Important Update: 92Y remains open
Award winning cabaret performer and member of the 92Y Music Faculty, Michael Kirk Lane curates a series of conversations about the art form of cabaret in New York City.
Welcoming performers, directors, and journalists, these conversations will delve into the history and current state of this unique performance style. Each conversation will also include a Q&A session for the participants. These conversations may be purchased individually, or as a package of 3 at a discounted price!
Kicking off the new year, Cabaret Conversations is joined by world-renowned performer and winner of season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jinkx Monsoon. They are a 6-time MAC Award-nominee, winning in 2020 for Major Drag Artist. Their debut cabaret show, alongside performing partner Major Scales, The Vaudevillians, played over 100 performances at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, and was a New York Times Critics’ Pick, before going on an international tour.
Next on the hotseat, Broadway performer, recording artist, producer, & theater arts teacher, Telly Leung joins the conversation. His Broadway & national touring credits include Aladdin in Disney's Aladdin, Godspell, Rent (final Broadway company), Wicked (Boq, original Chicago Company) and television audiences will remember him as Wes the Warbler on Glee.
This duo features 16-time MAC, 5-time Backstage Bistro, and 3-time Nightlife Award-winner Lennie Watts and performer, writer, host, director, singer, and current President of MAC, Amy Wolk.
Recognized as an outstanding vocalist, director, producer and booking manager, Lennie Watts has been active in the New York cabaret scene for 30 years and was recently named one of “The 50 Most Influential People in New York Cabaret” by Nightlife Exchange.
4-time MAC Award winner, Amy Wolk, was the recipient of the 2014 Bistro Award for Outstanding Musical Comedy for her show A Wolk on the Wild Side. Amy has won 2 MAC Awards for her cabaret performances, including the 2011 MAC for Musical Comedy, and the 2004 MAC Award for Best Female New York Debut for her show Different For Girls. Her solo shows include A Wolk in Progress, We Can Wolk It Out, and Wolk This Way.
Previous sessions are still available to watch on demand. View previous class session details.
Join Cabaret Conversations with Broadway, off-Broadway, television and recording artist Karen Mason, who has garnered rave reviews starring as The Queen of Hearts in Wonderland and originating the role of Tanya in Abba’s Mamma Mia, and many more!
Kicking off the Fall, we welcome critically acclaimed performer Natalie Douglas, who has been called, “a true force of nature,” and "in a league of her own," by Clive Davis of The Times (UK) in his TWO five-star reviews of two different London appearances. Natalie is a Nightlife, two-time Bistro, twelve-time MAC, and BroadwayWorld Best Cabaret Vocalist Award Winner and recipient of the Donald F. Smith & Margaret Whiting Awards from the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Natalie’s portrait also hangs on the legendary Birdland Jazz Club Wall of Fame.
A theatrical icon and one of Broadway’s greatest triple-threat talents, Chita Rivera is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history having earned 10 nominations, won twice and received the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. She created iconic starring roles in such landmark Broadway musicals as West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman and The Visit. Among her many honors, The Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by President Barack Obama and the coveted Kennedy Center Honor.
Join the Conversation with the quintessential example of New York Cabaret, Sidney Myer. He has been a Cabaret Booking Manager for almost four decades at iconic clubs like Don’t Tell Mama, Rose’s Turn and Panache. Artists he has presented have gone on to careers on Broadway, Television, Motion Pictures; become the Star Search $100,000 Grand Prize Winner, the highest jackpot winner in Lotto history, receive multiple Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, Oscars and a Pulitzer Prize.
Programs taking place online:An access link will be emailed to you after purchase.
Programs taking place in our NYC facilities:Please read our safety guidelines before visiting our building.
Programs taking place online and in our NYC facilities:Please select which experience you wish to participate in when registering. Online participants will be emailed an access link after purchase. In-person participants should read our safety guidelines before attending the program.
Maximizing Remote Private Lessons and Group Classes
We offer financial aid and scholarships for all School of Music programs including private lessons for children and adults. For more information click here.
Michael Kirk Lane is an award-winning cabaret artist, having won the 2020 Manhattan Association of Cabaret Award for Male Musical Comedy Performer. Along with 3 previous MAC nominations, Lane has been nominated for 3 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards, winning in 2018 for Best Show. Stephen Mosher of BroadwayWorld Cabaret has called Lane “one of the most popular performers and people working in cabaret today.” Cabaret Scenes Magazine has deemed Lane’s work “musical comedy heaven.”
