If you love music or musicals, you need to come to this venue. It is one of the most intimate and enjoyable venues in Indianapolis for live music. It feels like you invite some artist into your living room and they perform exclusively for you. read more

See all

Attended Malcolm-Jamal Warner with Miles Long that was part of Indy Jazzfest and was pleasantly surprised. I've driven past the location and been at a building across the street but didn't realize where this was located. They also have parking available at a lot behind the venue if you don't want to try on street parking. I didn't get any entree but got a mocktail and some carrot cake. Both were good but the performance was the best. Hope to visit again soon! read more

See all

My husband and I went here to see Titus Burgess and I can't say enough good things about it. Not only was he spectacular but the ambiance, food, service and sound system were all wonderful. Upon entry we were immediately greeted by two friendly hosts and taken to our booth that was we found to be the perfect seat. A waistress promptly took our order and each item came out in a timely manner. The whipped feta dip was delicious and the chocolate cake was perfectly moist and rich. The shrimp were a little over cooked, but the other items made up for it. My only complaint is my wine glass was a bit dirty around the stem with hard water build up. Other than that little detail it was a wonderful night and I can't wait to visit again soon. read more

See all

To call The Cabaret an extraordinary space is an understatement. Under the leadership of Executive Director Shannon Forsell, a longtime Indy-based entertainer and all around cool human being, The Cabaret is everything you want a cabaret to be. With high-tops and wraparound booths, a single delightful piano, and a stage that makes you feel as if you're part of it, The Cabaret is an exquisite and delightful space designed by, led by, and centered around entertainers. I had the opportunity to spend a good majority of the day in the space filming the 2021 Heartland International Film Festival Awards. As a creative type, I've long ago gotten used to having to struggle around stages. They are seldom, almost never, truly what I'd call wheelchair friendly. Bless you Shannon and all. The Cabaret is wheelchair friendly with accessible dressing rooms, an accessible bathroom, and a ramp onto the stage that is truly ADA compliant and will actually host Ali Stroker during The Cabaret's 2021-2022 season. Stroker is a wheelchair using actress/singer who won a Tony Award for her performance in the Oklahoma! revival a couple years back. Parking is a little tricky here - The Cabaret is located at 9th and Penn. It shares a space with the Arts Council of Indianapolis and is next door to the Living Room Lounge (one of my college hang-outs). It's not completely clear if the businesses share a parking lot or not. I found easy parking on the street and had no issues. The front door is a double-sided glass door. Because we were filming, there was a little bit of maneuvering for the wheelchair that needed to be done but the facility itself is incredibly impressive. The actual room is similarly impressive. The wraparound tables do have a step up into them, though there's plenty of accessible tables. If you were approaching the stage from the audience, there'd be a couple steps. But, the ramp is close by. The facility is just absolutely beautiful with tremendous acoustics and you can even rent it for weddings or events. They also have established an outdoor space called The Alley at Library Square. All performances at The Alley are also free to attend (reservations are recommended but not required, though from what I've read shows for 2021-2022 are sold-out. You can still show and bring your own chair. I honestly can't believe it took me so long to get to this space. I'm a longtime fan of Shannon Forsell's and everything one loves about Forsell comes to life at The Cabaret - it's stylish, beautiful, intelligently constructed, and filled with hospitality. The Cabaret is no doubt one of Indy's true indie gems. read more

The Cabaret - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

It is honestly ridiculous that I haven't updated my review for The Cabaret since they moved to their new, permanent home. I shouldn't have taken such a long break from Yelp! This might be my favorite place/venue in the entire city. It is stunning. There isn't really a bad seat in the whole place and it is just so intimate and welcoming. The food and drinks are stellar. The staff is great. I could go on and on. If I wasn't already married by the time this venue opened, I'd have probably done my wedding here (which they offer), it is that beautiful. I also have to say that the variety and level of talent they bring to little ole' Indianapolis is just crazy! Alan Cumming, Jeremy Jordan, Stephanie Block, Jessica Vosk, etc. etc. So many incredible artists! Every time I am sitting there seeing a star sing to me, I almost have an out of body experience and feel like it can't be real that I am experiencing this in Indiana and not New York. They also do a jazz series that this little Broadway addict hopes to check out more in the coming years! Oh but unlike New York, they don't have a food or drink minimum for their Cabaret stage, score one for Indiana. To quote Broadway Star Matt Doyle at the end of his show: "This is magic, you are so lucky". We really are. read more

