Spotlight On: Kerrie Maguire
Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into our talented cast and crew of Cabaret. Get to know Kerrie Maguire who is portraying Sally Bowles!
Introduce Yourself to Our Audience:
Hello! I’m Kerrie. This is my fourth show with CTC, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it. My past roles with CTC were Ilse in “Spring Awakening”, Gynecia in “Head Over Heels”, and Sarraghina in “Nine”. By day, I am a barista, standardized patient, and freelance video game developer / writer.
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
It’s been a lifelong wish of mine to be in Cabaret. My mom played the 1998 cast recording all the time when I was a kid (the mature stuff went over my head) so I grew up loving the music. When I was finally old enough to grasp what the show was really about, it just made me love it even more. In 2024, there are atrocities and injustices all over the globe that make the message of Cabaret more important than ever, such as the rise of far-right movements in the U.S. and what is happening in Palestine.
How do you prepare for a new role or character, and what techniques do you use?
If there are films or books that relate to the show / character, I always look to those first. Luckily, there’s LOTS of material for Cabaret and Sally! After I was cast I started reading Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood, specifically the Sally Bowles chapter, as well as a book all about the “mythic figure” of Sally Bowles. I watched the Cabaret movie a few times, as well as other productions of the show on YouTube. I like to get ideas and inspiration from as many sources as possible, then see what rings most true to me. I also like to make a playlist of songs that remind me of my character.
What do you love about your character?
Honestly, I love how messy and complex Sally is. She’s never quite sure of what she wants, and more importantly, what she needs. I feel for Sally. There is so much contrast to explore in the way she is written, and every time we run the show I feel like I get to know her a bit better.
What challenges did you face bringing the script to life?
It’s nerve-wracking to play such an iconic character, especially when trying to put your own spin on her, but the challenge has been a blast. Sally is larger-than-life a lot of the time, but I really wanted to emphasize the vulnerability and “breakability” that lies beneath the surface of her fun persona.
Who do you look up to (as an actor/director/etc.)?
Barrett Wilbert Weed! I met her at a talkback a few years ago and she spoke about never feeling like she fit any of the “types” or boxes that musical theatre so often wants to put people in… so she decided the best way to deal with that was to stop caring and just be the best version of herself onstage. That really resonates with me, and I just think she is an amazing and unique performer.
What’s the last thing you do before you step out on stage / the curtain goes up?
I love listening to the audience in the wings and feeling the excited energy with the rest of the cast.
What is your favorite film or theater production and why?
Some of my favorite shows (besides Cabaret) are Great Comet, Lizzie, American Idiot, Spring Awakening, and anything by Stephen Sondheim.
In terms of film, I’m super into surreal and horrific films. David Lynch, David Fincher, and David Cronenberg are some of my favorite directors.
Cabaret opens July 19th and runs through August 4th at Connecticut Theatre Company. Tickets on sale now!
“A stunning musical… this marionette’s-eye view of a time and place in our lives that was brassy, wanton, carefree and doomed to crumble is brilliantly conceived.”– Walter Kerr, The New York Times
“Stunning… a masterpiece of musical theater penned as a cautionary tale and not at all leavened by the embrace of paradox.” – Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune
