Eddie Redmayne's Kids Are Singing Cabaret's Songs Despite Their 'Horrendously Inappropriate' Lyrics (Exclusive)

Eddie Redmayne is raising Broadway babies, but they might not be quite sure what they're singing just yet.

The Oscar-winning actor opened up about the interests of son Luke, 6, and daughter Iris, 8, while speaking at the 2024 Tony Awards Meet the Nominees junket earlier this month.

"My children love the theater," says Redmayne, 42, who is up for his second Tony Award for his leading actor portrayal of the Emcee in the acclaimed revival of the John Kander and Fred Ebb's Cabaret, "And they love the music to Cabaret, because the songs are so memorable and playful, they sort of sit in your head so quickly."

Luckily, the two don't appear to understand Cabaret's lyrics.

"Sometimes the lyrics are kind of more questionable," Redmayne says. "I was saying the other day that my daughter is sort of going around singing that song, 'Don't Tell Mama.' And all the lyrics are kind of horrendously inappropriate."

Redmayne shares Luke and Iris with wife Hannah Bagshawe, 41, whom he married in 2014. And as he jokes, she's not happy with their song choice.

"My wife, Hannah, is like, really? 'Don't Tell Mama' is one of the key songs? Come on. How about 'Don't Tell Papa?' " he says.

Despite the gaff, Redmaye is still hoping to sneak his son and daughter into the August Wilson Theatre in New York City to see his opening number.

"They haven't been to see the show, but I'm thinking of trying to sneak them into watch 'Willkommen,' " he says. "Because they've been such a part of this journey for me, my kids, so yeah."

The actor first played the role in the 2021 West End revival, which transferred this season to Broadway in a production that opened April 21. Directed by Rebecca Frecknall, it's officially called Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

Gayle Rankin, Steven Skybell and Bebe Neuwirth star alongside Redmayne in the production. All four received Tony Award nominations for their performances, while the show itself is up for five other awards including best revival of a musical.

This is Redmayne's second time on Broadway, and second Tony Award acting nomination. He received the 2010 Tony Award for his role in Red.

"The Tonys, in many ways, changed my life when I was here with Red 14 years ago," Redmayne shares to PEOPLE. "So it feels completely wonderful to be back here. Cabaret has been a passion project for many years. The fact that we made it to Broadway was a huge thing, and to be recognized across the board by the Tonys means the world."

"And they're just magnificent, the actual Tony Awards," he adds. "It's kind of of unrivaled as far as being an entertaining evening. So it's thrilling to be a part of it."

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The 2024 Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 16 at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater in New York City. Viewers can watch the show on CBS and Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Select awards will also be handed out on a preshow that will stream on Pluto TV.

Tickets for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club are now on sale.