Cabaret (Event Program)

Addison Albrecht (Freshman BFA) is so excited to participate in her first UAB production! She has enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the technical side and getting to be a part of an incredible show. Blaze On!

Professional credits include the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Guthrie Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Ballet, USA International Ballet Competition, 7 Stages, Horizon Theatre Company, Actor's Express, Theatre in the Square, and Red Mountain Theatre. Mr. Allison has held faculty appointments at the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has been a guest lecturer at The Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts and a guest artist at the American University in Cairo. He is a site visitor and member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre Accreditation Commission and serves as chair for the Alabama School of Fine Arts Board of Trustees.

Blake Barrett is a Freshman BFA in Musical Theatre student at UAB, and he is very excited to have to opportunity to be a part of the crew for Cabaret! Some of his past roles include Oscar Levant (Good Night, Oscar), Nicely Nicely Johnson (Guys & Dolls), Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors), and The Man in the Chair (The Drowsy Chaperone). Blake has also served as Director for two shows, Good Night, Oscar and This is a Test. Blake would like to thank his directors, family, and friends for their support.

Zion Carmichael is a junior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (BFA). Previous Credits: Harvey Johnson (Bye Bye Birdie), Head Waiter (Murder on the Orient Express) at UAB; Javier (Akeelah and the Bee) at Encore Theatre and Gallery; Ensemble ( The Color Purple) at Red Mountain Theatre. 

Follow my instagram- zimekhi_ #twentyGREAT

Ryan is thrilled to be back onstage with the UAB Department of Theatre! You may have previously seen him on the Sirote stage in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 or She Kills Monsters. Ryan most recently performed in The Historic Virginia Samford Theatre’s production of Bye Bye Birdie as Hugo F. Peabody. Ryan would like to give a special thanks to his parents and all glory to God. #twentyGREAT

Ava Chen is beyond excited to be in this production of Cabaret! You may have seen her recently in UAB’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Miss Marietta Shingle), Murder on the Orient Express (Mrs. Helen Hubbard), & UAB Tour Group Rainbow Fish (Rainbow Fish). Other credits include In the Heights (Invision Theatre) & Hair (Lake Worth Playhouse). She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support. Come hear the music play and enjoy the show! Insta: @_avachenofficial_

Jane Delahoussaye is a Sophomore BFA Musical Theatre major at UAB. This is her second UAB production. Past UAB credit; Countess Andrenyi (The Murder on the Orient Express). Other Theatrical Credits: Judy Haynes (White Christmas), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Amalia (She Loves Me), etc... Jane is also a 4-Time Top 40 Songbook Academy Vocalist. Jane is so excited to be back onstage; she thanks her family, her friends, and her fellow cast and crew mates for their love and support! Enjoy the show!

Cheslee Duke is a junior Musical Theatre major here at UAB. Recently, they had the honor of originating “Mo” in Hayley Procacci’s original work, Don’t Ask. Previous TV work includes featured roles in Found (2025), Ms. Marvel (2022) and Dynasty (2022). Other recent onstage work includes “Wilma” in Terrific New Theatre’s production of All Nighter and “Ellie Blake” in Prescott Park Arts Festival’s production of Disney’s: Freaky Friday! They hope you enjoy the show! Love to class of #twentyGREAT!

Therrin holds an M.F.A. in Scenic and Lighting Design from the University of Alabama and a B.A. in Theatre Design & Technology, and Directing from Purdue University Fort Wayne. Therrin’s design work has been seen across the country, including Off-Broadway at New York City Center, the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Opera Louisiana, Druid City Opera, Theatre Tuscaloosa, the Athenaeum Center in Chicago, and many other venues. Selected credits include Machinal Off-Broadway; Pagliacci, Madama Butterfly, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and The Barber of Seville (Opera Louisiane); Ragtime, Anything Goes, Anastasia, and Big Fish (Theatre Tuscaloosa); Murder on the Orient Express, Cabaret, Freaky Friday, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Dead Man’s Cell Phone (UAB); and Carousel, Rise, A.E. Reverie, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Hawaii Performing Arts Festival). His concert and event work include artists such as Béla Fleck, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and David Crosby. See more of his work at www.therrinjeber.com.

