New Leadership For American Cabaret Theatre

As ACT moves to smaller, more authentic cabaret shows,
it also moves from the historic Athenaeum

Friday, January 23, 2009 (Indianapolis, IN)—On Friday, January 23rd, the board of directors of the American Cabaret Theatre (ACT) announced a new era with a new vision, a new Managing Director, and after 19 years, a move from its current home at the historic Athenaeum.

“New staff and board leadership, along with a change in arts funding and a tough economic climate, make this a crucial time to take a serious look at the organization as a whole, to assess our current business model and to really hone in on the cabaret’s unique niche in the arts community,” says Barbara Weaver Smith, ACT’s new board chair.

The theme for ACT’s new era is aptly dubbed “Rediscover Cabaret,” and the charge will be led by ACT’s newly named Managing Director, Shannon Forsell. Smith believes that Forsell is the right person to lead the theatre into its 19th year. “Shannon has a long and successful history with the theatre,” says Smith. “Her knowledge of theatre and the cabaret genre, her experience on both sides of the stage, and her skills in marketing and development make her a great fit to carry out this new vision for the organization.”

Forsell is no stranger to the Indianapolis performing arts scene, or to cabaret. She is a well-known Indianapolis performer, and a founding cast member of the original ACT repertory company, where she performed in nearly every show for over a decade from 1990 to 2000. A graduate of DePauw University, Forsell has performed her one-woman cabaret show in New York City, and recently returned from the National Cabaret Convention as a part of a Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship grant from the Arts Council of Indianapolis, funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

“The theatre is returning to its roots but also making changes to reflect current audience trends,” says Forsell. “ACT will produce smaller, more intimate and authentic cabaret shows, shows more true to the cabaret art form. Shows will be more of an ‘experience’ allowing audience members to feel a part of the show rather than passive observers. Shorter performances will allow folks to join their friends, experience a high quality performance, and still have some space in their evening. We will also offer more diverse show times to accommodate the after work crowd as well as the late-night crowd.”

Audiences will rediscover some of their favorite ACT performing artists and experience some of the best in national cabaret artists with the “Signature Cabaret Series.” Itwill feature short-run, intimate, shows starring veteran local artists such as Forsell, Brenda Williams, Steven Stolen, Jimmy Guilford and others.

The series will also bring in a variety of national cabaret performers. Many national stars made their start as cabaret artists, stars such as Michael Feinstein, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, and Harry Connick Jr. Many current cabaret artists are also today’s Broadway stars. National artist performances will be paired with educational workshops and master classes to provide local performers and students the opportunity to hone their cabaret skills with the finest practitioners of this unique art form.

ACT will also rediscover its tradition of training promising young performers with the introduction of the Cabaret Academy. The academy will offer classes to area university music students and adults taught by some of the region’s best performers, directors and technical staff.

While these changes are the right decisions for the future of the organization, they did not come lightly and without loss. In order to carry out ACT’s new vision it will require the elimination of four full-time staff positions and the loss of four excellent long-time employees, including Bob Harbin, who has served as ACT’s Artistic Director for the past several years. As an additional cost-savings measure, ACT will now employ contractual employees rather than a full-time creative and production staff.

Another difficult but necessary change will be moving ACT from its current home. ACT has been an anchor in the Athenaeum since it invested in a complete renovation and restoration of the space in 1990. “The space has served us well,” says Smith. “However, rising lease fees, restrictions that exclude ACT from receiving beverage revenues, and sound issues from outdoor concerts have made this no longer a viable space for the organization.”

ACT is in talks concerning several different venues and will announce its new location and full season offerings in the coming weeks.

“These changes, while difficult, will absolutely create a more sustainable, viable organization that can safely weather the times ahead,” says Smith. “These choices provide a significant reduction in overhead and production costs and will provide a higher-quality product. This is a win-win for our audiences and for those donors who graciously fund our organization.”

“We are optimistic about the future and the opportunity to present exciting cabaret shows, in a fresh new way, on a national scale to the Indianapolis audience,” says Smith. ACT hopes to have its new grand opening in March, which is also national Cabaret Month.

The song “Cabaret” may indeed sum it all up with its famous lyrics "Come taste the wine, come hear the band, come blow your horn start celebrating—right this way your table’s waiting… No use permitting some prophet of doom to wipe every smile away… life is a cabaret old chum, so come to the Cabaret! "

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