WHAT IS CABARET?

Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue—a restaurant or nightclub with a performance area and the audience sitting at tables (often dining or drinking) watching the performance. Cabaret performances are typically intimate evenings. They vary widely and may include political spin offs, musical tributes, or light and funny entertainment.

Cabaret began in France around the turn of the 19th century, later flourishing in Germany and the United States. Some of the most famous early cabarets in France were the Chat Noir, the Moulin Rouge, and the Folies-Bergère, the last two of which are still in business. Cabaret was an immensely popular form of entertainment throughout the 19th century, sometimes featuring circus acts along with the more common musical and dance numbers.

Today’s performers sometimes battle a perception that cabaret is all about old-fashioned show tunes. Admittedly, there are still plenty of performers who belt out familiar showtunes, but cabaret encompasses so much more. Informal cabaret shows are also a good way for young performers to showcase their skills.

Cabaret is sometimes considered a dying art form. Luckily, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles have thriving Cabaret scenes, and now Albuquerque has ABQStages’ Cabaret Series! We hope you will ‘come to the cabaret’ and experience this unique genre of entertainment for yourself.

Two Ladies Cabaret

Paul Roth & Friends Cabaret

Pour Me a Life Cabaret

Getting to Know Me*

Mai Tais & Latkes

The Dating Game Cabaret

There’s No Friendship Like Show Friendship*

Mother’s Day Cabaret

You & Me: a Traveling Cabaret

* “Emerging Artists” Cabaret