Eddie Redmayne, Gayle Rankin to star in 'Cabaret' on Broadway

Redmayne reprises his award-winning performance as the Emcee, a role he originated in Rebecca Frecknall's production in London, and Rankin plays Sally Bowles.

Wilkommen to Broadway! Initial casting has been set for the latest revival of Cabaret on Broadway, with Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin starring. Performances begin April 1 ahead of an April 21 opening at the August Wilson Theatre.

“I’m so excited to be reuniting with Eddie as our devilishly seductive Emcee, the metaphorical soul of Berlin, and I cannot wait to dive into rehearsals with Gayle, a fearless actor of supreme talent, as she explores Cabaret’s magnetic core, the breathtaking and heartbreaking Sally Bowles,” said director Rebecca Frecknall in a statement.

Redmayne stars in Cabaret as the Emcee, reprising his Olivier Award-winning performance from London in 2021. The role marks his return to Broadway for the first time since 2010, when he made his debut in the play Red. Redmayne is also best known for his onscreen performances in The Theory of Everything (Oscar, Golden Globe wins), The Danish Girl (Oscar nomination), The Good Nurse (Golden Globe nomination), and Les Misérables.

“It was whilst playing the Emcee in a student production of Cabaret over 25 years ago that my love for theatre was properly ignited," Redmayne said in a statement. "I am beyond excited to be doing it arm-in-arm with the remarkable Gayle Rankin and a truly stunning cast and team. I am hoping we will create an experience for you quite unlike any other.”

Rankin made her Broadway debut as Fraulein Kost and Fritzie in the 2014 revival of Cabaret, and she now stars as Sally Bowles in this revival. She is best known for her two-time SAG Award-nominated performance as Sheila the She-Wolf on Glow, and she is also known for House of the Dragon. Rankin also has multiple Off-Broadway theatre credits, including The Public Theater's production of Hamlet starring Oscar Isaac.

"Cabaret has been a wildly profound marker in my life. How I understand myself as an artist and citizen in the very fragile world we live in has proved to revolve on its axis," Rankin said in a statement. "I am completely honored to hold hands with Sally inside of this singular, powerful production, and forever grateful to Rebecca, Eddie, and the whole family for inviting me into its creation on Broadway.”

Redmayne and Rankin are currently scheduled to play a limited engagement through August 31. Starting on June 17, Redmayne will not perform on Monday evenings, and Rankin will not perform at Wednesday matinees.

Additional casting has yet to be set.

A landmark musical by Joe Masteroff (book), John Kander (music), and Fred Ebb (lyrics), Cabaret takes place at the hedonistic Kit Kat Club in Berlin. The Emcee, performer Sally Bowles, writer Cliff Bradshaw, and more live escapist lives until the threat of Nazism begins to slowly overtake them.

Frecknall's Cabaret revival premiered in London in 2021, winning seven Oliviers including Best Musical Revival. For the Broadway transfer, as in London, the theatre completely transforms into the Kit Kat Club, providing audiences a semi-immersive experience.

Check back for information on Cabaret tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee and Gayle Rankin as Sally Bowles. (Photo by Mason Poole)