BWW Blog: Lily Erb - Cabaret Night

Every year towards the end of spring, Bay Shore High School puts on an annual Cabaret Night. Cabaret is basically just a talent show, with each performer doing their own act with piano, drum, and bass accompaniment. There's one catch: you can only perform a song from a musical or movie.

But that's easy, right? Most performers in Cabaret Night are already involved in the thespian community, so it shouldn't be hard to pick a song from a musical. There's no limitations on what kind of musical to pick from, or what form your song should take. Tap routine from Chicago? Belting out a song from Heathers? Playing your own guitar to 'Unchained Melody'? There's really no limit to what you can do, in theory.

But in practice, there's limits. Most profanity is out of the question. Seems like I'll never get to sing "Dance Ten, Looks Three" from A Chorus Line. Obviously, you have to be able to perform your piece and perform it well. If your rendition of "Memory" from Cats goes two octaves above your vocal range, then pick a new song. If you want to choreograph the entirety of "Heaven Hop" from Anything Goes and you can't even pull off a simple pivot, then reconsider your choices.

If a song has been performed in recent previous years, then you can't do it. This is really the pits, because all the classics that you know and love have already been done! You have to wait at least five years to perform it. This is the reason why kids dive into the subterranean levels of theatre to find Cabaret songs. Those hidden songs are the only songs that haven't been sung before. I'm biding my time until "Cell Block Tango" is available again.

The fourth regulation isn't official, but in my opinion, it's just as important. After sitting through the hour long show last year, my mother had just one complaint. Everybody sang boring, unknown songs. After sitting through act after act of emotional ballads from musicals she had never heard of, she was willing to hear anything with an upbeat tempo. It's important to pick songs that keep the audience engaged in your performance, or songs that tell a clear story. Or, you could just be really funny! It's much easier to choreograph your own number when you can laugh at yourself and be a little over the top. An audience will never fail to love a good laugh.

This is my second year in Cabaret, so it's my second time going through the arduous process of picking my song. In my freshman year, I had a bit of trouble finding the right song. I was awkward and nervous and all-around inexperienced. Auditions were approaching fast, and I was still clueless. I threw a few suggestions out to my consulting team (my mom) but each song was vetoed. A few days before auditions, I ran to my sister.

"Kayla, I don't know what to doooooooooooooo," I whined. My sister, in her constant wisdom, suggested "Nothing" from A Chorus Line. The song tells the story of a young actress who struggled under the direction of a heartless director at her performing arts high school. It was catchy, upbeat, and it told a story. I was sold. I quickly learned the song and auditioned.

I made the cut! Yay! But then after two weeks of rehearsals, my director realized that the song had already been performed two years prior. With only a week and a half left until Cabaret Night, I had to find a new song. I scrambled, searching every nook and cranny of the internet for a good song. Eventually, I settled on "My New Philosophy" from You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.

I firmly believe this year will be a good year. A lot of the songs being performed are just the kind of peppy, upbeat happiness that Cabaret needs. There's a couple tearjerkers and ballads, but when all the different types of songs are mixed together, it creates a healthy balance. The show features songs from Godspell, Newsies, Fun Home, Mulan, La Cage aux Folles, In The Heights, Funny Girl, Grease, Something Rotten, and even Hamilton. I can't wait to receive feedback and take my last bow of the year on the Bay Shore stage.