On Friday, November 17, the James Buchanan Drama Club took center stage with a unique performance of their annual Cabaret—this year reimagined as “MisCabaret.”
Heralded as one of the club’s most anticipated traditions, Cabaret was founded in November 2015 by drama director Mr. Luke Spurgeon and faculty member Mrs. Kristin Zimmerman. Designed as a casual evening of Broadway favorites, the event gives students the chance to showcase their vocal talents in a relaxed setting.
“Cabaret is kind of like old-fashioned karaoke,” said Spurgeon. “It’s just a night of informal singing—songs that you love, songs you want to perform.”
This year’s twist? A “Miscast” theme: students performed songs originally written for the opposite gender. Girls sang songs traditionally performed by male leads, and boys took on roles typically written for female characters.
“There are so many fantastic songs on Broadway that performers don’t normally get to sing because of gender roles,” Spurgeon explained. “MisCabaret lets us break that mold and have fun with it.”
The show opened with Kierstyn Martin (12) and Sean Martin (12) performing the duet “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun, setting the tone for a playful and daring night.
Among the standout performances was Olivia Harmon (11), whose sparkling dress caught the light as she delivered a powerful rendition of “Stars” from Les Misérables.
In total, sixteen students and two faculty members took to the stage, delivering songs from well-known productions like Dear Evan Hansen, Oliver!, and Les Misérables. Though Korina Williams (12) had planned to perform “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera, illness unfortunately kept her from singing that evening.
Still, the show went on. “Cabaret is a chance for students who don’t usually get solo time to shine,” Spurgeon said. “It’s a training ground for performing—an opportunity to grow and gain confidence before jumping into a full musical or play.”
Senior Korina Williams agreed. “You can basically perform whatever song you want and have fun with it,” she said. “You get to dress up, and it’s all about you.”
The evening closed with a rousing performance of “Cabaret” from the musical Cabaret, sung by Emily Palmerchuck (11), bringing the event full circle and staying true to the show’s theme of creative role reversal.
With around fifty attendees and a lineup full of heart and humor, MisCabaret proved to be a celebration of talent, expression, and the magic of theatre—no matter who’s singing the part.
