Cabaret is a broad term that can include many forms of art. Anything from burlesque to singing, dancing and even magic may be part of a cabaret featuring multiple short performances highlighting a variety of entertainers.
This Friday, Sept. 11, two artistic minds in Oklahoma City have collided to create Collage Cabaret, a glittering night of entertainment that will be live on stage at Rodeo Cinema in the Stockyards.
When he was 18 years old, Jeremy Small read a book about the art of cabaret and has loved the genre ever since. He played a role in creating Carpenter Square Theatre’s annual cabaret-style fundraiser, as well as having been a performer in City Cabaret. Small had a dream of bringing together artists from the community and creating a stage where their talents can shine.
Alexandria Yolie coordinated two cabarets for students of color while attending Oklahoma City University. After serving as the 2026 Festival Manager for deadCenter Film Festival, Yolie decided she wanted to return to something familiar and have her next artistic venture be a live cabaret. She had known of Small’s recent cabaret endeavors and thought he might be a good resource and mentor for her own cabaret ambitions.
After a chance meeting at Walmart, the pair met to discuss their individual visions and goals and realized they were exactly aligned. They both are in awe of the incredible talent that Oklahoma City has to offer and knew they could create a Broadway-worthy event in their own backyard. And thus, Collage Cabaret was born.
The name Collage represents the idea that many different forms of art will be melded together into a multi-faceted production. This Friday, Rodeo Cinema will host the first Collage Cabaret production which will feature singing, dancing, film and much more, all crafted and performed by local Oklahoma City artists. Because this performance takes place on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a special memorial piece has been created to reflect upon and honor those who lost their lives.
Following the 90-minute stage event, there will be an hour-long mixer, where members of the audience and members of the show can meet and network. Small and Yolie hope that Collage Cabaret sparks conversation, community and creativity so that more artistic ventures can come to fruition. In their first episode of “The Carousel Podcast,” Yolie said, “It should be a hub which sparks beautiful art. A space to be seen, to be heard and to feel appreciated. Collage Cabaret in its own name is boundless.”
Tickets for the debut Collage Cabaret performance range from $10 to $15 and are available here.
