David Smith-English, the director of the upcoming production of “Cabaret,” cannot pinpoint his favorite moment in the production, but he will say that “the set will be stunning, the band first rate, the music and dancing exciting and there are wonderful characters and acting.”

The musical continues Clackamas Repertory Theatre’s eighth season when it open on Aug. 4 and runs through Aug. 26 in the Osterman Theatre at Clackamas Community College.

“It is exciting to do a musical that has so much gravitas; it still speaks to us today,” he added.

“Cabaret” is set in 1929 in Berlin in a time of great contrasts and impending change. Most of the action takes place in a small nightclub called the Kit Kat Klub, a cabaret setting where people traditionally could protest the government and social ills through poems, songs and other forms of entertainment.

“Berlin was a decadent place, but the economy was shot and people were living for the moment; it was a time when anything was tolerated,” Smith-English said, noting that it was also a time when the Nazis were poised to take control of the German government.

Into this world steps a young American writer named Cliff, who meets “an incredible force called Sally Bowles — she is one of those people you can’t deny,” Smith-English said. Part of the plot centers around the relationship between Cliff and Sally, who is a cabaret performer at the Kit Kat Klub.

But another part of the plot revolves around an older Jewish widower named Rudolph Schultz, who falls in love with his German landlady, Fräulein Schneider.

Not to give too much away, but both relationships are distinctly affected by the rise of the Nazi movement, Smith-English said.

He noted that one reason he wanted to direct “Cabaret,” was because he knew that James Sharinghousen, a CRT company member, would be a “wonderful emcee,” the enigmatic character who presides over the Kit Kat Klub.

“The entire cast is very good, with a superb level of singing and dancing,” he said, adding that Wes Hanson, the choreographer, loves this style of dance and is “doing a fabulous job.”

The Emcee

His character is not evil, Sharinghousen insisted, but is instead “an inward examination of the darker side of the human animal.”

The Emcee is also apathetic, and does not have much feeling for what is going on around him, other than entertainment, Sharinghousen said.

“He’s all about making a buck and entertaining the audience,” he said, adding, “You never see the man behind the mask.”

He was attracted to the role of the Emcee, partly because he gets to be in a kick line, but also because he likes “taking on a character outside of the human norm and larger than life.”

Cliff and Sally

Cliff is a hard role to play, Smith-English said, adding that Joshua Stenseth is “turning it into something really special.”

“David and I see him as an observer,” Stenseth said, adding that he at first had a tough time understanding Cliff’s motivation.

But he has worked hard to find the “moments of joy the character experiences; I like finding the humor and the truth in the humor.”

Although Stenseth is a newcomer to CRT, he has had plenty of local exposure, working with Broadway Rose, Stumptown Stages and Oregon Children’s Theatre; he was also a puppeteer for a time, with Tears of Joy.

CRT member Brianna Rouse knows one thing about Sally — she is a force of nature.

“She decides what she is going to do, and she just does it. She meets Cliff and decides to move in with him. She is a survivor and knows her power over men,” Rouse said.

As for what she brings of herself to the role, that would be “my passion for singing and performing.”

But Sally has a darker side, which Rouse also needed to explore.

“She ignores everything political; she doesn’t see that that has anything to do with her life. That side of her shows her head-in-the-sandedness — she doesn’t want to see the ugliness,” she said.

Herr Schultz and Fräulein Schneider

Schultz is a Jewish fruit shop owner, who is “sort of an assimilated Berliner. He is not denying his Jewishness, but he is also a German, and is trying to be more modern,” said James Lawrence.

He is also “smitten” with his landlady, Fräulein Schneider, and they decide to marry, but the time period intervenes.

“It was a time of a great and amazing creative explosion, but also crushing depression. Amongst all this beauty there is also this crushing poverty and violence,” he said.

As the course of the play moves on, and it becomes more apparent that the Nazis are a force to be reckoned with, people might wonder why Schultz didn’t simply leave Berlin.

“I’m looking at it from the Jewish perspective; Jewish people hunker down, they weather the storm. He had no idea how big this was going to be,” Lawrence said. “The occasional brick through the window, that is part of being a Jew.

“It is bittersweet; Fräulein Schneider made me dare to feel these feelings again. This is a couple you are really rooting for and it is sad that it pulls apart,” Lawrence said.

Although Sharonlee McLean is another CRT newcomer, she has long made her living as an actor in film, television and stage. She has appeared with Artists Repertory Theatre and Portland Repertory; her most recent film was “Extraordinary Measures,” playing Harrison Ford’s secretary, and her most recent television appearance was a guest-starring role on “Leverage.”  She has won three Drammy Awards and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her role on the soap “Santa Barbara.”

Understandably, McLean has some strong feelings about her character, Fräulein Schneider.

“She is a woman who came from wealth and from a loving family; she inherited from her family this boarding house. She was raised to be very independent; she is just a progressive human being,” McLean said.

She takes tremendous pride in her boarding house, and because she never married, her tenants become her children. Although her boarders may make her mad, they know she will always change her mind and give them what they want, McLean said.

But there is one time when she should change her mind, and she doesn’t.

“I thought, how could she not change her mind? Why won’t she let someone take care of her? I finally decided it is an age thing and a time period thing,” McLean said.

“We’re in a period piece; the audience is eavesdropping on this moment in people’s lives, when one of the most horrific times in history occurs.”

Fast Facts

Clackamas Repertory Theatre presents “Cabaret,” opening Saturday, Aug.4, and continuing Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. until Aug. 26. Sunday matinees take place at 2:30 p.m.

All performances are in the Osterman Theatre at Clackamas Community College. Season tickets and single tickets may be purchased at clackamasrep.org or by calling 503-594-6047.For more information, call CRT Managing Director Cyndy Smith-English, 503-594-3915.

Additionally, CCC history instructor Dr. Jackie Flowers will continue to present her entertaining and informative pre-show talks 45 minutes before performances, Aug. 16 to Aug. 26.

CRT continues its eighth season in late September with a new comedy “End Days.”