Sultry and Seductive ”Cabaret” to Conclude Studio Tenn’s Acclaimed 2023-24 Season
Tickets for the Iconic, Genre-Bending Musical Now on Sale at studiotenn.org
FRANKLIN, TENN. – “Come hear the music play…” as Studio Tenn brings “Cabaret” – the sultry and seductive finale to the theatre company’s critically acclaimed 2023-24 season – to the Turner Theater stage at the Factory at Franklin. Opening with a sold-out performance on May 9, 2024, the production runs through May 26 with added evening performances due to high demand.
Revered as one of the most successful musicals of all time, “Cabaret” is set in 1929 and focuses on the decadent nightlife of Berlin, a city on the brink of political upheaval as the specter of the Third Reich looms.
The award-winning story follows an American writer as he navigates this intoxicating world and encounters enigmatic cabaret singer Sally Bowles and a leering and flamboyant Emcee at the Kit Kat Club. Outside the club, mounting fears and uncertainty grip the city, while inside, life seems to grow more vibrant by the moment.
Directed and choreographed by former Artistic Director of the Nashville Ballet, Paul Vasterling, Studio Tenn’s production will transform Turner Theater into the moody Kit Kat Club, immersing audiences in the story.
“With ‘Cabaret,’ we are crafting an experience that not only entertains but also forces us to confront the complexities of human nature and society,” said Vasterling. “I cannot wait for audiences to see our production – with the incredible talent we’ve assembled – come to life at Turner Theater.”
Premiering in 1966, “Cabaret” continues to have a profound and lasting impact on the world of musical theater, paving the way for other boundary-pushing musicals with its head-on approach to sensitive topics – anti-semitism and abortion – as well as its representation of LGBTQ+ characters. Iconic musical numbers like “Willkommen,” “Cabaret” and “Don’t Tell Mama” serve as a haunting soundtrack to the characters’ lives as they navigate love, desire and impending tragedy.
“Cabaret” has seen various adaptations, including a Tony-winning revival in 1998 with Alan Cumming starring as the Emcee, an iconic film adaptation by Bob Fosse starring Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey and a current revival on Broadway starring Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin.
A Nashville theatre icon, Megan Murphy Chambers will fulfill a lifelong dream as she steps into the role of Sally Bowles.
“To be able to introduce Sally Bowles – a character who is so unapologetically herself – to a new audience is a gift,” said Murphy Chambers. “Since my initial introduction to ‘Cabaret’ years ago, Sally’s bold self-expression and resilience have shaped the lens through which I see myself as an actor. It is a full-circle moment to bring this show and its message to the stage.”
This marks Chambers’ fourth production with Studio Tenn. She previously starred as Patsy Cline in “Always … Patsy Cline,” Truvy in “Steel Magnolias” and Mrs. Kendall in “Elephant Man.” Megan performed her second sold-out one-woman show, “FUNNER,” at the Belcourt in 2023.
Brian Charles Rooney will star as the Emcee, the master of ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub. Rooney made his Broadway debut as Lucy Brown in “The Threepenny Opera” for The Roundabout Theatre and subsequently won The Kurt Weill Foundation’s Lys Symonette Award for Dramatic Excellence. He is a 2024 Grammy Nominee for “Sondheim Unplugged.” His Off-Broadway credits include “Bedbugs!!!,” “Into The Woods,” “Miss Blanche Tells It All” and “The UnCivil War.”
Audiences will recognize Caleb Shore – the leading man playing Clifford Bradshaw – from his critically acclaimed performance as George Bailey in Studio Tenn’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play” in December 2023.
Step into this legendary story where love and desire entwine amidst the dazzling decadence of a world on the brink. “Cabaret” is recommended for audiences 17+ due to its mature subject matter. Tickets are now on sale via studiotenn.org, at the Turner Theater box office in The Factory or by calling (615) 541-8200.
ABOUT THE STUDIO TENN THEATRE COMPANY: Studio Tenn Theatre Company is a professional regional theatre company and a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Middle Tennessee that exists to captivate and inspire with Broadway-quality musicals, plays, and concerts while educating the next generation to create and delight in the experience of live theatre. Learn more at studiotenn.org or by searching for Studio Tenn on Instagram and Facebook.
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