Cabaret

written by Joe Masteroff

directed by Sarah Hegger

AUDITION DATES AND TIMES

– Tuesday, September 29, 2026 @ 7-10 pm

– Wednesday, September 30, 2026 @ 7-10 pm

– Callback:  Thursday, October 1, 2026 @ 7-10 pm (if required)

Please arrive on time for check-in, administration, and incidentals.
Auditions are by appointment only.

REHEARSAL DATES

Rehearsal will begin on Monday October 26 7-10 pm and then run every Sunday 7-10 pm as well as Monday and Wednesday 7-10 pm.  Some changes or additional rehearsals may occur during the course of the production schedule.

(All auditions and rehearsals take place at Kanata Theatre, Ron Maslin Playhouse – 1 Ron Maslin Way, Stittsville, ON K2V 1A7. Please enter through the back entrance.)

SHOW DATES AND TIMES

Performance dates are February 3-6 & 9-13, 2027 (matinee February 7)

All shows with the exception of the matinee will start at 7:30 p.m, matinee at 2:30pm

Member’s preview: February 1, 2026

SYNOPSIS

In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. With the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the dark, heady and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich.

Cliff, a young American writer newly arrived in Berlin, is immediately taken with English singer Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, Fräulein Schneider, proprietor of Cliff and Sally’s boarding house, tentatively begins a romance with Herr Schultz, a mild-mannered fruit seller who happens to be Jewish.

CHARACTERS

The show requires performers of a variety of ages, ethnicities and genders. Everyone is encouraged to audition.

The Emcee: Master of ceremonies at Berlin’s seedy Kit Kat Club. Charismatic, unsettling, playful, and increasingly ominous as the political climate darkens around him. Gender nonconforming and presenting. Must act, sing (some in German), move well, and be comfortable with bawdy/suggestive staging/choreography.

Sally Bowles: A British cabaret singer performing at the Kit Kat Club. Vivacious, impulsive, glamorous, and determined to live fully in the moment despite the world closing in around her. Must act, sing, and move well; comfortable with moments of intimacy and bawdy/suggestive staging/ choreography.

Cliff Bradshaw: An American writer who arrives in Berlin seeking inspiration. Observant, thoughtful, and gradually pulled into both Sally’s chaotic orbit and the changing political reality of Germany.) Acting plus some singing, must be comfortable with moments of intimacy.

Fraulein Schneider: Owner of the boarding house where Cliff stays. Practical, warm, and quietly resilient, though forced to make heartbreaking choices as Nazi influence grows. Requires acting, singing and light dance (waltz). Must be comfortable with moments of mild intimacy.

Herr Schultz: A gentle Jewish fruit shop owner who falls in love with Fraulein Schneider. Kind, optimistic, and deeply human. Must act and sing well; comfortable with stage movement, light dance (waltz), and mild intimacy.

Fraulein Kost: Might double as a Kit Kat Dancer. A boarder at Schneider’s house who earns money entertaining sailors. Bold, brassy, and increasingly aligned with the rising nationalist movement. Must act, sing and perhaps dance.

Ernst Ludwig: Initially charming and friendly, he befriends Cliff but later reveals stronger ties to the Nazi party. Represents the creeping normalization of extremism. Must act, sing, and move comfortably.

Kit Kat Club Ensemble: Total of six. Dancers, singers, and performers who embody the decadent nightlife of Berlin while also reflecting the increasingly fractured and dangerous society outside the club doors. It is very important they act, sing, dance/move well and with confidence. They will be part of various scenes in and out of the Club; should be comfortable interacting with the audience and comfortable with bawdy/suggestive staging/choreography and costumes. All gender-identities, ages, ethnicities, and body types welcome.

The Swingers: Two male presenting performers who will take the majority of smaller parts (Bobby, Victor, Hans, Rudy, Herman, Sailors, Customs officials etc.). Must be able to act, move well and sing as part of chorus. An ability to switch characters convincingly will be a plus.

The Band: We will be using a live band which will be onstage throughout the entire show. We are looking for people who can play the following instruments:

Reed 1 (Bb clarinet, alto sax opt. Clarinet in A)

Reed 2 (Bb Clarinet and tenor sax)

Trumpet

Trombone

Drums

Banjo/guitar (principally banjo)

Synthesiser (principally Accordion)

Bass

(Bonus points if you can play more than one.)

If you are interested in being a member of the band, please contact our musical director, Alana Lavoie aelavoie@gmail.com

Notes from the Director

Thank you for your interest in Cabaret. We are super excited to be bringing this show to Kanata Theatre and would love to share our enthusiasm with like-minded performers.

Yes, Cabaret is a musical, but our vision for the production is more Brecht than Rodgers & Hammerstein. We are treating Cabaret as political theatre with music —and as such, not looking for the world’s greatest singers or dancers. An ability to sing and move well are important but we are looking for performers who are primarily strong actors who can also sing and dance.  Before auditioning, please be sure you are available for the full rehearsal period.