72 | MARCH 23 • 2023 

T

The stage at the Detroit Opera 
House was being set for a perfor-
mance, but it was not for the large 
scenes of a classic show. Instead, it would be 
space for a more intimate group – a singer, 
accompaniment and audience with seating 
for about 100 people at tables allowing four 
to six individuals. 
 Carole J. Bufford, known for her inter-
pretations of the American songbook and 
stories about her experiences with it, would 
be at the center to become one of some 50 
vocalists presented independently over the 
past 10 years by Cabaret 313. 
This season and next, Cabaret 313 is cel-
ebrating its milestone year hosting varied 
singers brought to such disctintive city ven-
ues as Rivera Court at the Detroit Institute 
of Arts and The Cube at the Max M. and 
Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. 
 Among the many performers who have 
appeared for Cabaret 313 have been Liz 
Callaway, a vocalist known for her rendi-
tions of music by Stephen Sondheim; Alan 
Cumming, a television, film and stage 

luminary; and Megan Hilty, a stage and TV 
entertainer regularly seen on the television 
series Smash. 
Cabaret 313 was started in a partner-
ship shared by Allan Nachman and Sandi 
Reitelman, both active in the Jewish com-
munity. While he continues as president, 
her input transferred to board membership 
five years ago with Sabrina Rosneck begin-
ning as executive director two years ago.
“Cabaret 313 got started in 2012 when 
Sandy and I were at the Berman Center for 
the Performing Arts, which was just open-
ing,
” said Nachman, an attorney affiliated 
with the firm of Butzel Long. 
“We were put on a committee to help 
decide what future bookings Berman 
should have, and we were sitting next to 
each other. It turned out we both realized 
that we go to New York to see a lot of caba-
ret shows. 
“We decided that maybe we could bring 
cabaret to Detroit, and we started planning. 
We formed a nonprofit and began bringing 
world-class cabaret to the city.
” 

The first three performances were in 
homes to test the response to this type of 
programming described by New York Times 
staffer Sarah Bahr: “There are no costumes, 
no elaborate sets, no distant balcony scenes. 
It’s just you listening to another person 
pour their heart out on stage. You aren’t just 
there to observe. They see you, hear you, 
react to you, ensuring that no two shows are 
ever the same. Even in the Instagram age, 
cabaret is one art form that demands to be 
experienced live.
” 
The very first show, in the spring of 
2013, took place in the home of Ethan and 
Gretchen Davidson and featured music 
by Christine Andreas, who has appeared 
at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Two 
more home presentations in the area tested 
out the acceptance of this type of showman-
ship.
“We used those to see whether there was 
a market, and we almost sold out every one 
of them,
” Nachman said. “We knew we had 
something that was exciting for Detroiters.
“We generally have five shows a year, and 

ARTS&LIFE
CABARET

Alexandra 
Silbur

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Cabaret 313 celebrates 
10 years of bringing 
entertainment to audiences.

Cabaret 
 Detroit
in

