Press Release: Cabaret Full Cast Announced

DAZZLING, DARING, DANGEROUS: CABARET FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR MAJOR NEW AUCKLAND PRODUCTION

Sixty years after it first premiered and redefined the genre, Cabaret returns to Auckland in a bold new production marking two major milestones: the 60th anniversary of the iconic musical and the 10th anniversary of the ASB Waterfront Theatre.

Auckland Theatre Company and Auckland Live present Cabaret, the musical at the Kit Kat Club, playing at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 22 September to 18 October 2026. Winner of eight Tony Awards and revived to international acclaim across both the West End and Broadway, Cabaret remains one of the most iconic and enduring works of modern musical theatre.

Welcome to Berlin, 1929. As the curtain falls on the Jazz Age, the city and its glorious misfits gather in a world of celebration, excess and hedonism. At the infamous Kit Kat Club, Sally Bowles lives for the moment in a bohemian, gin-soaked dream, as the world beyond the club begins to close in.

Set against this shifting storm, Cabaret follows the performers, dreamers and outsiders of the Kit Kat Club, where nothing is taboo and every night feels like it might be the last.

The new production has brought together some of Aotearoa’s finest musical theatre performers across singing, acting and dance.

Nomi Cohen (Chicago, & Juliet) stars as Sally Bowles, the role made famous by Liza Minnelli in the 1972 film, and Matu Ngaropo (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou) (& Juliet, The Lion King, Hamilton) as the mercurial Emcee. Joining them are Susan Brady  as Fräulein Schneider (The Brokenwood Mysteries, Under the Vines), Jonathan Martin as Ernst Ludwig (Strictly Ballroom The Musical), Hillary Moulder as Fräulein Kost (Strictly Ballroom The Musical), Steven Ray as Herr Schultz (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Justin Rogers as Clifford Bradshaw (Mrs Krishnan’s Party, The Lion King Reo Māori), with an ensemble of ten Kit Kat Club performers and live musicians completing this stellar company.

ATC Artistic Director Jonathan Bielski says: “Written in the aftermath of World War II, Cabaret is a cautionary tale – a warning to all subsequent generations of the slow creep of fascism and its terrible consequences. Its brilliance lies in the way in which the musical form is used to both entertain and provoke.”

Director Benjamin Kilby-Henson says, “The ASB Waterfront Theatre opened with a musical ten years ago, so it felt right to mark this milestone by returning to the genre with one of the greatest musicals ever written. Cabaret has an extraordinary ability to reinvent itself for each generation, and 60 years after its premiere it remains as thrilling, seductive and relevant as ever.”

Daniel Clarke, Director of Auckland Live, says, “Cabaret is one of those musicals that gets under your skin. It draws you in with unforgettable songs and spectacular performances, then leaves you thinking long after the final curtain. We're incredibly proud to partner with Auckland Theatre Company to bring this stunning new production to the ASB Waterfront Theatre. With an exceptional cast and creative team, I know audiences are in for a truly memorable night at the theatre.”

The production’s creative team brings together some of New Zealand’s most accomplished theatre makers, with musical direction by Robin Kelly, choreography by Kira Josephson, and set and costume design by Dan Williams. Inspired by Berlin’s legendary Eldorado nightclub, Williams’ design transforms the ASB Waterfront Theatre stage into the world of the Kit Kat Club, drawing on the art deco interiors of 1930s Berlin to create a space of glamour, tension and spectacle.

Choreographer Kira Josephson brings a distinctive movement language to the production, informed by extensive research into 1930s dance styles and the work of Bob Fosse, resulting in entirely original choreography created specifically for this staging.

Kilby-Henson adds that audiences can expect a breathtaking theatrical experience: "Every song is a standout. The music is iconic, the performers are exceptional, and the story remains as powerful now as it ever has been. It's seedy, sumptuous and alive – exactly what great theatre should be."

An Auckland Theatre Company and Auckland Live production, proudly supported by Auckland Council Events.

CABARET – THE MUSICAL AT THE KIT KAT CLUB

Book by Joe Masteroff | Based on the play by John Van Druten and Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander | Lyrics by Fred Ebb
22 September – 18 October 2026
ASB Waterfront Theatre, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland
Presenting partner: MiNDFOOD

Creative Team
Director – Benjamin Kilby-Henson
Musical Director – Robin Kelly
Choreographer – Kira Josephson
Set & Costume Designer – Dan Williams
Lighting Design – Filament Eleven 11 (Rachel Marlow & Bradley Gledhill)
Sound Design – Sam Clavis
Engine Room Assistant Director – Jthan Morgan
Assistant Musical Director – Billie Hart
Engine Room Assistant Designer – Grace Newton
Voice & Dialect Coach – Kirstie O’Sullivan
 
Cast
Susan Brady (Fräulein Schneider)
Nomi Cohen (Sally Bowles)
Jonathan Martin (Ernst Ludwig)
Hillary Moulder (Fräulein Kost)
Matu Ngaropo (Emcee)
Steven Ray (Herr Schultz)
Justin Rogers (Clifford Bradshaw)

Kit Kat Club ensemble features:
Monet Faifai-Collins
Vincent Farane
Joel Hewlett
Sophie Jackson
Kira Josephson
Josh Morris
Emily Patterson
Waikamania Seve
Adeel Surendran
Te Ohorere Williams

Season images and trailer here
 
For media enquiries contact:
Michelle Lafferty at Elephant Publicity
[email protected] | +64 27 295 6450