The Cabaret - The most beautiful performance venue in Indianapolis. - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Love the Cabaret! Only been one time, but had a great time. Love the variety of and the ample seating available. Great, diverse artists brought to the venue and love the change from downtown to the Pennsylavania Street location. Highly recommend checking a show out here! read more

This is Indianapolis' best kept secret for Broadway fans. From Megan Hilty to Santino Fontana, the team at The Cabaret works tirelessly to bring world class Broadway to our city. It is an evening of luxury and music that always lifts my spirits. This intimate venue is stunning with its art deco décor. There is also an art gallery to peruse when you arrive. Free parking is available off of St. Joseph Street. I've been to three shows here. I usually have drinks or dessert, but there is no food and beverage minimum. Get the blood orange margarita! The service is excellent. While I have not had a full dinner, it looks delicious. It is a higher priced menu. They recommend arriving an hour before show time if you plan to eat. Depending on your seating choice, you will be seated at tables with people you don't know. As an extrovert, this is no problem for me! For people under 35, their SophisTix program gives you 25% two tickets. Subscribe to their emails and purchase quickly because its not uncommon for shows to sell-out! read more

How have I lived in Indy for 10 years and never been here? I loved everything about it. My mom and I went to see Megan Hilty here after the show was postponed from June of 2020. First of all, they took covid very seriously which I appreciated. You had to show your vaccine card at arrival and wear a mask unless you were taking a bite or sip. The venue is very intimate, and it's a beautiful space. They had a great food and drink selection, but I just stuck to a glass of wine. The service was excellent and I cannot wait to come back for another show! read more

The Cabaret - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

Lovely venue to enjoy dinner, drinks, and great musical performances. I had the pleasure of seeing Gavin Creel on Friday night. Not only was he an amazing performer, but our seats were great and very comfortable. The atmosphere is very classy and the room fits quite a few people. I only had dessert and drinks here so I cannot attest to their dinner menu. I did have two gin and tonics, as well as a chocolate cake. The reason The Cabaret gets 4 stars from me is because when I ordered dessert, the waiter had to tell me that it was possible they ran out (the night had just begun) and that struck me as weird. They have a vanilla bean creme brûlée, the chocolate cake, and I believe a key lime pie. The selections are small but out of all of them, the chocolate cake is going to be the most ordered and popular. I felt they could've been better prepared for that. The cake was pretty much frozen when served but the flavor was good. When I'm in town I'd love to come back and see another show. read more

The Cabaret - Gavin Creel on stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I saw Norm Lewis at The Cabaret. It was my first trip to The Cabaret and I was pleasantly surprised at how elegant the place is. Metro Indy *NEEDS* The Cabaret, more places like The Cabaret, and more acts for places like The Cabaret. Badly. The Cabaret has a pretty broad menu of food and drinks for a place that is primarily a theater with some interesting selections like a Cuban dish, meat and cheese spreads, etc. Check it out. Support the arts in Indy. read more

See all

This venue is amazing! Intimate, classy, upscale yet unpretentious. I attended a fundraiser for Broadway Cares featuring the cast and musicians of Hamilton. What a great time, with great music! The staff of The Cabaret is friendly, and attentive without interrupting the show. We only ordered cocktails but noted that they have a small selection of food options available to order. If there is a show or artist of interest in the future I would for sure make a point to buy tickets! They rent out their space for private functions, it would make for a fabulous space for any event, I was very impressed! read more

The Cabaret - Songbirds and Slaybells with the touring cast of Hamilton! - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Always a pleasure, food very good and entertainment fantastic. We go at least three times a season.

