(Philadelphia, PA) Arden Cabaret Series presents ALEX KEIPER AND THE NEXT GENERATION CABARET on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24, at 8pm in the Arden’s 100-seat Studio Theatre at the Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. 2^nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia. Nancy and Bob Elfant are the Honorary Producers.

Keiper is a long-time Arden favorite who has appeared in eleven Arden productions including STUPID FUCKING BIRD, Martha in THE SECRET GARDEN and Petra in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. She has been nominated for three Barrymore Awards for her work in Down Past Passyunk (InterAct), PARADE (Arden) and THE FLEA and the PROFESSOR (Arden). She works primarily in Philadelphia and is equally cast in musicals and non-musicals alike.

Keiper says, “The Arden asked if I would be interested in doing a cabaret on my own and I didn’t feel like I alone had enough to say. Matt Decker broached the idea of me hosting an evening of cabaret with the ‘next generation’ of Philadelphia theatre artists, and that was an idea I loved.” Keiper will also perform in the show.

Alex Keiper and the Next Generation Cabaret

Alex Keiper and the Next Generation Cabaret will include a long list of Philadelphia “up-and-comers” including Leigha Kato, Pax Ressler, Madison Auch, Mina Kawahara, Suzanne Collins, Jenna Pinchbeck, Maggie Johnson, Amanda Jill Robinson and Madi Juleskusky. Two artists will perform on only one of the two nights – Alina John (Friday) and Chelsea-Ann Jones (Saturday).

“This is a chance for these artists to grab the spotlight and show what they can do,” says Keiper. “I chose each of these artists based on my knowledge of them in the community. So many top-notch artists go unheard. They will all be highlighting themselves as musical theatre storytellers. What I want most is for them to tell the audience what this generation looks like, what struggles they’ve faced and how they are moving forward. It’s also worth noting that they are all women or genderqueer and that there will be a lot of discussion about identity and inclusion in the show.”

A wide variety of songs including folk, rock and musical theatre will be heard. “Musical Theatre is changing drastically,” says Keiper. “These artists are learning how to tell stories differently. I encouraged them all to choose strengthening songs and to avoid the ballad trap.”

Arden Cabaret Series

The Arden Cabaret Series was created to provide an opportunity for artists to perform, develop and present work that is important to them, and offers a unique and intimate conversation between Arden artists and audiences. 

Arden Artistic Associate Matthew Decker says, “When we opened the Hamilton Family Arts Center we realized we have the perfect space for cabaret in our 100-seat Studio Theatre. Many of our cabaret performers work regularly at the Arden and at other theatres in the region, and the intimacy of the Studio Theatre gives our audiences, and perhaps new audiences, a chance to see their favorite performers in an up-close and personal way.”

Decker adds, “We realize that the local cabaret scene often features performers from outside of Philly. Philadelphia is home to some of the finest actors in the region, and to be able to showcase those talents is both thrilling for us and deserved for them.”

Tickets and Reservations

Premium tables for $200 are available that seat four patrons each. General admission table seating is also available for $30 per person. Patrons are invited to BYOB and bring their own snacks, or they can buy drinks at the new Arden bar, open at every performance.

Arden donors and subscribers receive a $5 ticket discount. For tickets, call the Arden Box Office at 215.922.1122, visit www.ardentheatre.org or walk-up at the box office at 40 N. 2nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia.

About the Arden

Founded in 1988, Arden Theatre Company is dedicated to bringing to life great stories by great storytellers–on the stage, in the classroom, and in the community. Five productions are staged each season as part of the Mainstage series and two productions through Arden Children’s Theatre, the city’s first resident professional children’s theatre program. New work is produced through the Independence Foundation New Play Showcase. The Arden’s Education Department includes: Arden for All (AFA), a theatre access and education program for underserved young people; Arden Drama School, the after-school, Saturday, and summer camp classes for students in grades pre K-12; Teen Arden, an immersive after-school access program for Philadelphia-area based teenagers; and the Arden Professional Apprentice Program, a nationally renowned comprehensive theatre management training program. The Hamilton Family Arts Center is the new facility dedicated to education programs and new play development.

The Arden has received numerous honors including 65 awards and 334 nominations from the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. The Arden is a winner of four “Theatre Company of the Year” designations (Philadelphia Inquirer), six Philadelphia Magazine “Best of Philly” awards and three “Best of Philly Kids” awards, the City Paper’s Reader’s Choice Award and the prestigious “Great Friend to Kids Award” from the Please Touch Museum for Arden Children’s Theatre work. For accessibility efforts, the Arden was named a “Keystone of Accessibility” by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Arden Theatre Company is a professional, nonprofit 501(c)(3) theatre company and a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the League of Resident Theatres, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Old City Arts Association. The Arden also participates in The Barrymore Awards, a program of Theatre Philadelphia