In celebration of 40 years of the Zodiac Theater, the Zodiac Players and Shoals Theatre will present a production of the 1966 classic “Cabaret” Feb. 2 at the Shoals Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Director and UNA Music Instructor Alan Flowers said the musical is back by popular demand.

“We had a vote all last year about which play in the past 40 years that (the voters) would like to see again, and this one got the most,” Flowers said.

The musical is set in 1931 Berlin, Germany. The story follows Cliff Bradshaw-played by UNA senior music education major Ethan Lolley-an aspiring novelist who falls for Sally Bowles, a cabaret girl at the Kit Kat Klub, who is played by Katie Cockrell.

Because of various risqué scenes in the cabaret involving tight tights and lots of lingerie, Lolley hopes the community stays open-minded while attending the musical.

“People just have to go to the theater to be entertained,” Lolley said. “If you go into it open-minded, you won’t be offended. After all, it’s just acting. It’s not real.”

“It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, though,” he added. “I will say that.”

Cockrell, a UNA graduate in vocal and piano performance, is excited about this production.

“I absolutely love it,” she said. “I think I’ve been in seven shows at the Shoals

Theatre, but I’m definitely most excited about this show. The content reaches a whole new level. It’s not one of these ho-hum, happy musicals. It can definitely reach the soul.”

The musical, Cockrell explained, uses the rise of Nazi Germany as a metaphor for how oppression affects people.

“Anybody that has ever been oppressed or been the oppressor will really enjoy this show,” Cockrell said. “It’s a huge metaphor. It definitely lets you look at any type of political, spiritual or cultural conflicts so that-regardless of your opinion about a situation-you can look at it from every point of view.”

“The other thing is-as political as it is-it’s really sexy,” Cockrell said. “There’s not many musicals that can be twisted, dark, political and still be sexy, but this is one of them.”

“Cabaret” will play Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. at the Shoals Theatre. There will also be a matinee performance 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students in advance, and $12 for adults and $10 for students at the door.