In preparation for her New York City cabaret debut February 5, 2023, at the Laurie Beechman theater, Cynthia Clarey, previously known for accomplished performances in musical theater and opera, gave an absorbing interview to Broadway World’s Michael Walters. He explained how Clarey began a new career in Chicago as a cabaret performer – how she began collaborating with Chicago cabaret legend Beckie Menzie and became, in a few short years, a leading and popular member of the Chicago cabaret community. Recipient of this year’s Chicago Cabaret Professionals Outreach Award, Clarey has become well k ..read more

Among the allies who share Chicago Cabaret Professional’s (CCP’s) mission, the American Songbook Association (ASA), which is a New York based not-for-profit association, is unique as publishers of a magazine covering our art form in print. Cabaret Scenes is a national magazine founded in 1995 and through its listings, reviews and features, extensively covers what is happening in cabaret in New York City, regionally and abroad. Thanks in part to the efforts of correspondent Carla Gordon increased commerce between NYC and Chicago cabaret has been reflected in Cabaret Scenes coverage. It was anno ..read more

Rumors that Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret would be closing have been circulating for months. When asked for comment Donna Kirchman, co-owner, confirms that the property is on the market. She adds, “It is our whole-hearted desire to sell to someone who wants to keep the club alive.” As is common when a show is about to post a closing notice, there is a rally-around effect. Patrons and clients have been rallying and hoping for the best outcome for the owners, the workers and for the cabaret community. In these pages Davenport’s, which is located at 1383 N Milwaukee Ave in Wicker Park, has be ..read more

On October 17 our Gala glowed in the light of innovation and accomplishment. With a photo essay in Cabaret Scenes magazine Carla Gordon proclaimed, “The Stars Come Out At Night.” Our president Anne Burnell described in Broadway World a Gala with “a phenomenal lineup of local and national performers singing the Great American Songbook, jazz, blues, pop and more! We’re also very excited to be hosting the event in the glorious Epiphany Hall at Epiphany Center for the Arts, one of the new performance spaces in the heart of Chicago.” Russ Goeltenbodt warms Epiphany Hall stage with “Once in a Lifet ..read more

Cast of Look to the Rainbow: The Songs of Yip Harburg, NYC Cabaret Convention, 2022 (Photo: Richard Termine) To fans and supporters of cabaret in Chicago, the annual convention sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation is a way of keeping in touch with our exemplars and mentors. Chicago Cabaret Professionals recognized Donald Smith and The Mercer Foundation for Special Recognition in 2012, along with KT Sullivan as National Honorees in 2017. This year’s hosts included Andrea Marcovicci, who was our Lifetime Honoree in 2010. Jeff Harnar, this year’s CCP National Honoree, was to have been present ..read more

It was Dec. 10, 2022, and we were following our new discovery, Artist Lounge Live, for an evening of holiday entertainment in Elgin, IL. We arrived safely at the campus of Elgin Community College on a rainy night to find EEC Arts Center, the performing arts facility shared with the visual arts department, where Senior Director of Performing Arts, Tommy Hensel, had just been honored by Chicago Cabaret Professionals with our Presenter Award. After our drive to the outer suburbs, we found the handicapped accessible facility easy to negotiate, warm and inviting. At curtain time Tommy Hensel was t ..read more

September marks a significant event for Chicago area fans of The Great American Songbook. The Skokie Theatre will be staging the Mid-west premiere of Mark Saltzman’s new musical, Falling for Make Believe, about the monumental 25-year Broadway collaboration, from 1918 to 1943, of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz “Larry” Hart. Since Falling for Make Believe primarily focuses on Hart, and the chaotic life he led when not writing lyrics, let’s review his world, and the clues to it in his writing, in anticipation of Saltzman’s musical play. Hart was introduced to Rodgers when he was 23 ..read more

The Songbook Academy is a summer intensive for high school-aged singers who have an interest in classic Broadway, jazz, and popular music, also referred to as the American Songbook. The forty students invited each summer from across the country can work with music industry pros, award-winning singers and performers for a life-changing week of professional training and performance opportunities in Carmel, Indiana at The Center for the Performing Arts, the headquarters of the American Songbook Foundation. The academy lived up to its description for Hinsdale South Junior, Sophia Yen, who was one ..read more

Photo Credit: Lina Koutrakos One of the most prominent practitioners in our art form, and highly regarded mentors, Lina Koutrakos, turns her attention to Chicago at least once a year, and we love her for it. Back in 2019 she was recognized for her career accomplishments, including her exceptional work in professional training, by Chicago Cabaret Professionals. At that year’s Gala fundraiser, she was our National Honoree. And then Covid 19 struck. During the shut-down it wasn’t long before Koutrakos moved to virtual private training sessions, continuing her commitment to professional developme ..read more

With two sold-out evenings of holiday cabaret at Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret, Merry Measures returned to the stage as our traditional charity fundraiser. The two productions, presented on Monday, December 5th and Tuesday, December 6th comprised two volunteer casts and directors, with leaders and cabaret artists all working for charity. This year, Merry Measures was an official UNICEF USA event, with money raised in support of ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Merry Measures Cast Monday, December 5, 2022 (L to R) Suzanne Petri, Cecile Savage, Bobby Shiff, Wydetta Carter, Pam Pet ..read more