OMG, I miss the Cabaret during Covid! This is one of my favorite things to do in Indy. It's got all the things: a fun, lively crowd; drinks and snacks; an absolutely stunning space--another all-time fave in Indy. And the music! OMG, in such an intimate, lovely space, to see some of the amazing acts I've seen there- just dreamy. Surely it was lovely at the Columbia Club, but this feels so much more cozy and intimate. They book lots of people I've never heard of but joyed to learn about. I also love Shannon's quick wit and the annual fundraiser is one of my favorite events of the year. May it long be a part of the city's unique repertoire. Simply the Best! read more

Best venue in Indy. Great entertainment, great food, great management. Best hidden gem.

Loved this venue. I've lived in these Indy streets for a while and I've never heard of this place. I went to a show where Megan Mullally (aka Karen Walker; aka Anastasia Beaverhausen; of Will & Grace) was performing and it was thoroughly entertaining! The chandeliers were beautiful and was a nice contrast to the industrial floors and ceiling. There were high top tables, regular seating, and booths available. read more

The performance was great. Being a fan of Annaleigh, I expected no less. The Cabaret itself is a beautiful venue and I always enjoy it. The staff are extremely gracious and are eager to please. I did feel that the food quality fell a bit short since my last attendance and wondered if there had been a change in the catering service. The valet service is usually top notch but I think the rain may have challenged them quite a bit. In addition, probably more people used valet service because of the rain. Overall, a very pleasant experience. read more

I came to this theatre for the first time today to view a dance act that's part of Indy Fringe festival. It's not meant to be grand and ornate, as cities don't usually make relics out of small, intimate venues like this one. But I've been in small theatres that make a little more elegant use of their space than this one. Small, maroon four-seater tables and chairs are the theatre's hotel convention room-inspired accommodations. A dark-colored, English-looking painting hangs on the left wall just outside the theatre, furthering the oldish theme. Thank goodness for a beautiful stained glass window that conveys the antique feel in a more enlightened manner. This wouldn't be my first intimate space theatre choice, but it gets the job done. read more

The Cabaret - The high and low of the American Cabaret Theatre's inside. Photo by Jennifer Litz. - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

Wow what an amazing little gem this place is for Indianapolis. After several attempts to get tickets I finally was able to see a show last night. It was so much fun. The entertainment last night was a throw back to jazz harlem and they were outstanding. However The Cabaret offer a big variety of cabaret options. I got to see a list of up coming events and think I need tickets to all. What I did learn last night was The Cabaret offers a full dinner menu, and I saw the food it looked amazing. The decor inside just gives you the feeling of cabaret. Intimate seating that encourages crowd participation. Number 1 tip if you see a show that interest you dont hesitate get your tickets they sell out quickly. Tip 2 just go it was so much fun. read more

I love The Cabaret!! They bring in world class performers (often right off the Broadway stage) and hold intimate performances! Often times there is even a meet and greet after the show! They make everyone feel special and welcome! I am so excited for the expansion! read more

The Cabaret - Faith Prince at the Cabaret! - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

The Cabaret is always a great evening! It's amazing to see such world-class talent in a small venue. Swanky, sophisticated and tons of fun. I always look forward to the next show. read more

The Cabaret - A fun night seeing Kyle Riabko! - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I loved the atmosphere when I walked in it was stunning and intimate. They had people waiting by the bar before they started seating. Out of nowhere an usher walked by us saying "move out of the way we are starting to seat people." We were all very thrown off by that but got in line to be seated. We got the meatball appetizer it was very dry and hardly any sauce or seasoning.. and the strawberry spinach salad you could have made better at home.. definitely a cocktail place only. The white chocolate cheesecake was pretty good I'd recommend that. The show started a little late which was fine.. once the act came on they brought up the president and snide remarks every 5 minutes.. it got the the point no matter where you stand it was uncomfortable and irritating. It's all we hear about everyday anyways would have been nice to just enjoy a concert politic free. A friend of ours has season tickets so we didn't have to pay for this show luckily. My entire group that went last night will not be back. Left the second the show ended only because we couldn't get the waitress to bring our checks any earlier. read more

