Cabaret Closing Show

[mfaye9]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 2:00pm

Anyone going?

[bstrumwasser]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 3:29pm

Limited Edition Prints are available for Cabaret signed by Alan Cumming. As well as Beautiful, Aladdin, Pippin, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Mamma Mia, Hedwig, and Matilda with more to come. They will ship direct to you.

The proceeds do benefit Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. Email for more information.

http://www.brianstrumwasser.com/store/p17/Alan_Cumming_as_the_Emcee_in_Broadway%27s_Cabaret.html
http://www.brianstrumwasser.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 3:47pm

I'm still bothered by how they went about this "revival". It wasn't a revival, it was a museum piece. Cabaret deserved better than just rehashing the 90's revival. It was just a cash grab, plain and simple. Obviously putting a new take on it and even making it seem fresh was too much work. Yeah I understand not many have seen the 90's revival and people would (and were) happy to see the rehash revival cause they couldn't see the original brilliant 90's revival, but this whole project left a bad taste in my mouth. I saw the show with Michele and she was fine, nothing spectacular, but Alan looked so bored and just walking through the motions. The show was just really disappointing, as was the means behind it being there.

Updated On: 3/29/15 at 03:47 PM

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 3:57pm

I saw it twice and loved it both times. Was it a cash grab? Sure, definitely but it was also a damn fine piece of theater with thousands of others to see Alan's iconic performance, as well as 3 wonderful leading ladies in one of the best written female characters ever. I'm more than happy with how it turned out.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 4:02pm

Cabaret is definitely one of the more brilliant pieces of musical theatre. I think that's why it hurt a bit to watch a museum piece. It WAS a damn fine piece of theatre in the 90's. Besides the supporting performances, I'm not sure I would call what I watched a few months ago, theatre. Alan wasn't acting, he was mimicking. At least that's how I saw it. Glad you liked it though.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 4:02pm

Would love to see a revival of the original 1960's version. I know it will never happen but would like to see it anyway.

Updated On: 3/29/15 at 04:02 PM

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 4:04pm

I loved him both times I saw it and I absolutely can't say enough fantastic things about Emma Stone's performance (I missed Michelle Williams and saw her understudy but I... saw her performance and also thought she was sensational). Maybe I'd feel different had I seen the revival in the 90's or even knew the musical beforehand but I really, really loved it. I'm sorry to hear that anyone would be disappointed in it.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 4:08pm

You were lucky. You had no knowledge of the show before hand, so in a way, you saw what the lucky audience members saw on the opening night of the 90's revival. Under those circumstances, I am sure I would have loved it also. In any case, It's not like I didn't know what I was in for before entering the theatre. I knew it was a relic and not a new take on the show. I saw it cause I love the show and while I didn't hate the new "revival", I would have preferred a little surprise here and there.

[somechrysanthemumtea]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 9:06pm

Yes it was a cash grab - but Roundabout definitely needed that money.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 9:08pm

I'm in the same boat as n2nbaby though I knew most of the music before I saw the show. I enjoyed the show, though I thought the book seemed a little brief and I wasn't able to really care about Cliff and Sally. Alan Cumming gave an electric performance. I thought he seemed really at home in the role vs. walking through the motions. I thought he played the role as you would being older, imagining that the Emcee had been doing the same cabaret act for years. I felt like I was in good hands watching him while I was more uncertain about how Emma Stone would be on stage.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 11:41pm

This is one of my all time favorite shows!! So sad to see it go
Sienna Miller was AMAZING!! I think she was probably the best Sally this time around, and I'm not just saying that cause she's the one i saw...i was literally blown away!!

[pat_NYborn]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 12:38am

Definitely see where you are coming from Bilbo3. Thankfully I was blessed to see the 1998 production when I was 12 and this was what got me addicted to theater. So it holds a special place in my heart. It was great to revisit this…but as you said it was a pure museum piece. Would love to see a new production on Broadway to see what they can do with it and you are very right a few surprises here and there would have been nice. Nonetheless it was a joy to relive it.

[camman]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 12:40am

Saw all three leading ladies...
My order would be:
1. Michelle Williams
2. Sienna Miller
3. Emma Stone
Its not like Stone was bad, she was definitely better than I expected and was actually quite good, but she did not really compare to the other two in their ability to portray Sally's ups and downs.
And I know not everyone like Williams, but I thought she brought something really unique and special to the role.

This show really meant a lot to me. I didn't mind that it was a word for word copy of the 1998 revival at all, actually. It was a good show, and I am glad to see a good show again.
I bought a lot of merchandise when I saw it very the last time last week, so I have a lot to help me remember what is probably my favorite Broadway production of any show of all time.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 1:45am

I really want a Cabaret shirt! Do you think they will sell them at the flea market? I didn't have enough $ with me when i saw the show haha

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 1:53am

I don't recall Roundabout ever selling any shirts in the past few years. I enjoyed Michelle Williams more than Emma Stone as well. I thought I was the only one. Bummed I missed Sienna Miller.

