WhenCabaretdebuted at the Kit Kat Club at the August Wilson Theater in April, it opened toHamilton-esquehysteria.
Its a fitting outfit for a song in which Sally shares that her mother believes shes joined the convent.
Theres arguably no better character introduction in all of theater.
Andrew Arthur
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Throughout the show, Rankins Sally is rollicking and vulnerable, funny and heartbreaking.
The gravity of the storyline is juxtaposed against the decadent setting of the Kit Kat Club.
Rankin at the 77th annual Tony Awards nominee luncheon
Starring in a show of this caliber can be daunting, but this isnt Rankins firstCabaretrodeo.
Rankin recognizes the full-circle moment.
Its the week before Tony Award voting closes, and Rankin is understandably very busy.
When I ask if shes heading to a cool Tonys event, she laughs.
Oh, absolutely not.
Im going to the ENT to get my vocal cords looked at.
From a character standpoint, how has it differed?
Gayle Rankin:Well, whats been wonderful is that its a completely different experience.
That was an amazing opportunity and gave me a lot to work with.
Did playing Sally make you realize things about Fraulein Kost that you hadnt noticed before, or vice versa?
I was a young woman.
So I was a bit confused with why I was playing her.
Or do you put the blinders on?
Its a bit of both, to be honest.
Jessie Buckley, and Rebecca Lucy Taylor, and Aimee Lou Wood, andCara Delevingne.
I got to see up close Michelle Williams andEmma Stoneplay her.
And also, I am so familiar with Liza Minnellis performance of Sally.
Im standing on all of their shoulders, so there was a part of it that was unavoidable.
I actually see it as a breakthrough.
One of Sallys bigger moments in the show is when she performs Cabaret.
How did you approach that scene?
Thank you, first of all.
I feel like thats a wonderful compliment.
Its how I really want to approach my work.
And that can only come from me sharing something thats quite personal.
I had so much support and help doing that.
Rebecca Frecknallis the first female director ofCabaret,and shes a behemoth.
I actually see it as a breakthrough.
It was really important to me to share that as much as I could.
And whether or not that reaches people, I dont know.
Thats not my job to decide that.
But that was the intention, for sure.
Now that you mention it, it did feel like a pivotal moment for her.
It was almost a moment of self-discovery and acceptance.
Yeah, and a catharsis.
Whether people want to agree or not, thats the truth.
She makes some really difficult, complicated decisions and is a complicated, flawed human being, but brave.
Theres this sentiment amongCabaretfans that Sally is not supposed to be a strong singer.
Is there a degree of pulling back or altering your vocal abilities when you perform that song?
And look, I am not the best vocalist in the world, but Im a trained voice.
But the voice just wasnt something I could fixate on.
It always comes from acting for me.
My Sally is certainly more of an artist than she is a singer.
Shes way more of a performance artist.
Shes a creative, so the voice was just something that was secondary.
Maybe thats why people assume shes not a good singer.
Its like, Whats a good singer?
Did she have a bad night or something?
Its like, Thats the point, sweetheart!
Youre missing the point, babe.
No, I dont care.
People feel like they have ownership over that.
It certainly asked me to grow thick skin or a different layer of skin.
But I dont have thick skin.
Its vulnerable, but I am willing to do that for my work.
I know who I am and I know what Im doing.
I know Im preaching, but none of this is by accident.
For instance, if people think, Why is she singing it like that?
Did she have a bad night or something?
Its like, Thats the point, sweetheart!
Youre missing the point, babe.
The Kit Kat Club is a very unique theater.
A little frisky, yeah.
Do you notice any of the crowd shenanigans that have occurred while on stage?
Just like Chatty Cathies, you know?
People like to chat.
People sometimes take some pictures and videos, which we dont love.
Its just a shame, but its fascinating.
Weve created a club environment and its a part of the show.
Being inside of that gives us fuel.
We want people to be with us and hopefully, respectfully.
Rankin at the 77th annual Tony Awards nominee luncheon
You werenominated for a Tony Award.
How does it feel?
Im very happy and grateful.
The women Im alongside are just so wonderful and unique.
The wonderfulKelli OHarabrought us together.
I havent metMaleah Joi Moonyet, but I am very excited to meet her.
AndMaryann Plunkett, Ive known and respected her work for so long.
AndEden Espinosa, same.
Do you think youre going to win?
But Maryann said something amazing the other day.
She was like, Theres no winning in art.
In some ways, not to be cheesy, but I really do feel like weve all already won.
Its an honor to be involved in all of it, but thats not my focus, certainly.
