Cabaret
Lighting Design
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Joe Masteroff
November 2024
DiscoverShelby Theatre, University of Montevallo
Director: David Callaghan
Scenic Design: Adam C Spencer
Costume Design: Emily Gill
Photos by Stewart Edmunds
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Joe Masteroff
November 2024
DiscoverShelby Theatre, University of Montevallo
Director: David Callaghan
Scenic Design: Adam C Spencer
Costume Design: Emily Gill
Photos by Stewart Edmunds
Concept:
“Void vs. Reality” served as the central design concept established by the director, informing the lighting approach from the outset. The “void” was envisioned not as mere darkness, but as a surreal, highly saturated environment—primarily inhabited by the Emcee. In contrast, the book scenes were grounded in more naturalistic lighting, with musical numbers within those scenes transitioning into an intermediate, stylized aesthetic.
Certain songs, such as “Perfectly Marvelous,” remained anchored in the tangible reality of the stage world, while others, including “Money,” existed within the ambiguous, liminal space of the void. The Kit Kat Klub functioned as a visual and thematic bridge between these two realms. As the narrative progressed and the world began to unravel, the lighting design grew increasingly stylized and surreal.
Saturation intensified throughout the production, culminating in a visual rupture at the conclusion. This final shift introduced stark white light with sharply defined gobos, underscoring the disintegration of the world as the characters—and ultimately the Emcee—were led away.
“Void vs. Reality” served as the central design concept established by the director, informing the lighting approach from the outset. The “void” was envisioned not as mere darkness, but as a surreal, highly saturated environment—primarily inhabited by the Emcee. In contrast, the book scenes were grounded in more naturalistic lighting, with musical numbers within those scenes transitioning into an intermediate, stylized aesthetic.
Certain songs, such as “Perfectly Marvelous,” remained anchored in the tangible reality of the stage world, while others, including “Money,” existed within the ambiguous, liminal space of the void. The Kit Kat Klub functioned as a visual and thematic bridge between these two realms. As the narrative progressed and the world began to unravel, the lighting design grew increasingly stylized and surreal.
Saturation intensified throughout the production, culminating in a visual rupture at the conclusion. This final shift introduced stark white light with sharply defined gobos, underscoring the disintegration of the world as the characters—and ultimately the Emcee—were led away.
