With a book by Joe Masteroff based on the play I Am A Camera by John van Druten and stories of Christopher Isherwood, and with lyrics by Fred Ebb, the first performance of this groundbreaking and enormously popular musical took place at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City on November 20, 1966.

Set in Berlin in 1929 - 1930 at the end of the Weimar Republic era and just before the rise of the Third Reich, amidst rampant unemployment, economic depression, and political unrest, the principal action takes place in the "decadent" Kit-Kat Club where, as they say, anything goes. The leering, omniscient, epicene, and nameless Master of Ceremonies (a role closely identified with Joel Grey) welcomes the audience in three languages ("Wilkommen") after which the waiters dance to finger snaps. This tune is referred to throughout the show. Showgirl Sally Bowles from London is first encountered in her pragmatic song "So What" ("The sun will rise and the moon will set and you learn to settle for what you get"). She moves in with young American writer Cliff Bradshaw at Fräulein Schneider's boarding house. Schneider is meanwhile having an affair with Jewish fruiter Herr Schultz ("It Couldn't Please Me More" about the gift of a pineapple, and the "Fruit Shop Dance"). At the club, the "Telephone Dance" depicts patrons and girls hooking up for drinks ("Table seven calling number three, How are you, handsome?") with some great scoring for cabaret-style pit orchestra. Sally sings the vampy but upbeat "Don't Tell Mama" about her chosen lifestyle. At home, Sally advises Cliff in "Perfectly Marvelous" how to describe their relationship as an innocent affair. Back at the club, the emcee sings the jolly "Two Ladies" about his ménage à trois. The presence of impending evil becomes apparent in the Hitler Youth song "Tomorrow Belongs To Me," a chorale and canon in Ländler rhythm. Cliff romances over his affair with Sally in "Why Should I Wake Up?" ("This dream is going so well..."). At the club, money is praised in "Sitting Pretty" which includes a Russian dance, a Can-can, and a tap dance. Fräulein Schneider praises marriage ("Married" and "What Would You Do?") and so does Schultz ("Meeskite") but they are forced to part after Nazis break up their engagement party. Various kick line routines begin Act II, and "If You Could See Her Through My Eyes" ("She wouldn't look Jewish at all...") is sung to a (costume) gorilla. Sally becomes pregnant with Cliff's child, Cliff is beaten up when he discovers he has been unwittingly made a courier for Nazi funds and refuses to continue, Sally aborts the child, Cliff leaves and the "Wilkommen" reprise is now harsh and foreboding.

The 1972 Bob Fosse film version changed Cliff to Brian, introduced Max the rich playboy who seduces Sally and Brian, unfortunately cut Frln. Schneider, and added the numbers "Money," "Maybe This Time," and "Mein Herr" and cut much other music.

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