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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!
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.
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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
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.
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