Beyond his own experience performing in cabaret, Lane’s e ...
Beyond his own experience performing in cabaret, Lane’s experience managing two of the city’s most renowned cabaret venues (The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Don’t Tell Mama) offers him a unique vantage point and perspective on the art form.
As a teaching artist for over 20 years, Lane has taught all ages from pre-school to retirement homes. In each class he brings the same philosophy to his teaching, no matter the age of the students. “Art, Theatre, and Music are ways for us to connect with our most authentic self, and to explore the world around us.”
Cabaret History and Great Performances
Cabaret Conversations
Cabaret Performance: Connecting to Your Lyric
Jinkx Monsoon, the drag persona of performer Jerick Hoffer, is a world-renowned performer …
Jinkx Monsoon, the drag persona of performer Jerick Hoffer, is a world-renowned performer and winner of season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. They are a 6-time MAC Award-nominee, winning in 2020 for Major Drag Artist. Their debut cabaret show, alongside performing partner Major Scales, The Vaudevillians, played over 100 performances at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, and was a New York Times Critics’ Pick, before going on an international tour. Of Jinkx Hoffer states “She is definitely a zany, off the wall, irreverent, gorgeous anachronism,” Hoffer adds “She simply refuses to let her audience sit idly; she is a powerhouse of song and comedy, igniting her audiences in a frenzy of laughter and sexual tension.” Beyond Drag Race, they have appeared on shows such as AJ and The Queen, Blue Bloods, and Steven Universe. On stage they have appeared in regional productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Rent, Hairspray, and Spring Awakening. They also have released two albums: The Inevitable Album and The Ginger Snapped.
Telly Leung is a New York City native, Broadway performer, recording artist, producer, & theater arts teacher …
Telly Leung is a New York City native, Broadway performer, recording artist, producer, & theater arts teacher. His Broadway & national touring credits include Aladdin in Disney's "Aladdin" on Broadway, In Transit, Allegiance (with George Takei & Lea Salonga), Godspell, Rent (final Broadway company), Wicked (Boq, original Chicago company), Pacific Overtures, Flower Drum Song. In 2010, he starred as Angel in RENT at the Hollywood Bowl opposite Wayne Brady, directed by Neil Patrick Harris. Regionally, he's performed at Philadelphia Theater Company, Pittsburgh CLO, The St. Louis MUNY, Dallas Theater Center, The Shakespeare Theater Company in D.C., North Carolina Theater, and North Shore Musical Theater. Television audiences will remember him as Wes the Warbler on “Glee", as well as his guest star appearances on "Instinct", “Odd Mom Out,” “Deadbeat” and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent.” Telly is featured as a coach for the Jimmy Awards in the PBS documentary, "Broadway or Bust". He can be heard on many original Broadway cast recordings and has released two solo albums - I’ll Cover You (2012) and Songs for You (2016) - on The Yellow Sound Label. He holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama. He has taught master classes and courses at American universities like NYU, Nazareth College, The University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon and Point Park and has been a guest teacher at drama programs all over the world, from Edinburgh to Tokyo. His producing credits include the concert series “Broadway Back Together”, the musical short film GRIND (starring Anthony Rapp), and "THE NICE LIST", a virtual family-family holiday musical. Twitter / Instagram: @tellyleung. Website: www.tellyleung.com
Lennie Watts is a 16-time MAC, 5-time Backstage Bistro, and 3-time Nightlife Award-winner …
Lennie Watts is a 16-time MAC, 5-time Backstage Bistro, and 3-time Nightlife Award-winner. Recognized as an outstanding vocalist, director, producer, and booking manager, he has been active in the New York cabaret scene for 30 years. In addition to directing in small cabaret venues, he has directed events at Symphony Space, Town Hall, BB King’s, and Sony Hall. As an actor, he has toured nationally and internationally with productions of The Music Man (Marcellus) and The Wizard Of Oz(Lion). Other roles: Man in Chair (The Drowsy Chaperone) Pseudolus (A Funny Thing...), Herod (Jesus Christ Superstar), Nicely Nicely Johnson (Guys and Dolls), Jinx (Forever Plaid). He has performed at Town Hall in several concerts, including Broadway Unplugged and Broadway By The Year, 1949, and can be heard on the cast recordings of both shows. As a theater director, he has directed productions of Godspell, Dames at Sea, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Phantom. Watts is the creator and Artistic Director of Singnasium, a nonprofit vocal school in New York City, as well as The Singers Retreat at Heron’s Landing. David Finkle of The Village Voice calls him "A one man cabaret army!" He appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show,, and released his debut CD I Want...You Want, in 2000. He served as the President of MAC for 11 years, and is currently on the advisory board. He was recently named one of “The 50 Most Influential People in New York Cabaret” by Nightlife Exchange. Singnasium.org
