Matt Toronto (graduate - directing) will give a different spin to a classic musical when he directs Cabaret this weekend at the Pavilion theatre.

Cabaret, a musical set in Berlin, Germany during the early 1930s, revolves around the story of Cliff Bradshaw and Sally Bowles. Cliff, an American writer that moves to Berlin at the dawn of the Hitler era begins to frequent the Kit Kat Club, where he meets and falls in love with the club's leading lady, Sally Bowles.

Toronto has created a new spin on this well-known musical by directing it from Cliff's perspective. Toronto said he created a fantasy world, a dream world where Cliff and his alter ego exist, and changed the show to make sure the audience knows what is going on.

"The actors change on stage -- the audience will be aware that they are in a theatre and this is part of the convention," Toronto said. "The entire show becomes a metaphor for Cliff's mind."

As a second year graduate-directing candidate, Toronto was required to choose a musical to direct. One of the reasons Toronto said he chose Cabaret was because of the story's pertinence to today's world.

The show takes place in the 1930s and was written in the 1960s, and Toronto said the same issues -- sex, rights, and war -- are found in those two eras, and are found in today's world as well. He said the parallels are unmistakable.

"This show is extremely pertinent to today's world -- it's a very important piece of theatre," Toronto said.

Jason Fahey (senior-musical theatre), who plays Cliff in the show, said that although it may not be directly mentioned, the suggestion of politics and war is found throughout the show.

"There's a strong political undercurrent that still has meaning today," he said. "In both times, people may not have always been talking about it, but it's there."

Emily Peterson (senior-musical theatre) plays Sally Bowls in the show, and said that her character moves in with Cliff, and he becomes enthralled with her.

"She's a free spirit, kooky, eccentric type of girl," Peterson said.

While the show does highlight more serious subject matter, Toronto said there are lots of other things the audience can focus their attentions on.

"It's raunchy," he said. "There's suggestive dancing, plenty of skin, and symbolic gestures -- all in the flavor of a Berlin over-the-top nightclub. It's not one for the kids."

With all of these different aspects going on during the show, Toronto said he doesn't have a specific message he hopes to convey to the audience, but does hope to foster awareness.

"I hope people become aware of where we are in the world, and where we need to go," he said.