5 Questions with Beth Siegling, who plays "Sally Bowles" in PlayMakers' Summer Youth Conservatory Production of "Cabaret"

On July 18th, the high school students who have taken part in PlayMakers’ Summer Youth Conservatory will present Cabaret. These students, who work both on stage and behind the scenes, undergo a six week practicum filled with both teaching sessions and applied learning. The students get to work with professional directors, choreographers, musical directors, and theatre technicians to create a high-quality, professional production.

And, luckily for us here at Triangle Arts Review, we were able to interview Beth Siegling, a rising 12th grader at UWC Costa Rica, who has an important role in the show, which she discusses with us below.

Who do you play in Cabaret, and what do you love most about your role?

One of the first things we learned about Beth is that she plays “Sally Bowles” in the production.

Beth describes her character as “an English nightclub singer who is living in Berlin and is a featured performer in the Kit Kat Klub.” She also goes on to describe Sally as “outrageously authentic” and as “a woman who does not compromise herself for anyone.” 

As if it wasn’t obvious enough that Beth has great affection for her character, she goes on to say that, “[Sally] pursues her passions and doesn’t pay regard to those who attempt to make her smaller, and that is something I love about her.”

What is the most challenging thing about your role?

While it is clear that Beth enjoys many things about her character, she doesn’t seen her as completely perfect.

 Beth explains that  Sally is “a woman who is politically oblivious in a time of great sociopolitical turmoil.” She goes on to say that, “In rehearsal, we have drawn many parallels between modern day politics and the issues that are portrayed in Cabaret, and it has been a great challenge for me to accept that politics simply aren’t of great importance to Sally.”

What are you most excited for the audience to see?

While Beth may have had to come to terms with some aspects of her character, that doesn’t mean she isn’t excited about the production.

 In fact, she explains how she can’t wait for everyone to see “the fantastic musical numbers” when the show opens next week.

Beth says that, “Our ensemble has worked incredibly hard to create a world of song and dance that draws the audience in and allows them to understand what was at stake for the German populace in this time.” “Through this,” Beth continues, “it allows us to powerfully recognize what is at stake for the American public as well.”

What preparation have you done for your role?

It’s obvious that Beth has worked hard to understand her role and the production as a whole. However, that’s only the “tip of the iceberg” as far as training and preparation go.

“I have worked extensively on perfecting Sally’s dialect and character voice,” Beth says. She continues, “Outside of technique, I have been focusing on understanding Sally’s world and the way in which she rationalizes many of her decisions.”

How has this program helped you to grow as a young artist?

Beth has been a participant in PlayMakers’ Summer Youth Conservatory for the past three years, and she’s gained a lot in that time.

She says, “I can confidently say that this program has given me the skills and techniques required to begin pursuing theatre as a career. The training that is given in this program is rigorous and highly professional, and I am so grateful for the privilege to be able to work on this amazing show with such a talented cast and crew.”

It’s easy to see that Beth has gained a lot from her hard work this summer. Those who wish to see the “pay off” for all of this hard work are encouraged to check out Cabaret ​during its run.