The Cabaret - Performing Arts Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The Cabaret is a world class venue, spotlighting some of New York's finest performers, on par with 54 Below in NYC. Bravo to Indianapolis for a fabulous time! read more

Last nite's final Indy performance of Karen Irwin's 'Janis Joplin' show was over the top high energy entertainment. Karen truly 'channels' Janis with her perfected voice, style and movement. The Caberet, on the third floor of the prestigious Columbia club, provides an intimate setting for singers of all ilks. Good food with prompt service wedged around the performance schedule/breaks/etc rounded out a great evening. Philip, the service manager perhaps, in particular has a great manner in meeting customer need. Great sense of humor. Mercedes, our server was equally outgoing and competent. read more

Took a date for free comedy night after a nice dinner. Was a comfortable place to hang out with a fun mood. Good drink prices and selection. Was about 15 comedians doing 5-10 minute sets so was a good variety of comedy. Was a nice time. will definitely be back read more

This is one of the coolest things in Indy to do....a terrific date night... really a "must go" excellent performers...lovely room....interaction....value priced quality food...valet parking... ....and a WOW ending to the performance ! read more

Absolutely the best place for live entertainment in Indianapolis. Excellent customer service, beautiful venue, good food and drinks, and consistently outstanding performers. I've attended four concerts and been floored by each one. The performers come from stage & screen backgrounds that make you say, "I can't believe they would come to Indiana!" and you get an intimate performance, ample time for meet & greets, and opportunities like master classes, for ridiculously affordable prices. Bravo to the Cabaret! read more

My first visit to The Cabaret in this fabulous new venue. It's a stunning room. Big and intimate at the same time, somehow. The food (Catered by The Jazz Kitchen) was quite good! Interesting menu with lots of healthy and vegetarian options. read more

I adore The Cabaret. World-class talent, fantastic staff, beautiful performance space with no bad views. It is truly magical to experience such intimate shows with stars--many fresh off of Broadway with a Tony award, like Renée Elise Goldsberry. One of my favorite spots in Indy and definitely my favorite for live music and I cannot wait for the next performance. Favorites have included Alan Cumming, Megan Hilty, Patina Miller, and Ramin Karimloo, read more

We had a fabulous time! Venue was great. We ordered some appetizers which were also good. Show was fantastic! We had a group of 6 and we all felt the same. Highly recommend! read more

A dynamite venue for a cabaret! Incredible talent up close and personal. This is an intimate setting to spend a great evening with friends listening to awesome performers from broadway to jazz to blues. And the emcee/hostess for the evening -Shannon -is adorable! Buy tickets early, the shows sell out! read more

A few seasons ago I purchased a three show package as a gift for my husband. We fell in love with the Cabaret and have been subscribers ever since! Every show we've seen has been very good, and some have been spectacular! (The Hot Sardines and Norm Lewis come to mind) The setting is intimate and performers typically interact with the guests, and vice versa. Guests are seated at tables - sometimes we have our own two-top, and on occasion we have been seated with two other guests. (A fun way to meet some interesting people and share an evening) The venue is beautiful - especially at Christmas when you see the Circle lit up through the floor to ceiling windows behind the performers. There is a small food or beverage minimum, easily met with a couple of drinks and an appetizer, and dinner is also available. The food is sometimes very good, sometimes just OK, and if they could do one thing better it would be to improve the consistency of their dining. The crowd skews decidedly older, and generally on the dressier side. I've seen everything from business, to artsy to cocktail attire. The performers, we'll probably will not see them anywhere else in Indiana but here, and they are top notch. read more