Visiting Presenters

35th Cabaret Convention presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Hosted by Jeff Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci (pictured top left). Featuring Karen Akers, Ann Anello*, Ari Axelrod (pictured bottom right), Danny Bacher, Leanne Borghesi, Barbara Brussell, The DTM Dial Tones*, Bryce Edwards*, Tovah Feldshuh, Penny Fuller, Anita Gillette, Maude Maggart, Karen Mason, Madalynn Mathews (pictured top right), Marilyn Maye (pictured bottom left), Marieann Meringolo, MOIPEI, Marissa Mulder, Lee Roy Reams, Craig Rubano, Marta Sanders, Those Girls, Lumiri Tubo. Presentation of the Julie Wilson Award, underwritten by Peter & Linda Hanson. (photos by Richard Termine) *Cabaret Convention debut

35th Cabaret Convention presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Hosted by Natalie Douglas (pictured top left). Featuring Ava Allen*, Jim Caruso, Aisha de Haas, Bryan Eng (pictured bottom left), Ava Nicole Frances*, Eric Yves Garcia, Christian Holder, Nicolas King, Diva LaMarr, Mark Nadler, Valarie Pettiford (pictured bottom right), David Raleigh*, T. Oliver Reid (pictured top right), Rhonda Ross*, Steve Ross, Billy Stritch, Darnell White*, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Nicole Zuraitis. Presentation of the Mabel Mercer Award. Presentation of the Donald F. Smith Award to Mark Nadler, underwritten by Adela & Larry Elow. (photos by Richard Termine) *Cabaret Convention debut

35th Cabaret Convention presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Hosted by KT Sullivan (pictured top left). Featuring Celia Berk, Klea Blackhurst, Carole J. Bufford, Faye Cantero*, Alexis Cole, Eric Comstock (pictured bottom left), Tim Connell, Robert Cuccioli*, Lorna Dallas, Melissa Errico*, Barbara Fasano (pictured bottom left), Ali Harper*, Marnie Klar*, Alex Leonard, Rosemary Loar, Sidney Myer (pictured top right), Julia Parasram (pictured bottom right), Naathan Phan*, Craig Pomranz, Arbender Robinson*, Deborah Stone*, Luz Velazquez*, Paula West, Gary Williams, Amra-Faye Wright. (photos by Richard Termine) *Cabaret Convention debut

“Find Your Light, a Benefit Concert for Arts Education” will be a star-studded evening, hosted by Josh Groban, with riveting performances, and unique collaborations from Josh and many of the world’s most talented and revered artists including Sara Bareilles, Tituss Burgess, Renée Fleming, Lorna Courtney, Matthew Whitaker and more. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Find Your Light Foundation and its support of arts education programs across the country.

Did you know that the first complete opera by a Black American has been hidden in a single manuscript for over 130 years? Edmond Dédé, a fourth-generation free person of color born in 1827 New Orleans, had an incredibly successful career as a conductor and composer in Bordeaux, France, writing nearly 100 critically and popularly acclaimed works for the French stage. His magnum opus, however—a four act French grand opera on themes from Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves—had yet to receive a premiere at the time of his death, and languished, unrecognized, in private collections and libraries for over a century. Opera Lafayette, with Artistic Director Designate Patrick Quigley, and in partnership with New Orleans’ Givonna Joseph, Founder of OperaCréole, has painstakingly transcribed this monumental work and will present the long overdue world premiere of Dédé’s masterpiece, 138 years after its composition.