Photo by Luis Escobar, Reflections Photography Studio

Welcome to the Kit Kat Klub in 1930s Berlin, where the seductive and enigmatic Emcee, the dazzling singer Sally Bowles, and a cast of colorful characters navigate love, ambition, and the looming shadows of a changing world.

PCPA presents Cabaret, widely acknowledged as a musical masterpiece, here resonating with fresh urgency in today’s world. The show opens July 18 in Santa Maria and in Solvang August 2.

Cabaret holds a special place in my heart,” says director Emily Trask. “Not just as my favorite musical, but as a masterwork that achieves something truly exceptional in the theatre. It is genuinely subversive while being irresistibly entertaining.”

Noting that the story is set in the twilight of the Jazz age and on the cusp of the horrors of the Third Reich, Trask invites audiences “to embrace its subversive spirit, enjoy yourself, tap your toes, challenge your perceptions, and confront the uncomfortable truths it lays bare. Cabaret’s Berlin is a powder keg, and the children are playing with matches.”

The creative team also includes music director Paul Marszalkowski, choreographer Rhett Guter, associate director/choreographer Jay Brenneman, costume designer Jackie Heimel, scenic designer Jason Bolen, intimacy director Shae Palic, lighting designer Cody Soper, sound designer Nat Houle, voice and dialect coach Michael Brusasco, and stage manager Rebekah Carriere.

The cast features Erika Olson as Sally Bowles, Diva LaMarr as the Emcee, and George Walker as Cliff. Other company members include Kitty Balay, Billy Breed, Mike Fiore, Molly Dobbs, Marisa Moenho, Sydni Ramirez, Odessa Laurie, Sophia Caressa, Brezae Weeks, Alexander Pimentel, Sophie Rhiannon, Jason Wells, Nolan LeMay, and Will Kinnon.

Cabaret is scheduled in the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria July 18-27 and at Solvang Festival Theater August 2-25.

By SLO Review

SLO Review, San Luis Obispo County's connection to arts and culture, publishes news, reviews, commentary, and original creative work.