How I Put Together My First Solo Cabaret Show

With my show, Acceptance, coming back to Chicago in May, I thought it would be fun to give a little insight as to how this show came to be!

The idea didn’t officially come to me until the week after the 2023 Emerging Artists Showcase. Since this would be my first solo show in Chicago, I wanted it to be a story that was true to me and my craft to put on a top tier performance. Because when it’s something that matters to you, it’s easier to drive more emotion out of your performance and make the audience believe your message.

The story ended up being centered around the Serenity Prayer. That prayer ended up playing over and over again in my head while thinking of a concept, so I figured, “why not make a story out of that?” So I compiled songs that centered around each of those lines and made it into a 3-act show!

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…”

This section has songs centered around things that are difficult for us to accept. The topics I chose were facing fears, learning to accept yourself, heartbreak, the passing of loved ones, and feeling like you’re bearing life’s burdens alone. Songs that supported these topics were taken from Rent, Shrek: The Musical, Anyone Can Whistle, and Frozen II. Additionally, I added songs by Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, as well as the infamous “Bein’ Green” by Joe Raposo.

“…the courage to change the things I can…”

We can’t control everything in life, but we can control how we cope. We all cope differently, so I talked about ways that are helpful for me, which are writing about my experiences in songs and talking to people close to me. For this section, I used a few of my original songs.

“…and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Life will always be filled with ups and downs. Recognizing this and continuing to live are keys to peace and happiness. For this sentiment, I chose a couple of songs from one of my favorite musicals, A Man of No Importance, as well as a song by my stepdad, Jeff English, called, “John Holmes Farm.”

This show came together flawlessly, and I have my mentors, Hilary Feldman and Carla Gordon, to thank for that. If you’d like to come see me and Jeff recreate the magic, you can purchase your tickets here!

And thank you to Dan Johnson as well, who wrote the incredible article about my debut, which you can find here!