Amy Wolk is a performer, writer, host, director, and singer based in New York City …
Amy Wolk is a performer, writer, host, director, and singer based in New York City. She is the current President of MAC. Her most recent cabaret show, Hungry Like the Wolk played an extended run at both The Duplex and Don’t Tell Mama. A 4-time MAC Award winner, she was the recipient of the 2014 Bistro Award for Outstanding Musical Comedy for her show A Wolk on the Wild Side. Amy has won 2 MAC Awards for her cabaret performances, including the 2011 MAC for Musical Comedy, and the 2004 MAC Award for Best Female New York Debut for her show Different For Girls.Her solo shows include A Wolk in Progress, We Can Wolk It Out, and Wolk This Way. With William TN Hall, she wrote the award-winning “The Brit Song” which won both the Dirty Little Songs contest and the MAC Award. Other songs include the MAC-nominated “Hey, Hey, It’s Ok” (written with Lorinda Lisitza) and “The Ladies Who Tony”, written for Nikki M. James. In July 2021, she will co-write to the #SLACabaret for the Salt Lake Acting Company.
With Nikki M. James, Amy is the creator, producer, and MAC-Award winning host of I Only Have Lies For You, a live gameshow that pits Broadway panelists against each other in a lying contest. Now in its third season at the Beechman, the show can be heard as a podcast, and is also being played live on Facebook until the world goes back to normal.
Amy works as a freelance teacher with On Location Education as an on set tutor on films and Broadway shows. This job has given her the opportunity to meet great people, teach amazing kids, and has allowed her to eat for free at opening night parties and from craft service tables.
Karen Mason has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, television, and recording …
Karen Mason has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, television, and recording and “has few peers when it comes to ripping the roof off with her amazing voice that knows no bounds!” She is “an American Idol!” (New York Times)
Karen, the recipient of the 2019 MAC Lifetime Achievement Award, is a 12-time MAC Award winner and has won the MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year for six consecutive years. Her highly acclaimed recordings include her newest single, “It’s About Time.” She has also won the 2006 Nightlife Award for Major Female Vocalist and has three Bistro Awards.
On Broadway, she garnered rave reviews starring as The Queen of Hearts in Wonderland and she originated the role of Tanya in Abba’s Mamma Mia! (Drama Desk nomination). Her other leading roles include Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard; Velma von Tussel in the final Broadway company of Hairspray; “Monotony” singer, Mazeppa in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway; Rosalie in Carnival (Drama Desk nomination); plus featured roles in Broadway’s Torch Song Trilogy; and Play Me a Country Song.
Karen won the Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance in And the World Goes ‘Round, and starred Off-Broadway in her own show Karen Mason Sings Broadway, Beatles and Brian.
Karen has headlined Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Feinstein’s, Rainbow & Stars, The Algonquin, Arci’s Place, The Supper Club and The Ballroom in NYC; The Plush Room, The Fairmont Hotel, The Orinda in San Francisco; and The Park West, Davenport’s in Chicago.
Called, “a true force of nature,” and "in a league of her own," by Clive Davis of The Times (UK) in his TWO five-star reviews of two different London appearances, Natalie Douglas is a Nightlife …
Called, “a true force of nature,” and "in a league of her own," by Clive Davis of The Times (UK) in his TWO five-star reviews of two different London appearances, Natalie Douglas is a Nightlife, two-time Bistro, twelve-time MAC, and BroadwayWorld Best Cabaret Vocalist Award Winner and recipient of the Donald F. Smith & Margaret Whiting Awards from the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Natalie’s portrait also hangs on the legendary Birdland Jazz Club Wall of Fame.
