"There's just
nothing like it.
The Cabaret...
it's just a
wild time."

Patricia Clarkson '85

  


Our History

 

Since its founding in 1968, Yale Cabaret has been the place for graduate students of Yale School of Drama to produce their passion projects. In the Cabaret’s 40-year history more than 1200 Drama School students have worked inside the walls of our small basement theater. 

Ever since the School signed over the theatre to the students (circa 1972), the goal of providing a place for projects that would be impossible or implausible elsewhere has remained at the forefront of Yale Cabaret’s mission.

Our performance space is located in one of the oldest buildings on campus, and has earned itself a special place in the hearts of many of the School’s supportive alumni, a great number of whom continue to make extraordinary contributions in stage and screen alike. During their time at Yale School of Drama, Patricia Clarkson, Tony Shalhoub, Kate Burton, David Alan Grier, Christopher Durang, Wendy Wasserstein, among countless others, all performed at the Cabaret and have added to its legacy.  

Yale Cabaret continues to be guided by the gifted imagination of Yale School of Drama’s brightest lights. We think it’s an amazing place.

Below, we share some highlights from the early years. 

1967

  • Phi Gamma Alpha fraternity, at 217 Park Street, folds in October due to lack of membership. As a result, the university solicits proposals from the Yale community for use of the space.
  • Robert Brustein, Dean of Yale School of Drama, proposes to the university that the space be given to the Drama School to be used for classrooms and as a black box theatre.

1968

  • Yale School of Drama beats out 14 other submissions proposed to the university, for use of the old fraternity house, and Yale Cabaret is established in the basement floor of the building.
  • Yale Cabaret sets up as a coffee shop with the purpose of doing “experimental work” and providing a space for guest artists, faculty, and students to perform.
  • On November 8, Yale Cabaret opens is doors with its first performance by Alvin Epstein and Martha Schlamme, singing the songs of Kurt Weill, in a two part series.

1969 – 72

  • Yale Cabaret catches on fast with the Yale student body and quickly becomes a great place for late night entertainment.
  • Two different shows are performed on the same night. The early show is typically a performance by an outside professional artist and the late show is typically a student produced project.
  • Artistic Director of Manhattan Theater Club, Lynne Meadow, gets involved in the ’69 season.
  • An early hit is a play called Cocaloony Tennesse which starts Henry Winkler and Jill Eikenberry. (January 2, 1970)
  • Richard Gilman directs The Trails of Lenny Bruce to critical acclaim. The show features third-year actor, Frank Speiser. (January 3, 1971)

1972 – 74

  • Assistant to the Dean, Arthur Pepine, becomes the Producer of Yale Cabaret and oversees general operations.
  • Eva Vizy is named Artistic Director for the 1972-73 season, an MFA student in the directing program.
  • Joe Grifasi and Paul Schierhorn perform together in Getting Evening (January 25, 1973).
  • Michael Gross performs in Blue Suede Decade.
  • 73-74 season, Paul Schierhorn (MFA, acting) and Steve Lawson (DFA, Dramaturgy) are Co-Artistic Directors.

1974 – 82

  • Playwriting student, Christopher Durang, premieres his denity Crisis in the 74-75 season.
  • Walt Jones directs The Bear in that season too.
  • The following season (75-76) Yale Cabaret gets its liquor license to sell beer.
  • Angela Basset serves as Technical Assistant in the 80-81 season.
  • In that same season, David Alan Grier stars in an all-male drag show called In No Haven Drag Time.
  • This is followed by Kate Burton and Jane Kaczmarek’s performance in The Complete Works of T.S. Elliot.
  • Former Executive Director of Theatre Communications Group, Ben Cameron, directs Hit Me With a Hot Note.

And the history continues...