Sophia Evangelidis is thrilled to be working on this important piece of art with her incredible cast and colleagues. Her most recent role at UAB was Other Women/Stranger (Dead Man’s Cellphone).

Jordan Foster (he/him) is a Junior here at UAB and is getting his BFA in Musical Theatre. He is so grateful to be alongside his peers and the rest of this amazing cast! His most recent credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Ensemble) at Red Mountain Theatre & Rent (Ensemble, Benny u/s) at Virginia Samford Theatre. You can also look forward to seeing him in Spring Awakening (Hanschen) at Virginia Samford Theatre. He hopes you enjoy this powerful and thought-provoking show! #twentyGREAT

Brennen was last seen in The Little Mermaid at Red Mountain Theatre where he performed in the Ensemble. Past UAB credits include Disney’s Freaky Friday and Dear Evan Hansen (both co-productions with RMT). Brennen is so thankful for the family he has here at UAB and everything they have and continue to do for him. #twentygreat

Francis Fremin is a 19 year old from Thibodaux, LA! She is a current Sophomore attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre! Her most recent production was Dear Evan Hansen at Red Mountain Theater in Birmingham, AL being her Collegiate debut! She is so grateful to have this new experience as being a swing and she is excited to see where this journey takes her!

Jennifer is an Alabama theatre artist from Demopolis, Alabama. She earned her BS in Interdisciplinary Arts (Music/Theatre) from the University of West Alabama and her MFA in Scenic Design and Technology from the University of Southern Mississippi. Jennifer has previously served as the Technical Director at Birmingham-Southern College, and most recently as the Technical Director at Troy University. Her work has also previously been included with USITT, SETC, and ACTF. Jennifer’s design credits include Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Fly, She Kills Monsters, and Hedda Gabler. Her Technical Direction credits include Something Rotten, Twelfth Night, and Into the Woods.

Andrew is a senior at UAB. He has performed in Murder on the Orient Express and We Are Proud To Present.

Play on, Helena High School-Stage Manager. The Miser, Helena High School-Actor. Murder on the Orient Express, UAB Dept. of Theater-ASM. Matilda Jr, UAB Artplay-Counselor/Run Crew.

Inji Ha is a scenic and properties designer and artist originally from Korea, currently based in Alabama, where she works at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Recent credits include We Are Proud to Present (UAB), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (UAB), GUT (굿) ACT 2: Memoirs (HERE Arts Center), Violet the Musical (Auburn University), She Kills Monsters (UAB), and The 39 Steps (UAB). Her work spans scenic, projection, and properties design for theatre, musical theatre, opera, and installation, with an interest in collaborative and story-driven performance. She holds an MFA in Live Design and Production from The University of Texas at Austin and a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from Auburn University. More at injihadesignstudio.com.

Emery Hammer is a junior musical theatre major at UAB, and is excited to share this show with you! Earlier this year, Emery had the privilege of covering leads “Mo” and “Jess” in Don’t Ask, an original work piloted by UAB alumna and faculty. Other recent performance credits include featured ensemble in Bye, Bye Birdie (Virginia Samford Theatre) and “Maya” in And You Are It! (Three Words Prod.), in which she also led as choreographer. Much gratitude to the class of #twentyGREAT! @emeryhammer

Reese Hand is a freshman Musical Theatre major. This is his first involvement in a production at UAB! Before UAB, was a part of Red Mountain Theatre’s Performing Ensembles and his favorite roles include Hans Holbein (Six - Teen Edition) and a Featured Worker (Hadestown - Teen Edition). He is so excited to be a part of this incredible production.

Our Assistant Technical Director is a graduate of Rhodes College and earned his MFA at the University of Alabama in Design and Technology. He has worked the past several years at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, NC, building sets for the Janiec Opera Company and large scale special events and fundraisers. Prior to that he worked as an accomplished pastry chef and mixologist in Tuscaloosa. His writing has been published in wine magazines; and had a fulfilling career in wine sales. When he is not supervising the scene shop he enjoys travel, photography, and backpacking, having hiked a third of the Appalachian Trail.

