Student Production Of 'Cabaret' To Play In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Theatre Company will present the Broadway musical "Cabaret" on Nov. 7 and 8 at the Ocean City Music Pier, with a cast of local high school performers in grades 9 through 12.

The performances are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Music Pier on the Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace in Ocean City.

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For the production, the theater company said the Music Pier's traditional general seating area will be transformed into cabaret-style seating. The change is intended to place audiences in the setting of Berlin's Kit Kat Klub and create a more immersive experience for the musical.

Set as the 1920s give way to the 1930s in Berlin, "Cabaret" follows performers, artists and other residents living through political and social change. According to OCTC, the musical's themes include prejudice, antisemitism, intolerance, political extremism, personal responsibility, and the consequences of silence when freedoms and human dignity are threatened.

OCTC said staging the show with high school students is meant to be an educational experience that goes beyond music, choreography and staging. According to the theater company, students are encouraged during rehearsals to examine the historical context of the story 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 effort to give young performers challenging theatrical experiences that build confidence, encourage collaboration and show how performing arts can educate as well as entertain, according to the announcement. Tickets are $15 and are available through OceanCityTheatreCompany.com.

"Cabaret" has music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Joe Masteroff. It is based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, and is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.

A content advisory released with the announcement says the production explores mature historical and social themes and includes 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 content when deciding whether the production is suitable for younger audience members.