Cabaret Shadows
“Cabaret Shadows” aims to capture the essence of a Cabaret show with a jester twist that hopes to make viewers recognize the beauty of an unsettling look. Through the use of patterns, pearls, ruffles, clown-like shapes, and grotesque posing, we wanted to explore the comic ways of a clown through the look of a Cabaret show. Our set was to reenact that of a theater; Red velvet curtains with white sheer draped on top. Models posed in unique forms, asked to unnerve audiences through facials. Overall, we hope to translate the charm of a Cabaret show with the disturbing twist of clown-like features.
Cabaret originates from the early work of Christopher Isherwood, Goodbye to Berlin, a semi-autobiographical novel based on his life during the 1930s in pre-Nazi Berlin. The book was adapted into a play, I Am a Camera, in 1951. It made its official Broadway debut as Cabaret in 1966 at the Broadhurst Theatre.
Cabaret aims to highlight the contrast between illusion and reality. It is an intimate, intentional dance that uses art as a form of escapism from the dark and dangerous world.
It celebrates self-expression and nonconformity in a world of glitter and fun, while under the pressures of the earth-shattering political climate of that time.
The art form of Cabaret presents as a fun and thrilling world, but has a hidden layer of dark themes within, which we hoped to relay within this shoot.
Preparing for our Halloween season, the idea of clowns was thrown around. The appeal of a satirical figure that plays on truth through exaggeration was striking to us for the season.
Using ruffles, amusing shapes, emphasized emotions, deep reds, and glimmer throughout was on every mood board. Using clowns and their theatrics as an inspiration led to ideas of Cabaret. The vision flourished through deliberate styling and beauty choices.
Additionally, building a set to capture the environment of a theater stage. “Cabaret of Shadows” was born. The dark and exhilarating world of Cabaret intends to invite audiences to a magnetic world of over-the-top glamour, while leaving them with a sense of dismay, pointing to the core themes of the show. We hope you enjoy this twisted world that Cabaret brings into this Halloween season.
