Cabaret Review – Divine, Dangerous, and Delightfully Decadent

With book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CABARET has become one of America’s favorite musicals since it premiered on Broadway in 1966. But the story has an even longer life span. Originally a short novel penned by Christopher Isherwood in 1939 called “Goodbye to Berlin,” the tale was adapted by John Van Druten in his 1951 play, “I Am a Camera.” The 1966 musical ran for 1165 performances on Broadway and won Tony awards in 1967 for best musical, best original score, best direction, best supporting role, best choreography, best set design, and best costume design.

Erin Lee Smith and Nathanael O’Neal – Photo courtesy of Jaxx Theatricals

The overwhelming list of “bests” spawned the film version in 1972 which starred Liza Minnelli, Michael York, and Joel Gray. Not to be outdone by the stage production, CABARET won eight Oscars, including best direction (Bob Fosse), best actress (Liza Minnelli), and best supporting actor (Joe Gray). Although nominated for best picture, the film lost to “The Godfather.” CABARET has been revived multiple times across the globe, and, in 2025, is reborn at the Jaxx Theatre in Los Angeles.

Jordyn Campanella, Sophia Marie Rizzo, Jeremy Lucas, Cierra Watkins, and Shannon McCon – Photo courtesy of Jaxx Theatricals

The time is 1931, and the place is Berlin, Germany. A young, struggling American writer, Cliff Bradshaw (Kyle Stocker) is visiting Germany for the first time. What better place to spend the occasional evening than the seedy Kit Kat Klub, renowned for its cheap prices and amoral approach to just about everything? And what better person to introduce Cliff to late Weimar Germany that the Kit Kat emcee (Jeremy Lucas)?

JB Morabito, Erin Lee Smith, and Kyle Stocker – Photo courtesy of Jaxx Theatricals

Cliff just happens to get a room at a local boarding house where none other than British songstress Sally Bowles (Erin Lee Smith), the star of the Kit Kat, also lives. When she has a falling out with her boyfriend, the owner of the Kit Kat, she finds herself jobless, cash challenged, and homeless – but chivalrous Cliff can’t let that happen. His initial resistance quickly gives way to burgeoning love. Especially since the two must share one bed.

Shannon McCon, Elle Shaheen, David Pevsner, Jeremy Lucas, Jill Marie Burke, JD Morabito, Stephan Schmidt, and Trevor Alkazian – Photo courtesy of Jaxx Theatricals

Meanwhile, Cliff’s spinster landlady, Fraulein Schneider (Jill Marie Burke), finds love and acceptance in the arms of her elderly suiter Herr Schultz (David Pevsner), a charming Jewish fruit seller who unexpectedly pops the question. And so two lonely people will soon share a life – or will they? For this is a drama which takes place during the rise of the Nazis into power.

Jordyn Campanella, Sophia Marie Rizzo, Jeremy Lucas, Cierra Watkins, and Shannon McCon – Photo courtesy of Jaxx Theatricals

Directed by Sasha Travis, with musical direction by LC Powell and choreography by Kasmira Buchanan, CABARET takes off with explosive ease. The intimate staging is superb, as are the colorful and often revealing costumes, Atticus Jones’s lighting, and Jamie Humiston’s sound. On top of that, there is a live five-piece band conducted by Andrew Lederman (piano), Alex Budman (reed), Chris Tedesco (trumpet), Karl Vincent (bass), and Tom Zygmont (drums).

David Pevsner, Jill Marie Burke, Natalie Reff, Stephan Schmidt, Jeremy Lucas, JD Morabito, and Allegra Greenawalt – Photo courtesy of Jaxx Theatricals

The entire creative team conspires to bring Germany of the early 1930s to vivid life. This is a compelling account of a time in history which has its own fireworks to offer as Hitler emerges from obscurity to prominence. The excellent CABARET cast keeps the audience on the edges of their seats – especially since they often include audience members in their shenanigans. CABARET songs never grow old, and the cast brings fiery life to a story which has been told many times – but feels somehow new and very relevant today in their able hands. This is a not-to-be-missed production.

CABARET runs through March 29, with performances at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The Jaxx Theatre is located at 5432 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. For information and reservations, call 323-650-0878 or go online.