzie
Details
Performances are February 1, 2, 3, and 4 at 7:00 pm in the Alan Harvey Theater, 800 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/PHSCabaret or at the door for an additional $2.00 per ticket.
Photos courtesy of Amy Moorhead