The Art of Cabaret

As I have noted here in the past, the St. Louis cabaret scene seems to be truly exploding, with new talent popping up on a reliable basis and established performers continuing to re-stage existing shows and create new ones.

What's really encouraging, though, is that we're now seeing a growth in the available performance spaces for cabaret as well. This past spring, for example, singer and producer Robert Breig started a new monthly series of free cabaret showcases at Schwaig Art Glass in Lafayette Square. Titled A Little Night Music, these early Saturday evening shows (7 to 9 PM) feature six local performers along with the reliable and charming Carol Schmidt on piano. As I'm writing this, the next one (the fourth in the series) is coming up on July 10th and will feature JT Ricroft, Barbara Helmer, Kay Love, Emilie Nevins, Kari Donovan, and Patty Scanlon.

The venue is not ideal - only a dozen or so audience members can get a really good look at the performers, stuffed as they are into the studio's small second floor space. But what the venue lacks in convenience is makes up for in atmosphere and beauty. Being surrounded by art glass isn't exactly the worst experience in the world, and the free wine and cheese add to the ambience. The showcase format, with each performer doing a three-song set, allows a lot of new talent to get their feet wet, so to speak, as well as providing a chance for more experienced performers to try out new material.

To find out more, call 314-776-4442 or visit fabartscenter.com on the web.

I should note, in all fairness, that I know and have worked with Robert and that I appeared in the second edition of A Little Night Music.

Coming up later in July, by the way, yet another cabaret showcase series launches, this time downtown. More in on that in my next post.