The legendary, risqué Folies Bergère of Paris will become the legendary, risqué (if fictional) Kit Kat Klub of Weimar Berlin when Stage Entertainment France produces Cabaret at the famed theatre beginning October 14, 2006.
"The originality of the show, designed and directed by Sam Mendes, lies in the reproduction of the Kit Kat Klub setting in the Folies Bergère theater, with its cabaret chairs and tables. The show, entirely adapted in French, will be performed by French artists and musicians, selected through auditions soon to be held in Paris," state press notes on the 1966 Broadway classic with a score by
John Kander and
Fred Ebb and a book by Joe Masteroff (based on Christopher Isherwood's
The Berlin Stories)
Sam Mendes' revival of
Cabaret was a major Broadway success: 2377 performances in six years (1998-2004) and four 1998 Tony Awards--including Tonys for stars Natsha Richardson and
Alan Cumming, as well as for the revival itself. "Assisted by choreographer
Rob Marshall, Mendes designed an innovative staging for a contemporary show....The Parisian
Cabaret audience will discover the dark spot of freedom and transgression imagined by Sam Mendes...Thus the cabaret chairs and tables, lit by red lamps, will replace some of the Folies Bergère orchestra seats. The Kit Kat Klub nightlife is a fascinating world in which the audience will truly play its role for an evening, according to press notes.
Hélène Martini, Director of the Théâtre des Folies Bergère, said : "I am delighted to welcome Cabaret, a major work of contemporary musical theater. Sam Mendes' creative genius and the talent of Stage Entertainment France's production teams are a perfect mix for a very high-quality show to thrill French audiences. Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome… to
Cabaret at the Folies Bergère!"
Stage Entertainment France will hold auditions in Paris from March 27 to April 7, 2006 to select the multi-talented French artists
Cabaret. The application deadline is March 20, 2006. Detailed information (on auditions and tickets) is at
www.cabaret-lemusical.fr.
