Read the full press release here.
After what feels like a lifetime without live music, The Cabaret is beyond thrilled to introduce a brand-new outdoor experience to the Indy community this July: The Alley at Library Square.
The Alley, presented in partnership with the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Buckingham Companies and funded by Lilly Endowment, was created to be a collaborative outdoor gathering space where guests can experience live music – which will be part of The Cabaret’s newest performance series, The Alley Sessions – and local art in a casual setting. The Jazz Kitchen will also be on-site so guests can order cocktails and light bites throughout the evening.
“The past year has truly shown us the importance of the arts in a community,” remarks Shannon Forsell, Artistic Director and CEO of The Cabaret. “There’s a unique connection that’s formed when people share an artistic experience – whether it’s a live performance or a First Friday exhibition – that simply can’t be replicated in a virtual setting. We want The Alley to be an inviting space where people can finally gather again to enjoy the arts and regain that sense of community. And we’re proud to welcome the community to this space free of charge.”
Much of the inspiration behind The Alley comes from The Alley Club – a garage-turned-jazz haven on the south side of Chicago. From 1966 to 1978, a retired auto mechanic named Arthur “Pops” Simpson decided to reopen his three-car garage on the south side of Chicago as a haven for jazz – and started what came to be known as The Alley Club. Every Sunday, The Alley Club would host DJs and musicians who collectively contributed to the energy and spirit of the neighborhood, producing an experience for jazz-lovers like no other.
The Alley is a collaborative project, with The Cabaret serving as the lead partner along with Buckingham Companies and the Arts Council of Indianapolis. The project was made possible by a 2019 Lilly Endowment “Strengthening Indianapolis through Arts & Cultural Innovation” grant; the central goal is to transform the alley adjacent to The Cabaret into an outdoor art and performance space. Upon completion, The Alley will feature an artistic palisade and greenspace installation, murals, overhead shade sails, lighting, and seating. All three partnering organizations worked with acclaimed Indy artists Quincy Owens and Luke Crawley to design and develop the space. Additionally, Nicholas Douglas, a recent graduate of the Herron School of Art and Design, received a paid public art apprenticeship for an artist of color to work with Owens and Crawley to support the project and learn more about their process. The apprenticeship was coordinated by the Arts Council as part of its racial equity initiatives and made possible through funding by Buckingham Foundation. The artists and partners agreed upon final designs in November 2020 and construction began in March 2021.
The Cabaret will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 9 to officially kick-off the space with the first performance, thus launching The Alley Sessions. Performances will take place every Friday from July 9 through August 6, and on Friday, September 3; all events will be free to attend. The Alley Sessions will feature a diverse array of programming including spoken word, jazz, storytelling, incubator cabarets, and more. This summer’s inaugural season has been curated in partnership with the Arts Council of Indianapolis and will spotlight “Art & Soul” featured artists in addition to other local artists.
Guests are encouraged (but not required) to make reservations, as space will be limited. Those interested can reserve their seats starting Tuesday, June 1 at 10 AM at THECABARET.ORG/SHOWS. Learn more about The Alley at THECABARET.ORG/THEALLEY.
The Cabaret is a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating and promoting the cabaret art form by entertaining, educating, and engaging audiences and artists through world-class performances.
