I love a cabaret

Images of “Broadway Next Gen” performers. Photo credit: Michael Howland

Liza Minelli belted the signature song of this musical in the film version of “Cabaret,” and its seductive allure continues to resonate. Michael Howland has accepted the invitation and has been producing a series of themed cabaret shows in central Iowa. Dans and performers alike are packing the house to experience them.

When asked about the difference between the shows he produces and a place where people can sing karaoke to Broadway tunes, Howland offered, “I am really trying to create a Des Moines version of what they do at the 54 Below club in New York. I vary the themes of each month. And then I work to cast the show with talented actors from the Des Moines metro and surrounding areas. I also try to look for opportunities every month to have at least one performer who I have never featured before.”

Howland’s vision and his ability to produce this series of shows elevates the experience for both performers and audience members alike. These shows become a magnet for singers seeking an opportunity to publicly perform and for patrons who enjoy the visceral joys of listening to impassioned artists. 

For regional musical theatre performers, the number of musicals offered each year for which to audition is far outweighed by the number of performers with a desire to be part of a show’s cast. The central Iowa theatre companies producing shows are diligent in finding musicals that have audience appeal — after all, the bottom-line goal is to bring revenue into the company — and getting the talent needed to present a top-notch show. That leaves many performers where a show isn’t a good fit, or they may be too “fill-in-the-blank” for a role at that time. Lesser-known shows seldom see the established stages in Iowa, so there had been a missing opportunity for potential performers to, literally, sing their songs.

This missing cultural experience is what the Broadway Cabaret fills. As a producer, Howland uses his network with the musical theatre performers. He leverages that knowledge to benefit his programming while sating the appetite of his growing fanbase. Past themes have included “Broadway Songs from a Hat” and “Always a Hero, Never the Villian.” The November show has a special extra pzazz sure to generate interest and engagement: “Broadway Next Gen.” Thanks to a mix of companies dedicated to youth talent — Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre, CAP Theatre, Des Moines Playhouse/Kate Goldman Family Theatre, and Tallgrass Theatre — and the collective attention gained through the annual Cloris Awards, young performers are finding new ways to express themselves through performance. 

“I am carrying the torch for a vision presented to me by my dear friend, Tim Rose,” Howland shares when asked about the November show. “He created this concept a couple years ago. It has grown from 12 performers to 20…last year we had audience members in the overflow room. It’s exciting. There is some phenomenal young talent, and they need to be celebrated, mentored and encouraged. This is one more chance to showcase their diverse talent. I was a youth pastor for over 25 years, so working with students is an absolute joy. Now at St. James Celebrations in Indianola, there will be ample room for our performers, their friends and family. They will leave you with your jaw on the floor.”

This labor of love from Howland is free and open to the public. He wants attendees to support the venue. He underwrites each production. He doesn’t worry about taking risks, often pulling songs from obscure shows. 

“Performers can stretch their comfort zones and try new music. We have had miscast performances, allowing performers to put aside the norms of age, sex and race and let performers perform any song they would like that fits the given theme. The cabarets build a community with actors that might not have a chance to perform with one another as a traveling actor. I have also incorporated performers from a little further away — Knoxville, Pella, Newton, Boone, Ames and more. I really look at these events as a chance to simply celebrate one another, share stories, touch hearts, and inspire through the power of incredible performances and classic theater songs.” ♦

John Busbee produces The Culture Buzz, a weekly arts and culture radio show on www.kfmg.org, covering Iowa’s arts scene with an inclusive sweep of the cultural brush. He received the Iowa Governor’s Arts Award for Collaboration and Partnership in the Arts. He has performed in more than 100 musicals, including many leading roles.