The masked (possibly soon-to-be unmasked) cowboy is heading to the Broadway stage. Orville Peck is making his Broadway debut as the Emcee in the current production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Klub.
According to Deadline, Peck will replace Adam Lambert in the role beginning March 31 for a 16 week engagement at the August Wilson Theatre. Two-time Tony nominee Eva Noblezada will also take over for Moana’s Auli‘i Cravalho as Sally Bowles.
“The Emcee has been my dream role since I was a teenager,” Peck said. “The nature of the character allows for complete freedom of individual expression. It can be portrayed through such a vast range of emotions, perspectives, and performance styles. That kind of freedom is every actor’s dream.”
“I truly cannot believe I’m getting to make my Broadway debut in one of my favorite shows and in probably my favorite role in all of musical theater,” Peck added. “I grew up in the theater. I was a working actor and a dancer for many years before I started making music.
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“I did the hustle, and the struggle, for a long time, trying to make things happen for myself. But it taught me so much of who I am as a performer and a person, so it feels very full circle to be making a return to it at this point in my career.”
Outside of his theatrical country music persona, Peck is no stranger to acting. His bio on the Cabaret website explains, “As a young actor Orville received his training in the UK from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Whereupon graduating, he worked passionately in classical theatre and appeared in an Olivier Award Nominated play on London’s West End. Orville has also provided voiceover work for countless TV, Film and animated series.”
While Cabaret in general presents the queer underbelly of 1930s Berlin—being based on the semi-autobiographical short stories of gay author Christopher Isherwood—the Emcee is a particularly queer presence on stage. Noted for androgynous makeup, the character has been portrayed by a number of queer stars over the years, including Alan Cumming, Neil Patrick Harris, and Joel Grey in the 1972 film.
With that said, the Emcee is typically portrayed sans mask. Does that mean Peck will be taking off his own? “I will say this,” he told Variety, “people will have to buy a ticket to find out.”
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