Character guide
Cliff
from Cabaret
Cliff Bradshaw is the American writer whose arrival in Berlin and romance with Sally Bowles frames the story of Cabaret.
- Show
- Cabaret
- Broadway premiere
- 1966
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- John Kander
Cliff on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1972 Bob Fosse film
Cliff Bradshaw does not exist in the 1972 film. Bob Fosse's movie replaced him with Brian Roberts, played by Michael York, who is British and bisexual rather than the stage show's American writer. Bert Convy originated Cliff on Broadway in 1966.
The change costs the character his songs. On stage Cliff sings Why Should I Wake Up?, and the 1987 revival added Don't Go for him; in the film nearly all the musical numbers are performed inside the Kit Kat Klub rather than sung by the characters to express their feelings.
Who is Cliff?
Cliff comes to Berlin hoping to write and finds himself drawn into the world of the Kit Kat Klub, where he meets and falls for Sally Bowles. Unlike Sally, Cliff becomes increasingly alarmed by the political changes happening around them, serving as an outsider's eye on the rise of extremism in the city.
His growing unease and his attempts to convince Sally that they should leave Berlin together drive much of the show's central tension, as the two characters want fundamentally different things from their lives.
Cliff's role in Cabaret
Cliff is a supporting role relative to Sally and the Emcee, but he functions as the audience's grounded perspective on events, making his clear-eyed reactions essential to the show's impact. The part calls for a performer who can be believable and sincere, providing a steady contrast to the theatricality surrounding him.
Because Cliff is often the one character urging caution and awareness, his relationship with Sally becomes a quiet but powerful engine for the show's larger themes about denial and complicity.
Cliff: frequently asked questions
What show is Cliff from?
Cliff Bradshaw appears in Cabaret, the 1966 musical with music by John Kander.
Is Cliff a lead or supporting role?
Cliff is a supporting role, though a central one alongside Sally Bowles.
What brings Cliff to Berlin in Cabaret?
Cliff travels to Berlin hoping to find inspiration and work as a writer.
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