Hannah Heller would like to thank the cast and crew for the warm welcome, as she partners with UAB for the first time for Cabaret. Hannah holds a B.A. in Theatre from Auburn University, with a concentration in Stage Management. Outside of this production, Hannah is currently a Production Specialist and Stage Manager at Samford University's Performance Venues. Immense love to her wife, Sharon, and her daughters, Ada, Edith and Vera for their support and patience during this rehearsal process!

Vivian is a third-year Theatre Design & Technology student. Recent production work includes light board operation for Speed Dating Tonight! and Murder on the Orient Express and assistant stage management for The Revolutionists (UAB).

Aurkheem Jolley: (He/Him) is so excited to be on the creative team for this production! A native of Birmingham, AL, Aurkheem is now a senior here at UAB pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Social Media Strategies. Recent credits: Judah/Benjamin Calypso Soloist in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Peach State Summer Theatre), Ensemble in Anything Goes (PSST), Ensemble/ D’Ysquith Family U/S in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (UAB), Ensemble in Disney’s Frozen (RMT). He’d like to thank his professors at UAB, and most of all his mom, Terri, for all of her love, support, and sacrifices over the years!

@aurkheem_khalid

David is once again excited to behind the desk for such a wonderful group of creatives and educators. He is the owner of Providence Productions which provides all production services for the Bama Theatre in Tuscaloosa as well as freelance production work around the area. He is married to his beautiful wife Alisha and has 4 incredible children.

@bamasoundguy

Sharon McCoy Morgan serves as our Costume Studio Supervisor, bringing decades of national theatrical and film expertise to the role. A graduate of Jacksonville State University, Sharon earned her MFA from the University of Alabama and has worked for premier regional theaters across the country, including three seasons with the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival. Her design credits reach from the Sitka Fine Arts Musical Theatre Camp in Alaska to Birmingham's own Virginia Samford Theatre. As a member of IATSE Local 479, Sharon is a sought-after tailor and pattern maker in Atlanta’s busy film industry. Her screen credits include major productions for Marvel, Disney, Warner Bros., and other leading studios.

KK is a Senior Musical Theatre Major from Columbus, Ohio. At UAB, she’s performed as Ensemble in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, and Evil Gabbi in She Kills Monsters. She has also performed with Weathervane Playhouse, Short North Stage, and Columbus Children’s Theatre. While not performing, KK is a teacher with Fiddlesticks Music and All Saints Episcopal Church. A big thank you to her Blazer family!

Amy Page is originally for Columbia, SC and has worked professionally in New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, and New Mexico. She believes theatrical costuming involves an infinite number of variables which must be balanced for each production. Amy enjoys learning from each garment, teaching students the construction process. Amy teaches industry standard techniques so students will be ready for work after graduation. She especially enjoys preparing theatre students for entering their profession. The development of paper and digital portfolio development, employment documents and mock job interviews are her specialties. She encourages students to prepare for the Southeastern Theatre Conference’s Job Contact Service. She served as a Draper for Playmakers Repertory Company and Carolina Ballet on productions of Amadeus, Pride and Prejudice, The Importance of Being Earnest, Nicholas Nickleby, and Macbeth. She worked professionally in the area of costume construction with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, Carolina Ballet, and Santa Fe Opera. She has also worked on the The Lion King, Hot Feet, and The Phantom of the Opera with Parsons-Meares in New York.

She has professional experience as a costume shop manager, draper, first hand, stitcher, and crafts artisan. Amy has worked with the St-Arts summer program as an instructor of stage make-up, technical theatre, and puppet construction. She taught theatrical and couture sewing techniques at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Oklahoma City University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Education: B.A., Winthrop University, Theatre Education; MFA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Costume Production

David Page is an award-winning Lighting Designer and multi-disciplinary Creative Artist with 25 years of experience in the theatre and over 100 design credits throughout the course of his career. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from The University of Alabama and currently serves as the Head Electrician for the Department of Theatre at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as well as the Production Manager for Alabama Ballet. His extremely versatile experience includes a unique blend of design, programming, and technical expertise that spans across the country, including regional theatre, summer stock, concert venues, arenas, universities, Off-Broadway, and Broadway productions.  Lately David has channeled his experience into the classroom. He has taught workshops, guest lectures, and full courses at The University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and other schools and non-profits on the subjects of Lighting Design, Principles of Design, Stagecraft, Sound Design, Scenic Design, Production Practicum, Qlab, and Introduction to Automated Lighting and Programming. 

David is a member of IATSE Local 78 and worked regularly with Local 1 before moving to Birmingham, Alabama where he currently lives with his incredible wife of 20+ years and their amazing 12-year-old son. 

Jonathan K. Parks is a nationally renowned music director, pianist, and vocal coach. He serves as the Music Director of the Theatre Department at UAB, and he currently splits time between Birmingham and New York City. At UAB, he has music directed Dear Evan Hansen, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, and The Revolutionists. Broadway: Chicago. National Tours: Chicago, Young Frankenstein, The Four Phantoms in Concert. Regional Theatre: Theatre Aspen, Ogunquit Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, New London Barn Playhouse, Theatre SilCo, Short North Stage. He is a graduate of Florida State University and is a proud member of AFM Local 802.

Lauren is a senior BFA student at UAB, and she is thrilled to be a part of the company of her favorite musical! When she’s not performing, you can find her in the shop helping bring sets to life. Her favorite roles include Annabeth in Percy Jackson and Lilith/Lily in She Kills Monsters. Above all, she would like to thank her mom for her unwavering support.

Instagram: @lauren__parrish

Her favorite roles include Natasha (Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812) and Abigail Williams (The Crucible).

Zachry Richmond is thrilled to let UAB borrow his voice for its production of Cabaret! Most recently, he played Flounder in RMT's The Little Mermaid this summer. Other favorite roles include Ainsley Lafayette in Appropriate at Theatre Downtown, Fletcher in the UAB x RMT production of Freaky Friday, and Zack in Altamont School's School of Rock.

Elena Santini (she/her) is thrilled to be returning to the UAB stage as a part of Cabaret! Elena is in her junior year as a BFA Musical Theatre Major and Women and Gender Studies Minor. Her most recent credits include Disney's The Little Mermaid (Female Swing - RMT), Dear Evan Hansen (Ensemble, Zoe U/S - RMT), and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Lady Eugenia, Miss Shingle U/S - UAB). Elena would like to thank you all for supporting live theatre, and for learning from Cabaret at a time that needs this story the most. She would also like to thank her family and the class of '28 for being the best friends a girl could ask for. Enjoy the show - auf wiedersehen!

#twentyGREAT @elenasofiasantini

Education: MFA, Virginia Commonwealth University; BA, Virginia Tech Recent Production Work-Directing: Murder on the Orient Express (UAB), The Crucible, Imaginary Invalid; Intimacy Direction: Red Flags, Murder on the Orient Express, We Are Proud to Present (UAB), The Crucible, Cabaret, Spring Awakening, Intimate Apparel (UA), The Fantasticks (Actors Charitable Theatre); Selected Performance: Chasing June (Amazon Prime), Whistle Down Wind (Justice Film Collective), Beauty, Identity, Release (Edinburgh Fringe), NYC performance credits at La Mama, Theatre for the New City, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Bleecker Street Theatre, Pantheon Theatre. Intimacy training: Theatrical Intimacy Education and Intimacy Directors & Coordinators.

Jackson Scott is thrilled to be back on the Sirote stage as a member of Cabaret. Jackson is a sophomore Musical Theater student here at UAB. Jackson would like to give a special thanks to his supportive family and the amazing creative team! 

Rosemary Sharp is a freshman musical theatre major. She is excited to be part of this production working on crew and is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the show!

Stella is a sophomore BA Performance major who is thrilled to be a part of the Cabaret team! Some of her favorite roles include Mary Debenham (Murder on the Orient Express), Irene Molloy (Hello, Dolly!), Professor McGonagall (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, H.S. Ed.), and Cinderella (Into the Woods). If the show goes completely dark, she's just testing your night vision. Willkommen and enjoy!

Peyton has had a fulfilling four years at UAB, and has played roles such as Col. Arbuthnot in Murder on the Orient Express, Bruce U/S in Fun Home, and the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance.

Santiago is the assistant Professor of Voice and Movement at the University of Alabama - Birmingham. When not teaching, Santiago works, around the country, as a voice and text coach, a dialect designer, director, fight director, and a voiceover artist. On and off stage credits include:

American Players Theatre, New York Theatre Company, Oregon Shakes, Illinois Shakes, Great River Shakes, Alabama Shakes, Island Shakes, Door Shakes, Nashville Shakes, Pennsylvania Shakes, Shakespeare at Sloss, Shakespeare Rep SC, Writers Theatre, Red Mountain Theater, Kansas City Rep, Kansas City Actors Theatre, Forward Theater, and Definition Theatre.

Training: BFA Texas State University, MFA University of Wisconsin

James is so excited to be a part of this production of Cabaret. James was last seen at Red Mountain Theatre’s New Works Festival as RuPaul/Major Dominic in Don’t Ask.

Instagram: @JamesTayJr

Brady is a freshman BFA Musical Theatre major and is thrilled to work on his first collegiate show. Brady would like to thank his family, friends, and community here at UAB for their continuous support as he navigates his first year.

Sarah Thiel is a BA Performance major at UAB with a passion for storytelling and a love for the never-ending ways that theatre inspires creativity in all. Her most recent credits include u/s Actor 5 in We Are Proud to Present... and Miranda in Return to the Forbidden Planet. Sarah is honored to be part of UAB’s 2026–2027 touring production of Red Flags, an applied theatre production that uses storytelling and performance to educate young people about domestic violence, healthy relationships, and the warning signs of abuse. She is passionate about education and creating work that sparks conversation, builds connection, and leaves audiences with something to carry with them in their own lives.

UAB Acting Credits: Don't Ask as a part of RMT's Human Rights New Work Festival (Burger Boy/Track 6), Murder on the Orient Express (Bouc/Arbuthnot/Ratchett u/s). Other favorite acting credits: Natasha, Pierre... (Pierre), Next to Normal (Doctor Madden). He is beyond excited to do some impactful theatre from the other side of the table! Infinite thanks to Santi, the whole cast and crew, and Karla!

Monica Velma is so excited to be participating in another beautiful UAB Production! You may have seen them in UAB’s productions of Dear Evan Hansen (Ensemble), A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (Ensemble, U/S Phoebe), or you might have seen them as Kim McAfee in VST’s production of Bye Bye Birdie! They are a proud member of #MT20GREAT, and are so grateful to be doing a show with all their closest friends.

Knox Villemarette is a senior Musical Theatre major from Lafayette Louisiana. He recently performed as Olaf in Red Mountain Theatre’s production of Disney’s Frozen, ensemble in UAB’s production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Ensemble for Virginia Samford Theatre’s production of Rent, and Red Mountain Theatre’s production of Dear Evan Hansen. He is making his debut as an assistant music director for this UAB production!

Case Edward Warner is a Junior pursing a BFA in Musical Theatre here at UAB, and is excited to return to the Sirote stage as part of Cabaret! Recent credits include Anything Goes (Ensemble, Peach State Summer Theatre), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Zebulun/Baker, PSST), Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, UAB), The 2025 Star Cross’d Touring Company (Romeo, UAB), The Pirates of Penzance (Major-General Stanley, UAB), and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Balaga, UAB). Case Edward is forever thankful for the support of his parents, his friends (especially the MT class of ’28), and his sister.

#twentyGREAT @casewarner_

Kenneth Weldon is thrilled to be making his UAB MainStage debut! He is a sophomore at UAB, pursuing his BFA in musical theatre. Born and raised right here in Birmingham, Kenneth is grateful to keep learning and growing as an artist in a place he cares so deeply about. Some of his previous credits include: Male Swing (The Little Mermaid & Dear Evan Hansen), Orpheus (Hadestown), and Damian (Mean Girls)! He would like to give special thanks to his friends and family, but most importantly, his mom, who's gotten him to where he is today.

