In 1930s Berlin, a young American writer steps off the train and finds his way to the seedy Kit Kat Klub which is presided over by a sexually ambiguous Emcee who introduces the venue and the Cabaret girls. He is directed to Frau Schneider’s boarding house and she haggles with him over how much he has to pay to stay there. Back at the club, Cliff is introduced to a British singer Sally Bowles ‘the toast of Mayfair’ who performs various racy numbers. Cliff offers to take her home, but she is worried about what her boyfriend might say. Cliff earns a living teaching English in the boarding house and Sally arrives looking for a place to live. She decides to stay with Cliff as the Emcee muses on their living conditions. Herr Schultz is an older Jewish man who owns the fruit shop below the boarding house. He is attracted to Fray Schneider and brings her the exotic gift of a pineapple.

The Nazi presence on Germany begins to grow, and even in the club a song is turned into a Nazi march. As months go by, Cliff begins to wonder about his situation with Sally, and as she reveals she is pregnant and wants an abortion, he is shocked. He agrees to take a risky job to bring in some more money for the couple. Meanwhile, Herr Schultz proposes to Fraulein Schneider, after she argues with a lodger who continually sleeps with a wide variety of different men. At the couple’s engagement party, anti-Semite feeling is expressed, and a Nazi anthem is sung as many of the characters helplessly look on.

As Frau Schneider grows more worried about marrying a Jewish man, Schultz’s shop is attacked but he refuses to acknowledge the trouble he is in. The Emcee performs a song at the club about loving a Gorilla, challenging their perception about mixed relationships. Schneider tells Sally and Cliff that she is going to call off the wedding, and refuses to listen to Cliff’s reasoning. Sally refuses to move to America with Cliff and their child and rushes back to club. Cliff is beaten up by Nazi’s and dragged out of the club, whilst Sally sings of that ‘life is a cabaret’.

As Cliff prepares to leave, Sally tells him about the abortion and he hits her. He promises to use her in his book that he begins to write as his train pulls away from Berlin. The Emcee bids farewell to the audience, and the company reveal concentration camp uniforms complete with a yellow star of David and a pink triangle.

Act One

• Wilkommen
• Welcome To Berlin
• So what
• The Telephone Song
• Don’t tell Mama
• Don’t Tell Mama (Stage Band)
• Telephone Dance
• Telephone Crossover
• Perfectly Marvelous
• Two Ladies
• Two Ladies Playoff
• It Couldn’t Please Me More
• Tomorrow Belongs To Me
• Change Of Scene (Don’t Tell Mama)
• Why Should I Wake Up?
• Sitting Pretty
• Sitting Pretty Playoff
• Incidental (It Couldn’t Please Me More)
• Married
• End Of Scene 12 (Married)
• Opening Scene 13
• Fruit Shop Dance
• The Scene Continues – Incidental (Sitting Pretty)
• Meeskite
• Tomorrow Belongs To Me (reprise)

Act Two

• Entr’acte
• Kick Line – No. 1
• Kick Line – No. 2
• Married (reprise)
• If You Could See Her
• Incidental – Underscore (Why Should I Wake Up?)
• What Would You Do?
• Sally’s Revolt
• Cabaret Incidental (Don’t Tell Mama)
• Cabaret
• Break Up – Underscore
• Finale Ultimo
• Curtain Calls
• Exit Music

Songs Written For Movie

• Mein Herr
• Maybe This Time
• Money

Song Written For The 1980′s Broadway Revival

• Don’t Go

Cut Songs

• Berlin Songs
• Roommates
• I Don’t Care Much
• Good Time Charlie
• It’ll All Blow Over

1967 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor (Gray), Best Featured Actress, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design.

1998 Tony Award: Best Revival, Best Performance by a Leading Actor (Cumming), Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Richardson), Best Featured Actor, Best Featured Actress,

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark