Before taking Broadway by storm in 1966, Cabaret character Sally Bowles first entered the world in the pages of the semi-autobiographical novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood in 1939. The first line of this novel (“I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking”) later inspired a play in 1951 called I Am a Camera by John Van Druten, which made Julie Harris (in the role of Sally Bowles) a star. This was then followed by a film adaptation of the same name in 1955.

But did you know that the “I Am a Camera” name also has a curious link to one of the most successful progressive rock bands of all time and a band whose video became famous for being the very first ever broadcast on MTV? In the late 1970s, musicians Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes formed a group called The Buggles, most famous for the video-age anthem “Video Killed the Radio Star.” While preparing for their second album, the duo composed a song called “I Am a Camera.” But before they could record it, they were recruited into legendary prog rock band Yes, which led to the reworking of “I Am a Camera” into an epic-length song called “Into the Lens” released on the 1980 album Drama. After their one-album stint with Yes, Horn and Downes revived the original version of their song and recorded it on the second and last Buggles album in 1981.

And now that you have the full history of Goodbye to Berlin, I Am a Camera, Sally Bowles, Julie Harris, The Buggles, and Yes, why not come out to see Cabaret, which stands in the middle of this fascinating journey?! Cabaret hits the stage in one week and runs just three weekends November 3-18. You don’t want to miss out! 

Special early-bird offer: Use promotional code KitKat20 during online checkout and save 20%.