Follow him on Instagram @_.kennethh._ #MT20Fine

Lilly Grace Wilmoth is so excited to be back on the UAB stage! Recent credits include Murder on the Orient Express (Greta Ohlsson), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (The Lounge Singer), The SpongeBob Musical (Squidward), and Into the Woods (The Baker’s Wife). LG would like to thank her family and friends for always being supportive and kind, and the wonderful community that makes this all possible! Go Blazers!

Thad Turner Wilson is an actor and choreographer based in Birmingham, AL, after 15 years in NYC.  He attended the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre.  Not long after graduating, he landed his first national tour as a swing and understudy in Mel Brooks’ The Producers.  Since then, he has been a Vocalist in Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, made his Broadway debut in Billy Elliot the Musical, and toured all over North and South America with Billy Elliot, R&H’s Cinderella, and The Prom.  He has choreographed industrial events for Samsung Mobile that played Las Vegas, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Zurich, Switzerland.  Locally in Birmingham, Thad has worked with Indian Springs School, The Altamont School, and Red Mountain Theatre’s performing ensembles.

As a senior here at UAB his most recent credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Connor Murphy/ U/S Evan Hansen, RMT), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Levi/ One More Angel Soloist, PSST), and A Gentlemen’s Guide to love and Murder (Ensemble/ U/S Monty Navarro, UAB). He sends all the love to his family and friends! Most importantly it’s senior year, so Blaze On always.

Fred Ebb (1933–2004) was an award-winning lyricist, librettist and director who frequently and successfully collaborated with composer John Kander. Ebb's work for the theatre included Flora, The Red Menace; Cabaret; The Happy Time; Zorba; 70, Girls, 70; Chicago; The Act; Woman of the Year; 2x5; The Rink; And The World Goes Round - The Kander and Ebb Musical; Kiss of the Spider Woman; and Steel Pier. His film work included Cabaret; Norman Rockwell: A Short Subject; Lucky Lady; New York, New York; Funny Lady; Kramer vs. Kramer; A Matter of Time; Places in the Heart; French Postcards; Stepping Out, and the 2003 Academy Award winner for best picture, Chicago. For television, Ebb wrote Liza with a Z; Goldie and Liza Together (starring Goldie Hawn and Liza Minnelli); Ol' Blue Eyes is Back (starring Frank Sinatra); Baryshnikov on Broadway; An Early Frost; and Liza in London. His last projects included a musical version of The Skin of Our Teeth and Curtains, with book by Rupert Holmes. Ebb also provided additional material for the updated script of Rodgers & Hart's By Jupiter and additional lyrics for the 1997 TV remake of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. 

Fred Ebb earned four Tony Awards (for Cabaret, Woman of the Year, and Kiss of the Spider Woman) and four Primetime Emmy awards (for Liza with a Z, Gypsy in My Soul, and Liza Minnelli Live From Radio City Music Hall) along with dozens of other accolades, including the Kennedy Center Honors and membership in the American Theatre Hall of Fame. In 2005, by instruction of Ebb's will, the Fred Ebb Foundation was established to present an annual award to an up-and-coming musical theatre writer or writing team. 

Christopher Isherwood was a novelist, playwright, screen-writer, autobiographer, and diarist. He was homosexual and made this a theme of some of his writing. He was born near Manchester in the north of England in 1904, became a U.S. citizen in 1946, and died at home in Santa Monica, California in January 1986.

John Kander is a Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning composer, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors Award, and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. With frequent collaborator Fred Ebb, he composed the score to dozens of Broadway musicals, including Cabaret, Zorba, Chicago, The Act, Woman of the Year, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Steel Pier. 

John Harold Kander was born on March 18, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri to Harold and Berenice (Aaron) Kander. He attended Oberlin College, where he composed his first theatre scores, for Second Square and Opus Two in 1950 and Requiem for Georgie in 1951. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1954. During the summers of 1955 to 1957, he worked as the choral director and conductor of the Warwick Musical Theatre in Rhode Island. Kander began to work steadily as a pianist in 1956. He believes his big break in New York came by accident: He went to a club in Philadelphia after seeing a performance of West Side Story. By chance he happened to meet the pianist, who asked Kander to substitute for him while he went on vacation. The stage manager for West Side Story then asked Kander to play the auditions for her next show, Gypsy. During the Gypsy auditions, Kander met the choreographer, Jerry Robbins, who then suggested that Kander actually write the dance music for the show. After that experience, he again wrote dance arrangements for Irma la Douce in 1960. 

