Ocean City Theatre Company will present the Broadway musical “Cabaret” Nov. 7 and 8 at the Ocean City Music Pier, featuring local high school performers in grades nine through 12.
For this production, the Music Pier’s traditional general seating area will be transformed with cabaret-style seating, inviting audiences into the world of Berlin’s Kit Kat Klub and creating an immersive setting.
Set in Berlin as the 1920s give way to the 1930s, “Cabaret” follows performers, artists and everyday people navigating dramatic political and social change. Along with its memorable songs and dynamic characters, the musical explores prejudice, antisemitism, intolerance, political extremism, personal responsibility and the consequences of remaining silent as freedoms and human dignity are threatened.
For OCTC, presenting “Cabaret” with high school students provides an educational opportunity that extends beyond learning music, choreography and staging. Through rehearsals, students are encouraged to examine the story’s historical context and consider how theater can help audiences confront difficult moments in history.
“‘Cabaret’ is an extraordinary piece of theatre because it entertains while also challenging us to think,” said OCTC Artistic Director Michael Hartman. “For our students, this production is an opportunity to develop as performers and as humans.”
The production continues OCTC’s commitment to providing young performers with challenging theatrical experiences that build confidence, encourage collaboration and demonstrate the performing arts’ power to educate and entertain.
Performance times and tickets
Performances are Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier, on the Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace in Ocean City.
Tickets are $15 and are available at OceanCityTheatreCompany.com.
With music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Joe Masteroff, “Cabaret” is based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. “Cabaret” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.
Content advisory
“Cabaret” explores mature historical and social themes and contains suggestive material, strong language, antisemitism and depictions of prejudice and political extremism associated with the rise of Nazi Germany. Parents and guardians are encouraged to consider the production’s content when determining its suitability for younger audience members.