Her performances have brought crowds to their feet across the U.S. and the world with many different concerts featuring tributes to Nina Simone, Lena Horne, Nat "King" Cole, Roberta Flack, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Jr., Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Dame Shirley Bassey, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, and Cher as well as shows about Cafe Society, the music of the 70’s and 80’s, songs of various civil rights movements, and gospel-influenced jazz and blues.
Natalie's critically acclaimed, award-winning third album, Human Heart, and her first two CDs, To Nina...Live At Birdland and Not That Different are available at most major streaming services and music stores. She also appears on Fine and Dandy for PS Classics and Broadway By The Year: 1940 on Bayview Records. She is a great favorite of broadcasters and her music is often featured on NPR and Sirius XM Radio & BBC London Radio.
In addition to her work as a singer/actor, Natalie is a popular & much sought after educator, working worldwide with singers of all ages in her capacity as the master teacher for the Mabel Mercer Foundation and the Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference. Natalie specializes in diversity workshops & masterclasses for public and private schools, as well as devoting attention to individual study.
A theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents, Chita Rivera is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history having earned 10 nominations …
A theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents, Chita Rivera is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history having earned 10 nominations, won twice and received the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. A versatile actress/singer/dancer, her most recent starring roles include The Visit, the final John Kander/Fred Ebb/Terrence McNally musical directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Graciela Daniele on Broadway; the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood; the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, a dazzling musical celebrating her spectacular career, written by Terrence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele and the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas. She trained as a ballerina (from age nine) before receiving a scholarship to the School of American Ballet from the legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Chita’s first appearance (age 17) was as a principal dancer in Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her stardom, which she repeated in London. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink (Tony Award), Chicago, Jerry’s Girls, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award), and the original Broadway casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr. Wonderful. On tour: Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, Zorba, Can-Can with The Rockettes. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009 and received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in 2002. In 2019, Chita performed her solo concert at London’s Cadogan Hall; in 2018 she was honored as a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy; in 2016 she headlined at Carnegie Hall and in 2015, Great Performances aired their special Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ To Do, a retrospective of her extraordinary life and career nationally on PBS. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing. Her most treasured production is her daughter, singer/dancer/choreographer Lisa Mordente.
Sidney Myer is the quintessential example of New York Cabaret. He has been a Cabaret Booking Manager for almost four decades at iconic clubs like Don’t Tell Mama …
Sidney Myer is the quintessential example of New York Cabaret. He has been a Cabaret Booking Manager for almost four decades at iconic clubs like Don’t Tell Mama, Rose’s Turn and Panache. Artists he has presented have gone on to careers on Broadway, Television, Motion Pictures; become the Star Search $100,000 Grand Prize Winner, the highest jackpot winner in Lotto history, receive multiple Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, Oscars and a Pulitzer Prize. In 2009, he was featured above the fold in the cover story of The Sunday New York Times Arts & Leisure Section with the Headline: “Saviors Of The American Songbook.” Theater: Off-Broadway: Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral, Dressing Room, Split Ends, Irene (Kaye Playhouse-25th Anniversary Revival); Edinburgh Fringe Festival La Gran Scena Opera Co.; Beauty and the Beast (Theatre By The Sea). Off-Off-Broadway: Times Square Angel with Charles Busch, The Boys in the Band, Laughing Wild, The Ball, Midnight At The Never Get. Film: 20th Century Fox’s Headin’ For Broadway. Television: Seasons 1 & 2 of the 5-Time Emmy Award-winning After Forever on Amazon Prime. Celebrity Interviewer on Cable’s Broadway Beat & Cabaret Beat and Nancy Lamott’s DVD I’ll Be Here With You. Commercials for RCA Victor and New York Lotto. Radio: Regular on The Joey Reynolds Show. He's entertained from New York to San Francisco to London. Recipient of MAC, Broadway World, Backstage Bistro, Mabel Mercer Foundation's Cabaret Classic & Paula Laurence awards. DVD: Sidney Myer: Live At The Beechman.
Join award winning cabaret performer Michael Kirk Lane in conversation with renowned performers, directors, journalists, and more!
Online Class