Draft:Catbox Cabaret

Catbox Cabaret was a turn-of-the century style troupe in Boston in the 1990s. They rose to critical acclaim and developed a cult following while performing in Central Square, Cambridge at the Cantab Lounge in the basement below Little Joe Cook.

Styling themselves after Cabaret Voltaire (Zurich) and Le Chat Noir, their original original short plays, sketches and songs were often political or social commentary. Their symphonic poem Katacanga references Hugo Ball directly. In addition to their weekly mainstage shows, they hosted The Claw, as late night open mike for music, spoken word and sketches. The feature of this event was a weekly serial Once Upon a Time in the Decline of the West. Running in repertory, the serial was written by cast members with new episodes coming out every other week. Eventually, the team sewed it all together into a full length play performed at Beau Jest's space at the Piano Factory in Boston. Like with George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice, people were surprised to find characters who were alive in the serial but were dead in the stage play.

The troupe disbanded in the late 1990s for other cities, projects and artistic differences. Recreations in other cities were never as successful as the original troupe.

Original troupe members include founders Robert Ayres, Douglas O'Keefe, David Geisler, Joseph Mazza, Miss Mary Mac, Linda Bernasconi, Tracy Majkut and Rachel Raven. They would later be joined by Lisa McColgan, Norma Lindal, Chris Everett and Nicole Jesson.

Writers and contributing artists included Albert Odoubeigian, Kevin Mahoney, Susan Barnaby, Blue Lewis, Stacy Schwingle, Deb Doetzer, Dominic Roveto and Doc Madison another founder who brought 3D style theatre to life.

Even years after their departure, they continue to be a reference point for the culture of the city.