Georgetown Cabaret — a rock band formed with some of the best musical talents on campus — is returning to the stage for its 39th annual concert this Friday at Black Cat on U Street. Aligning with recent tradition, the show will be a diverse display of exciting Georgetown talent.

The group, which now consists of nine musicians and nine rotating singers, has been a Georgetown tradition since 1976, when it started as a variety show in Darnall Hall. Different groups, including improv performers, would showcase their talents with various theatrical acts and musical numbers.

“It used to be more of a talent show,” singer Joanie Abbott (SFS ’16) said, but “over the years it’s developed into a rock show.”

This transition, according to band leader Dan McCusker (COL ’16), happened in the early ‘80s, when the event relocated to the Walsh Black Box Theatre. In those years, Cabaret shows were black-tie, sit-down events where audiences would enjoy dinner and a show. In recent years, however, Cabaret has made the full transition to putting on rock ‘n’ roll shows in various Georgetown venues including Fur Nightclub, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel and now Black Cat, a U-Street nightclub whose stage has previously witnessed bands like The White Stripes, Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers.

Even with the change of venue, the variety aspect of Cabaret’s foundations remains in more recent shows. Performers like to mix things up on stage to keep the audience entertained.

Returning member Molly Roach (COL ’15) remembers some of the hijinks from last year. “One of the band members last time, Gianfranco Nuchese, put on a tutu or something and did … the rap from ‘Wannabe’ by Pussycat Dolls, which we did last year.”

“It’s very performative,” she added.

This fun and spontaneity, though, comes after weeks of long rehearsals. The group has a very intensive rehearsal schedule starting in early February. The band stays for five hours on Saturdays and Sundays leading up to the show, while the nine singers cycle in and out to perform their numbers.

“By 3 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. on most days everyone’s starting to lose some steam, people are starting to get frustrated,” McCusker said.

Even then, the band and singers don’t have a lot of time to work with everyone. The first time the whole group runs through the entire set list is the Thursday night before the show.

Still, singers and band members alike enjoy the collaborative aspect of these rehearsals.

“The musicians all come from diverse backgrounds. Everyone has their own experiences to contribute to the rehearsals, so it’s interesting seeing people throwing out ideas,” McCusker said. “The finished product is always really nice because it has so much contribution from all these different people and their different experiences.”

These varied musical backgrounds range from rock to jazz to pep, since many of the various instrumentalists in the group are also involved with other bands on campus. Band members agree that having singers and musicians from such a variety of backgrounds makes the preparation process more fun and interesting. It takes people who wouldn’t usually collaborate — like a cappella singers and jazz musicians — and lets them make music together in a community setting.

Abbott said, “It’s actually an intersection of all these different musical groups on campus. People from all these different musical groups actually get to meet each other and talk to each other.”
This bonding that the singers and band members get to experience is mirrored in the audience, according to Roach.

“I feel like everyone who comes is acquainted. You look around and see all these people you know and kinda don’t know and everyone just becomes friends in one night.”

The laid-back atmosphere of the venues and the relaxed nature of the group also add to the fun vibe of their shows. Since Cabaret isn’t technically affiliated with Georgetown, they don’t have to negotiate with the Performing Arts Committee for funding. And, since the genre is rock ‘n’ roll, it doesn’t have to be perfectly put-together. Mistakes can be part of the fun.

“You can stumble on your lyrics and it’s fine and people laugh and you go on with it. It’s definitely more relaxed, and it’s much more centered on having fun and producing a fun product,” Roach said.
What can you expect to hear at Friday’s show?

“We do span the decades. We’re playing songs all the way back from the 60s and we’re also playing pop songs,” McCusker said.

He declined to reveal any tracks from the set list, but he did drop one tantalizing hint: “There may or may not be someone dressing up as Bruce Springsteen.”

When it comes down to it, this is a show you really don’t want to miss.

“I think it’s a great way to see the best and most talented musicians in Georgetown all playing together,” Abbott added. And, since Cabaret only plays one big show a year, this is your best chance to see all that talent in one place.

Tickets are on sale at Vital Vittles and Midnight Mug: $12 in advance, $15 at the door. The venue, Black Cat, is located at 1811 14th St. NW. Doors open at 9 pm.