[Perfectly Marvelous 2]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 9:08am

Like VintageSnarker, I knew the show very well before going in. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the 1998 revival (I was a bit too young) and wasn't able to see it as it ran into the 2000s (for personal matters) but it's always been one of my mother's favorite shows. I was blessed to work as a stage hand on an excellent regional production several years ago, and since then it's taken up residence as my number one favorite musical. I enjoyed the most recent revival despite knowing every line and stage direction of the cast (in some ways I felt a bit guilty because I already was in on the Emcee's jokes) but I still found myself in the element of the show, letting myself be entertained and shocked (again, despite knowing the outcome). I'm grateful for its return, even if I wasn't able to see Natasha Richardson as Sally, getting to see one of my theatre heroes - Alan Cumming - was an absolute treat. I agree that he seemed very comfortable in the role, not like he was sleep walking, but more along the lines of, "Well this will be the last time I play this role so I'm going to have lots of fun with it." Undeniably, there is a part of Alan in that character, his personality is totally apparent, like in the audience participation scene.

In a way, this was an easy pick for the Roundabout. On one hand, it's a bankable show and yes, a cash grab but on the other, it has introduced this musical to a new crowd. Overall, I thoroughly loved my experience with it, only having seen it as a stage hand, with Amanda Palmer, and a few local productions here and there (well, I suppose you can count the 1993 production too, since it's easily accessible online now).

Updated On: 3/30/15 at 09:08 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 9:22am

You can buy Cabaret shirts at a number of online retailers including Playbill.com as well as the show's official site.

And as far as it being a cash grab, it probably was. But what a cash grab it!


Cabaret Tees

Updated On: 3/30/15 at 09:22 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 9:22am

Roxy, I thought the 1987 revival was a revival of the original production, with direction by Hal Prince and starring Joel Grey.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 9:27am

It was Dottie.

[Alix]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 10:33am

I was there yesterday, and ugly cried my way through the last half hour or so. I was in a slightly different position than others here. I discovered Cabaret at the end of its last run. I saw it three times over its last six months in 2003--the first time being on my 15th birthday. No piece of art of any medium has ever affected me the way this production of Cabaret did 12 years ago. I loved everything about it, but couldn't help but wish I had seen it earlier in its run, mostly to see Alan's legendary performance. So this remounting was a dream come true for me. I have seen several other productions of Cabaret over the years, but the Mendes/Marshall production is the one I fell in love with, and the one I still find to be most affecting. I have no problem with it having returned to Broadway basically intact.

The audience was wildly enthusiastic yesterday, and I absolutely loved it. Todd Haimes came out at the end and gave a short speech. He thanked John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff (who was in the audience and got a standing ovation when he was introduced), Marshall and Mendes, then most of the lead and supporting cast members by name. He singled out Alan as one of the reasons this revival happened in the first place, and said the entire production over the past year was dedicated to him.

I'm sad to see it go, but still so grateful that this revival/remounting happened. I wish I could go back in time and tell my 15-year-old self that one day I'd get to see Alan in Cabaret (and John Cameron Mitchell in Hedwig--my other dream come true). That girl would have been ecstatic.

[bfreak]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 11:22am

I am in the camp in which I thought it was a great idea to bring this back. I saw it twice during the run and was astonished both times. I thought Alan Cumming was still at the top of his game and I truly bow down to that amazing and talented man. The performances were sublime, and the show was in great form and energy. There are some productions that you just can't change, and I think the 1998 revival is one example of that. It saddens me to see this close, but I am thankful I got to see it and witness the beauty of this production and the company behind it. Auf Wiedersehen, A Bientot.

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 11:44am

I was at first not happy about this coming back, as I'm definitely someone that appreciates new and exciting interpretations. However, I soon realized this was actually a wonderful thing, as I am in my mid twenties & was too young to appreciate and see the last revival. Saw this run twice, both times with Michelle and i feel so fortunate to have seen Alan play this iconic role.

Alan as the Emcee and JCM as Hedwig in one year, we are so lucky to be able to witness things like this.

Updated On: 3/30/15 at 11:44 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 12:02pm

Did not see the 1987 revival - no idea why. The original had a killer cast with Grey,Jill Haworth as Sally,Lotta Lenya, Jack Gilford.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 9:43pm

As I mentioned elsewhere, I saw Chicago a few days ago. That's the real museum piece. It was entertaining once I accepted it for what it was but it's really not competitive as a theatre experience anymore. It's something different... more of an institution for tourists. I've never seen the show on stage before but I had to stop watching the movie because I could quote it line for line. On the one hand, I think I might have felt differently coming to it completely fresh but if I were less of a fan, I don't think I'd have enjoyed hearing the songs as much.