Downstairs Cabaret Theatre Announces Fall/Winter Lineup

The Downstairs Cabaret is thrilled to announce six shows as part of its Fall / Winter Program, including several regional premieres, performing through mid-December.

At 3450 Winton Place, Brighton-Henrietta:

The Young Artists of America's Got Talent

Your favorite young television acts from NBC's hit show come together for one weekend only - ALL in one BIG special 2-hour show that can ONLY be seen in Rochester! See your favorite kid & teen acts up close and personal in a most intimate setting: Angelina Green (Golden Buzzer Winning Vocalist, Pianist & Ukulele Player), Lori Mae Hernandez (Top 20 Comedian), Kadie Lynn (Top 20 Country Singer & Guitarist), Kadan Bart Rockett & Brooklyn (Top 20 kid illusionists).

Angelina Green is a 13-year-old singer from the most recent season (Season 12) of America's Got Talent. Moved by her performance, judge Heidi Klum pressed her Golden Buzzer to send Angelina straight to the Quarterfinals. At a young age, Angelina's parents divorced as a result of her dad's abandonment. She and her mother struggled on their own, constantly getting evicted from every house due to financial issues. It was during those times that Angelina discovered her passion for music. Now, she would like to inspire all the kids that are going through hard times in life and help them to overcome obstacles using music like she did. She claims, "Music is my medicine. It has helped me through difficult times in my life. I believe all bad things are meant to make us stronger and lead us to good things in life."

14-year old Lori Mae Hernandez has been writing and performing stand-up since the age of nine. Her unique comedy mixes pop culture and the perspective of a tween. In her first year, she performed nightly to a mostly non-human audience consisting of her dogs, Bunny and Mickey. When her father was struck with a severe case of Bell's palsy, leaving half his face paralyzed, Hernandez took her act on the road and began performing in the living room to her parents in the hope that laughter would help her dad smile once again. After about a year, it worked, and it felt great for two reasons: her dad's smile returned and Hernandez found her voice! She was a bit of a shy kid, but now with her newfound talent, she studies comedy legends that have helped her beat shyness, like Carol Burnett, Tina Fey, Ellen Degeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Steve Martin and Howie Mandel. She advanced to the Semifinals of America's Got Talent in Season 11.

Kadie Lynn was also a Semifinalist in Season 11 of America's Got Talent recently turned 14. Her adoptive parents knew early on, when at the age of 3, she stood for the first time before her church and sang four verses from memory of "Amazing Grace," that they had something very special in Kadie Lynn. The next nine years had been nothing short of amazing blaze, singing for the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, opening for Vanilla Ice and Texas Country Artist Kevin Fowler, and winning "Female Vocalist of the Year" in the East Texas ETX Annual Music Awareds, She continues to wow audiences all over North Texas, her parents driving her 200,000-300,000 miles a year, just to keep up with the demand on her talent. As a young writer, composer, guitarist, and an artist, Kadie Lynn is always stretching to reach new heights, and recently released her first original single and video, "Stronger".

Kadan Bart Rockett & Brooklyn are the youngest professional illusionists in the world. Making his first stage appearance when he was one day old, Kadan (now 12) has done over 1,000 live appearances on theatre and cruise ship stages around the world. He has appeared in film, commercials and television projects including guest starring on NBC during 2 live primetime episodes where he played Mini Howie Mandel, appearing with Blake Shelton on his NBC Special, the CBS show RUSH HOUR, and Keidi Klum's SERIOUSLY FUNNY KIDS on Lifetime Network. He has appeared in national commercials as well as several films including his leading role in the world wide theatrical release of DARK SKIES with Keri Russell. Kadan also had a starring role in the live stage production CIRQUE: ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR which played in 2,000-3,000 seat venues when touring. In addition to acting, Kadan is also pursuing live music, magic / illusion, and ventriloquism. His dreams include combining all of his passions to produce a variety of entertainment related projects that will inspire and touch people's lives in a positive way. Kadan's younger sister by two years, Brooklyn Nicole, serves as his assistant. Together, their act was among the top 14 semi- finalists in Season 11 of NBC's America's Got Talent.

Performances of The Young Artists of America's Got Talent are as follows: Friday, November 3rd at 8:00pm; Saturday, November 4th at 4:00 pm and 8:00pm; and Sunday, November 5th at 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

General Admission Tickets are $36. Half-price tickets are available for students. For an additional $10 per person, VIP tickets can be purchased which include priority reserved seating and a personal meet and greet with the artists following the performance. Shows will take place at 3450 Winton Place, Brighton (free parking, handicap accessible). For more information visit www.DownstairsCabaret.com. To make reservations call (585) 325-4370.

At 20 Windsor Street, downtown Rochester:

Bearing Witness

Downstairs Cabaret is proud to bring back Tom Bird's incredible personal story Bearing Witness for one weekend only to commemorate Veteran's Day. This is the story of a Vietnam Veteran anxious to emulate his WWII field surgeon father's heroism, their painful secrets, and the unexpected bond that united them at Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria. It's a powerful and unexpectedly universal father-son experience audiences will remember long after the performance ends.

