Its a big week for cabaret in NYC (and Chicago, too). Monday was the first night of our TOWNHOUSE HAS TALENT contest - see info above and in the listings - and CCP (Chicago Cabaret Professionals - http://www.chicagocabaret.org/ ) will present its eleventh anniversary Gala Benefit 2009 "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" on Sunday, October 11th at 7:00 pm at THE PARK WEST in Chicago - see details in listings below.
Also, this week NYC plays host to the 20th Annual MABEL MERCER CABARET CONVENTION at JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER - Wednesday through Friday, with shows each night at 6:00 pm - ending in time for many folks to have a quick supper and see a cabaret show. These events used to be held over 5 nights and one afternoon, but several forces have affected the event. Economic forces for one - ticket prices were at one time kept low (in the $15-$25 range) in order to allow folks of all incomes to afford to see one or more of the shows. Most of the performers in the shows still appear for free (many hiring their own accompanists) and only a few from outside NYC are given travel/housing while in town. But other expenses (and inflation) have required increased prices, and while some $25 seats are available, most seats are at the $50/$100 levels. And other "cabaret festival" events in NYC during the year have also diminished the specialness of the cabaret convention. Finally, the cabaret audience of today has moved beyond "great American Songbook" that the convention emphasizes and on to many new styles and formats for cabaret show. In the early years, it was nearly impossible to get tickets to several of the nights just a few days after they went on sale - today, seats are still available for all shows.
But the aura of "convention week" still brings a bit of excitement and revitalization to the NYC cabaret community, and folks from out of town still make the trip to NYC (albiet a shorter stay). And, while the new JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER facilities do not afford the space for the camaraderie pre and post show as the former THE TOWN HALL location (including the chance to purchase CDs by the performers during intermission), it still is a time of celebration of the most exciting art form ever created.
