The word “cabaret,” at least by its original French etymology, just means “small room,” but it’s come to refer to the song-belting, tap dancing, joke-telling and acting that takes place in such a room. Of course, the one element that makes cabaret cabaret (as opposed to stand-up comedy or syncopating in tap shoes) is the music. This fall, Savor’s Flim Flam theater, which recalls Brecht and the decadent cabarets of Berlin before World War II, hosts a series of performances that, during St. Louis’ chilly but cheerful autumn days, will feel just right.
Craig Rubano (October 4–7). It’s nice to know that Yale’s Whiffenpoofs troupe still exists—and that native St. Louisans like Craig Rubano still make its venerable ranks. Rubano also performed on Broadway as Darius in Les Misérables. He’ll be performing his new show, “At Long Last Love.”
Steve Ross (October 25–28). The London Times referred to Ross as the “Supper-Club Sultan of Manhattan.” He’ll also be debuting a new show, “Travels with My Piano,” which includes exotic music from France, Brazil and Australia.
Mary Cleere Haran (November 8–11). Haran’s regular performance haunts include Feinstein’s, the Algonquin and Brooklyn’s Night and Day; her show, “Lyrics and Lyricists,” pulls from the works of Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Lorenz Hart and Johnny Mercer.
Maude Maggart (November 15–18). If we didn’t tell you, you’d probably not have a clue that Maggart is Fiona Apple’s older sis. She made the cover of Time Out New York’s cabaret issue, regularly appears on NPR and just finished a sold-out run at the Algonquin Hotel—oh, and she’s also referred to as “the hottest young thing in cabaret.”
Admission is $75; a preshow prix-fixe dinner is served at 6:15 p.m., with the show following at 8:15 p.m. Admission does not included drinks, tax or gratuity. The Saturday performances, which take place at 9:45 p.m., are $35; valet parking is free. Reserve a spot by calling 314-531-0220 or visiting www.licketytix.com.
