Abstract:
Artists have been identifying why we create since we started telling our stories. Cabaret
is a means of that artistic storytelling that reshaped the musical theatre playing field.
Contemporary American cabaret performance, which began back in the 1970s, became a
more intimate means of performance that connected the performer to the audience. The
word “Cabaret” initially referred to any business serving liquor, or taking place in a bar.
The first cabaret performances featured poets, artists and composures sharing their work
that wasn’t being featured otherwise. Whether it is a brand new poet just starting to share
their work or an experienced composer experimenting with a new genre of music or
orchestration, cabaret performance was an open space for any art to be shared and to
flourish. It was for this reason I chose the medium of a cabaret performance to share my
honors thesis, looking at my journey thus far. This theatrical form allows me to have a
personal relationship with the audience and share my intimate journey as an artist thus far
using this very moldable form of theatre. It allows me to shape the type of performance I
want to give around my personal story and not adhere to the rules of theatre. I performed
all genres of music, ranging from indie/alternative to classic musical theatre. I shared
personal accounts of how I became an artist, what lessons I have learned from being an
artist and where I plan to go from here. All this was possible due to the fluid and flexible
nature of the cabaret performance.
