Cabaret at the Xavier Dramatics Society

Original Typeface and keyart for the 2020 Production of Cabaret, presented by the Xavier Dramatics Society.
The classic Kander and Ebb musical is centered in the Kit Kat Club, a nightclub 'at the end of the world' in 1930 Berlin. The moving story expresses the vibrant highs and devious lows of humanity, all through the setting of a decadent cabaret. The artistic direction for the production was supported by lavish production details in set, costume, and lighting, enveloping the characters in a rich package of intrigue and levity, with accents of rough stone and graffiti as the harsh terrors of radical European politics begin to creep in around the edges and threaten their livelihoods.

Continuing our ongoing partnership with the group, I established the visual direction for all the production branding and keyart. I designed a new typeface, Willk, named after the sensual dance number that begins the show, "Willkommen". The typeface was loosely inspired by a found specimen book designed by foundry Deberny & Peignot in Paris in 1926, just before the time Cabaret is set and its main character Cliff arrives to Germany from Paris. All the graphic details were built into the principal show logo mark, marketing materials, and programs, as well as a limited batch of show merch.