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When American writer Christopher Isherwood lived in Germany from 1929 to 1933, he witnessed social and political changes that would soon explode into a world war. He turned his observations into a book called "Berlin Stories," which later hit the stage as "I Am A Camera."

Set to music, it became "Cabaret," one of the longest running shows on Broadway and a hit movie in 1972.

On January 19-23, Stage Right will present the musical at Gianelli's II, on Route 30 east of Greensburg.

"We're having a special stage built for the show so that we can do it like an old-style cabaret with the performers right in the people's faces," artistic director Tony Marino said.

Don't expect this musical to be light-hearted and happy. Although there are some laughs and dark humor, "Cabaret" is a study of moral anarchy and of people caught up in the fire of Adolph Hitler.

"They're living in Berlin, a city that's decadent and high class, and they're having fun in a place that's about to become a place of darkness and war and ugliness," Marino said.

The show opens with the emcee, played by Scott Sambucco, of Pittsburgh, welcoming the audience to the Kit Kat Klub.

"He's the way the audience enters the show," Marino said. "He invites us into the cabaret and introduces all the ladies. He's very funny and we love the emcee. We think he's naughty and cute; but as the story progresses, the emcee has a much darker side. He's entirely amoral, self-serving and self-satisfying. He symbolizes the time period --1930 in Berlin -- when the political skies are darkening and the Nazis are coming to power."

Jenn Smith, of New York City, plays Sally Bowles, whose only goals are to laugh, sing and live in the moment.

"She wants to have a good time and never wants to worry about anything," Marino said. "She's a real good representation of the rest of the world at that time. She saw what was going on, but didn't care. She wants the party to continue."

Jason Swauger, of Pittsburgh, plays Cliff Bradshaw, the American writer who is traveling the world and trying to write the great American novel. He winds up in Berlin having a good time, and starts to date Sally.

"He's the first one who says 'whoa!' about this Nazi thing," Marino said. "He's the first one to express moral outrage over what's going on."

Bradshaw is loosely based on Isherwood's own experiences, and Sally developed from a person whom he knew in Berlin.

Renata Marino, Stage Right's choreographer, is cast as Frauline Kost, who likes to sleep with sailors. She seems to be whacky at the beginning of the show, but in the end, she's wearing a Nazi armband.

Beverly Price, of Greensburg, plays Frauline Schneider, who runs the boarding house where Sally and Bradshaw live. She is in love with a Jewish man, but when the Nazis come to power, she is frightened about what could happen if she stays with him. She decides that she loves her country more than she loves him, and so she leaves him.

Marino plays Ernst Ludwig, "a funny and cuddly" German.

"He's not evil and squinty-eyed," Marino said. "He's a lovable German, and then we discover that he's a big supporter of Hitler and he doesn't believe that Jews have a place in Germany. That's the great thing about this show, that the characters are set up so that you think one thing about them, and then it all gets darker as the show goes along."

The actors are challenged with portraying characters who are initially likable and entertaining, but who morph into the unexpected.

"As the show progresses, the fervor increases," Marino said. "Then you see the madness and immorality behind it, and the emcee represents that change. We have been watching SS Storm Troopers all night, and we are shocked."

Sarah Jane Watkins, a professional dancer from Pittsburgh, plays one of the Kit Kat girls, who also include students from Stage Right's School For the Performing Arts. Maureen Auer, of Greensburg, is in charge of costuming; set design is by Mark Kissner, of Greensburg; and the music is directed by Eric Barcheisi, of Murrysville.

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