Modern day version of Cabaret

[Tim Barstow]

I have an idea for a musical and I want to pitch it to you theater lovers.

It's a reimagining of Cabaret set in NYC in August-October of 2016. 

Sally Bowles is now a Latina cabaret singer.

The author is now British.

The couple wanting to get married is a gay couple.

Instead of TBTM, it's the Star Spangled Banner and instead of Nazi arm bands it's MAGA hats.

 

[raddersons]

No thank you.

[BroadwayNYC2]

a bit of a reach 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Seconding raddersons. I don't think it's that big of a reach, but I do think it's unnecessary.

(Also, "The Star Spangled Banner"? Seriously?? I understand trying to evoke a reaction, but that's a little ridiculous. First, it's not as though Cabaret used "Deutschland Über Alles" or other German anthems to represent the Nazis, so it's a choice that is utterly incongruous with the source material, and second, considering how many white supremacist groups have sincerely adopted TBTM as an anthem, however ironically we view the choice, the song could pretty much stay in there and not lose a beat.)

[¿Macavity?]

Cabaret as originally written and revised is already universal and symbolic enough that a production like that would make it too non-subtle. I see where you’re coming from, but part of Cabaret’s brilliance is its setting in pre WWII Germany.

[Matt Rogers]

I dont hate it, but the authors/owners would shut that down so fast.

[GeorgeandDot]

Or just revive Cabaret and let the themes and ideas speak for themselves.... This would just be super on the nose and would destroy one of the best musicals ever. You don't need to rewrite Cabaret to get the same themes. In fact, these rewrites would only hurt the themes. The show is more powerful as it is.

[sinister teashop]

Tim Barstow said: "The author is now British."

Appropriate in that he was British to begin with before the musical Americanized him.

I highly recommend reading the other "Berlin Story" that Christopher Isherwood wrote that's often published with GOODBYE TO BERLIN (the one that I AM A CAMERA is inspired by, which was the source of the musical adaptation).

It's called MR. NORRIS CHANGES TRAINS and it's a masterpiece.

[NOWaWarning]

A gay couple in modern day NYC would have no issues getting married, so that’s not really an equivalent to the Schneider/Schultz storyline.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Tim Barstow said: "I have an idea for a musical and I want to pitch it toyou theater lovers.

It's a reimagining of Cabaret set in NYC in August-October of 2016.

Sally Bowles is now a Latina cabaret singer.

The author is now British.

The couple wanting to get married is a gay couple.

Instead of TBTM, it's theStar Spangled Banner and instead of Nazi arm bands it's MAGA hats.

"

You might get somewhere with this idea if you pitched it to the person or persons responsible for MARILYN! THE NEW MUSICAL  which just shuttered in Las Vegas.   They could be just deluded enough to set it up.  Any other theatre professionals would either quietly demur or let out a loud guffaw in your general direction.

[VintageSnarker]

You're kidding, right?

I don't understand why you would make Cliff British in the context of the other changes unless you're thinking of casting a British actor who can't do accents. Nothing about this concept makes sense.

[rjm516]

"Or just revive Cabaret and let the themes and ideas speak for themselves.... This would just be super on the nose and would destroy one of the best musicals ever. You don't need to rewrite Cabaret to get the same themes. In fact, these rewrites would only hurt the themes. The show is more powerful as it is."

 

Seriously. This show playing today (even a few years ago with the revival) would be extremely relevant as is to anyone not sleeping.