New York’s enduring love affair with the American Songbook took center stage October 13–15, 2026, when the 37th New York Cabaret Convention returned to Jazz at Lincoln Center for three evenings celebrating the singers, songs, and storytelling that have made cabaret an enduring art form.
Presented by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, the annual convention took place at the Rose Theater in Frederick P. Rose Hall. This year’s program paid tribute to two legendary entertainers, Mabel Mercer and Sammy Davis Jr., before concluding with a wide-ranging celebration of song featuring established performers and emerging talent.
Now in its 37th year, the convention is recognized as the longest-running event of its kind. For audiences who appreciate live music, sophisticated interpretation, and the intimacy of cabaret, it remains a wonderful opportunity to experience the Great American Songbook through a remarkable variety of voices.
We attended the final performance on October 15, With a Song in My Heart, and were delighted by a sampling of the cabaret cornucopia presented by top entertainers from the cabaret world. The evening was deftly hosted by the legendary and charismatic KT Sullivan, who began with a heartfelt homage to New York, much to the audience’s delight. It was a fitting opening to an evening celebrating the city’s extraordinary musical heritage and the enduring pleasures of live performance.
October 13: “Once In a Blue Moon” — A Tribute to Mabel Mercer
The convention opened Tuesday, October 13, with Once In a Blue Moon, honoring the legendary singer whose distinctive artistry helped shape modern cabaret.
Hosted by Jeff Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci, the evening brought together an impressive roster of performers, including Karen Akers, Barbara Brussell, Charles Busch, Tovah Feldshuh, Meg Flather, Clint Holmes, Marilyn Maye, Amanda McBroom, MOIPEI, Marissa Mulder, Sidney Myer, Phillip Officer, Avery Sommers, and Stacy Sullivan. Francesca Amari made her Cabaret Convention debut.
Mercer was celebrated for her extraordinary ability to make a song feel like an intimate conversation. Her impeccable diction, nuanced phrasing, and gift for storytelling influenced generations of singers, including Frank Sinatra, who famously acknowledged her influence on his own artistry.
Born in England in 1900, Mercer built an international following before establishing herself in New York’s celebrated supper clubs. Her career included appearances at the Carlyle and St. Regis hotels, as well as a long-running engagement at Tony’s and her own Byline Club.
The opening night celebrated not only Mercer’s legacy but also the enduring power of interpretation: the art of finding the emotion and meaning within a lyric.
Event: Once In a Blue Moon — Official Event Information
October 14: “Sammy: All the Way & Then Some!” — The Songs of Sammy Davis Jr.
Wednesday evening, October 14, turned the spotlight on Sammy Davis Jr., the extraordinary entertainer whose career encompassed Broadway, Hollywood, television, and international concert stages.
Hosted by Natalie Douglas, Sammy: All the Way & Then Some! celebrated the versatility and showmanship of a performer whose talents extended well beyond singing. Davis was an actor, dancer, comedian, and impressionist whose work made him one of the most distinctive entertainers of his generation.
The evening featured Anna Anderson, Jonathan Arons, Klea Blackhurst, Reed Harris Butts, Eric Comstock, Bryan Eng, Barbara Fasano, Amanda King, Diva LaMarr, Valarie Pettiford, Stephanie Pope, David Raleigh, Jon-Michael Reese, T. Oliver Reid, Gabrielle Stravelli, Luz Velazquez, Suri Vu, Darnell White, Debbie Wileman, and Natasha Yvette Williams. Several performers made their Cabaret Convention debuts.
The program revisited songs associated with Davis while celebrating the range of talent that continues to bring classic American popular music to life.
Event: Sammy: All the Way & Then Some! — Official Event Information
October 15: “With a Song in My Heart” — A Cornucopia of Entertainment
The convention concluded Thursday, October 15, with With a Song in My Heart, a celebration of the breadth and variety of cabaret.
Hosted by KT Sullivan, the final evening brought together performers from different musical backgrounds and generations. The lineup included Raissa Katona Bennett, Celia Berk, Carole J. Bufford, Tim Connell, Robert Cuccioli, Brian De Lorenzo, Shana Farr, Eric Yves Garcia, The IMs, Sam Jewison, Ben Jones, Ann Kittredge, Susan Mack, Marieann Meringolo, Mafalda Minnozzi, Mark Nadler, Dawn Padmore, Arbender Robinson, Steve Ross, Craig Rubano, Marta Sanders, Madeline Joy Travis, Melodie Wolford, and Can Yasar. Several artists made their convention debuts.
We were delighted to experience this final evening, which offered a true sampling of the richness and diversity of the cabaret world. Rather than concentrating on a single artist or musical theme, the program unfolded as a cornucopia of entertainment, with top cabaret performers bringing their individual personalities and interpretations to the stage.
KT Sullivan proved a particularly engaging host, guiding the evening with the assurance and warmth that have made her a beloved figure in the cabaret community. She opened with a homage to New York, an affectionate celebration of the city that has nurtured generations of performers and songwriters. The audience responded with delight, setting an inviting tone for the performances that followed.
The evening’s greatest pleasure was its variety. The performers drew from the wealth of material that makes the American Songbook so enduring, offering a succession of musical interpretations that celebrated both the familiar and the unexpected. Each artist brought a distinctive sensibility to the stage, reminding us that cabaret is as much about personality and storytelling as it is about the songs themselves.
For us, the October 15 performance was a fitting conclusion to the convention. It brought together the artistry, individuality, and intimate connection with the audience that distinguish cabaret at its best.
Event: With a Song in My Heart — Official Event Information
Preserving the Art of Cabaret
Behind the annual convention is the Mabel Mercer Foundation, a nonprofit arts organization established in 1985 to preserve Mercer’s legacy and promote appreciation of cabaret and the songs at its heart.
Its work extends beyond producing performances. The Foundation maintains archival materials documenting cabaret performers across generations, supports artists and presenters, and develops educational programs intended to introduce younger performers to the American Songbook and the art of musical storytelling.
Among its educational initiatives are the Adela & Larry Elow American Songbook Competition for high school students and the Teen Cabaret Showcase, which offers young artists instruction, mentorship, and performance experience.
The Foundation has also helped extend the convention’s influence beyond New York, with events in cities including San Francisco, Chicago, and London.
Its mission reflects an important distinction: cabaret is not simply a concert performed in a smaller venue. At its best, it combines music, personality, interpretation, and storytelling to create a direct connection between performer and audience.
A New York Tradition Worth Discovering
The 37th New York Cabaret Convention offered three perspectives on a shared musical heritage: a tribute to one of cabaret’s defining artists, a celebration of a legendary all-around entertainer, and an evening embracing the diversity of the American Songbook.
For longtime cabaret enthusiasts, the convention provided an opportunity to reconnect with the music and artists they love. For newcomers, it offered an introduction to a uniquely intimate performance tradition that continues to evolve while honoring its roots.
Our experience at the October 15 performance reaffirmed the special place cabaret holds in New York’s cultural life. With a rich selection of songs, an accomplished roster of entertainers, and KT Sullivan’s engaging presence, the evening celebrated the enduring appeal of musical storytelling and the extraordinary talent within the cabaret community.
The convention may have concluded for another year, but the music and the tradition it celebrates continue to resonate.
For information about the Mabel Mercer Foundation, its educational initiatives, and future cabaret programs, visit the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s official website.