Willkommen: A Companion Podcast to The University of Kansas’s Cabaret

In this episode, Associate Director and Dramaturg Jonah Greene interviews Katherine Leverenz, a sophomore undergraduate student double majoring in Theatre Performance and Behavioral Neuroscience, and the Sally Bowles of the KU production of Cabaret. Jonah and Katherine discuss Katherine's theatrical background, her preparation for this role, whether she thinks Sally is a "good" or "bad" person, and what this role, production, and rehearsal process has meant to her.

In this episode, Associate Director and Dramaturg Jonah Greene interviews Cassandra Ludlum, a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Theatre Design and History of Art, and the Costume Designer of the KU production of Cabaret. Jonah and Cassandra discuss what drew Cassandra to being a theatre designer, his research and preparation for the show, creating a unique aesthetic for the Kit Kat Klub, and how costumes play a part in telling the tragic story of Cabaret.

In this episode, Associate Director and Dramaturg Jonah Greene interviews Markus Potter, professor and Artistic Director of the Department of Theatre & Dance at the University of Kansas, and Director of the KU production of Cabaret. Jonah and Markus discuss Markus's approach to telling this story, what this play means to him, collaborating with all sides of the Theatre and Dance department, and he answers the "why now" of this show.

In this episode, Associate Director and Dramaturg Jonah Greene interviews Olly Mitchell, a sophomore undergraduate student majoring in Theatre in Culture and Society, and the Emcee of the KU production of Cabaret. Jonah and Olly discuss Olly's theatrical background, her preparation for this role, performing in the shadows of Joel Grey and Alan Cumming, being a "girl Emcee," and they try to answer the tricky question: who is the Emcee?

In this episode, Associate Director and Dramaturg Jonah Greene interviews Dr. Paul Laird, a Professor of Musicology at the University of Kansas who has published extensively on American musical theatre. Jonah and Paul discuss where Cabaret belongs within the larger narrative of American musical theatre history, the effectiveness of John Kander and Fred Ebb's score, and why Cabaret has had such incredible staying power over the last 57 years.

In this episode, Associate Director and Dramaturg Jonah Greene interviews Dr. Michelle Heffner Hayes, a professor of Theatre & Dance at the University of Kansas, and Choreographer of the KU production of Cabaret. Jonah and Michelle discuss what drew Michelle to this project, her extensive research and preparation, working with a large ensemble of student dancers, and how she has created a "movement vocabulary" for this production.

In the first episode of "Wilkommen," Associate Director and Dramaturg Jonah Greene gives a short dramaturgical presentation. He provides a spoiler-free plot summary of Cabaret, an overview of the musical's production history from its original Broadway premiere in 1966 to today, and then he highlights the big themes and ideas you should expect to encounter when seeing the University of Kansas production.