As a composer, Kander made his Broadway debut in 1962 with A Family Affair, produced by Harold Prince. A year later, in 1963, Kander met lyricist Fred Ebb. Kander and Ebb began to work together, and their first song, “My Coloring Book,” was nominated for a Grammy award. Kander and Ebb's first theatrical collaboration, The Golden Gate, never opened on Broadway. However, the score convinced Harold Prince to hire the pair for his next production, Flora, the Red Menace, which opened in 1965, starring Liza Minnelli in her Broadway debut. 

Cabaret, Kander and Ebb’s triumphant hit, opened on November 20, 1966 at the Broadhurst Theatre and ran for 1,166 performances. The show won the 1966 Tony Award for Best Musical and Kander and Ebb won for Best Score. In 1972, the film adaptation starring Liza Minnelli won several Oscars. The stage musical was revived at the Imperial Theatre in 1987 with some of the original cast reprising their roles. The show was revived again in 1998, earning another Tony for Best Revival. 

Susbequent collaborations inclued The Happy Time, 70, Girls, 70 and Chicago. Another huge hit, Chicago ran for 898 performances and was revived in 1997, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Revival, Best Choreography, and Best Direction. 

The team continued their collaboration with The Act, Woman of the Year, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award winner for Best Score), Steel Pier and Over and Over. 

In 2000 Kander and Ebb were working together on The Visit, based on a play by Friedrich Durrenmatt. After Fredd Ebb passed away in 2004, Kander completed the project with playwright Terrence McNally. 

Kander's film work includes scores for Something for Everyone (1969), A Matter of Time (1976), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Still of the Night (1982), Blue Skies Again (1983), Places in the Heart (1984), I Want to Go Home (1989) and Billy Bathgate (1991), and songs for New York, New York (1977), Cabaret (1972), Funny Lady (1975) and French Postcards (1979). 

Kander and Ebb also collaborated on music for several television specials. In 1974 they won an Emmy Award and Grammy Award for their work on Liza with a ‘Z.' They won another Emmy in 1993 for Liza Minnelli in London, Steppin' Out. Other television projects featured Goldie Hawn, Shirley MacLaine, and Michael Baryshnikov. 

In addition to his Tony, Grammy, and Emmy awards, Kander received honorary doctorate degrees from Oberlin College and Niagara University, the President's Award from the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre. 

For almost four decades, Kander and Ebb wrote music together for theatre, film, and television. Their collaboration was a true partnership. In an April 1997 article in The New York Times, Ethan Mordden wrote, "Mr. Kander and Mr. Ebb celebrate the Big Break, the American love of show biz, making it, performance. Their musicals may be set in Germany, Greece, or South America, may defy Fascism or flirt with death. But at the center of their art lies a love of the talent-take-all wonder of entertainment." 

Born in 1919 in Philadelphia, Joe Masteroff had only one dream from infancy: to write for the theatre. After the essential lonely childhood and four-year stint in the Air Force, he came to New York to face his future: book writer or book seller? Luckily, luck intervened. Before long he had three shows on Broadway bearing his name: The Warm Peninsula starring Julie Harris, and two musicals, She Loves Me and Cabaret, for which he was the book writer. His other work included the libretto for 70, Girls, 70 and Desire Under The Elms and book and lyrics for Six Wives and Paramour. Thanks to indulgent parents, the New Dramatists, Hal Prince and many others, Joe Masteroff retired and lived in subdued luxury until his death in 2018.

John William Van Druten (June 1, 1901 – December 19, 1957) was an English playwright and theatre director. He began his career in London, and later moved to America, becoming a U.S. citizen. He was known for his plays of witty and urbane observations of contemporary life and society.