Thomas Bird is a Vietnam War veteran who served with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regime, 1st Cavalry Division in 1965-66. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, and all Vietnam Service Medals. On his return to the United States Tom resumed college and his football career, but (not without considerable struggles) soon found that his post war persona responded better to the arts. He studied theatre - acting, writing and directing - and ultimately felt that his greater role in life was to give arts experience to other Vietnam Veterans. He created VETCo, the Vietnam Veteran's Ensemble Theatre Company, and, as the company's Artistic Director, presented 26 plays Off and Off-off Broadway, including the highly acclaimed TRACERS at The Public Theatre, for which the company won a Drama Desk Award for "giving voice to the trauma of Vietnam". Tom's life was highly influenced and he was supported by three important arts facilitators of their time - Joseph Papp, legendary creator of The Public Theatre; Lee Strasberg, revered acting teacher and co-creator of The Actors' Studio; and Michael Fuchs, longtime Chairman of HBO. Much of Tom's work was presented at The Public; he was taught and inspired by Lee Strasberg; and under Michael Fuchs' tutelage Tom co-produced the Peabody, Ace, and Emmy Award winning documentary DEAR AMERICA, LETTERS HOME FROM VIETNAM. At HBO Tom developed a number of film scripts and he created further programs to give Vietnam Veteran's a voice in society, and to help less fortunate veterans to deal with life after war. In 1981 Tom was chosen to be one of the first four veterans to return to war torn Vietnam. Currently, Bird is Founder and Executive Director of Walking Point Foundation (see walkingpoint.org), a non-profit, veterans service organization. WPF's mission is to mentor all veterans from all wars - most recently from Iraq and Afghanistan, using the arts (theatre, fine art, music, comedy) as a means to get them to express themselves and facilitate their healing processes.

Performances of Bearing Witness are as follows: Friday, November 10th at 8:00pm; Saturday, November 11th at 8:00pm; and Sunday, November 12th at 3:00pm.

General Admission Tickets are $25 (discounts are available for seniors, students, military, groups, and DCT members). Performances will take place at 20 Windsor Street, downtown Rochester (free parking at the corner of East Main and Scio Streets, handicap accessible). For more information visit www.DownstairsCabaret.com. To make reservations call (585) 325-4370.

At 3450 Winton Place, Brighton-Henrietta:

The Jersey Tenors

The Jersey Tenors is the newest Opera/Rock Mash-up sensation that creates an explosive blend of the most iconic Opera classics alongside such Rock 'N Roll industry greats as Queen, Journey, Elton John, and Billy Joel to name but a few. But they are also "Jersey Proud" and do not forget where they came from as they highlight some of Jersey's finest like Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Sinatra, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Kool and The Gang, and even Whitney Houston (Jersey Girl)! These four charming wise guys are gonna Raise the Roof with their powerful voices, and they'll have you singing along before yous guys know it. From Frank Sinatra to Frankie Valli to Figaro... Forgettaboutit!!!

Performances of The Jersey Tenors are from November 17th through December 10th: Thursdays (excluding Thanksgiving) at 7:00pm; Fridays at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 4:00pm and 8:00pm; and Sundays at 3:00pm.

General Admission Tickets are $30-$33, depending on performance time (discounts are available for seniors, students, military, groups, and DCT members). Performances will take place at 3450 Winton Place, Brighton (free parking, handicap accessible). For more information visit www.DownstairsCabaret.com. To make reservations call (585) 325-4370.

At 20 Windsor Street, downtown Rochester:

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is a Christmas concert special that blends equal parts traditional Christmas cheer with good rockin' fun to create the perfect holiday entertainment recipe. With harmonious melodies of caroling, blazing guitar fun, all the Christmas classics (along with the "new classics") this show returns to Rochester, destined to be a modern annual winter tradition. DCT favorite Jenn Cristy is back with a world-class group of musicians and performers in the holiday experience. SO treat yourself and your loved ones to the gift

of fun this holiday season - bring a cup of cheer, and we'll bring the entertainment!

Performances of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree are as follows: Thursday, December 14th at 7:00pm; Friday, December 15th at 8:00pm; Saturday, December 16th at 4:00pm and 8:00pm; and Sunday, December 16th at 3:00pm.

General Admission Tickets are $26-$29, depending on performance time (discounts are available for seniors, students, military, groups, and DCT members). Performances will take place at 20 Windsor Street, downtown Rochester (free parking at the corner of East Main and Scio Streets, handicap accessible). For more information visit www.DownstairsCabaret.com. To make reservations call (585) 325-4370.

At 20 Windsor Street, downtown Rochester:

Grove Place Jazz Project

Downstairs Cabaret Theatre, in association with Eastman School of Music jazz students, continues its Grove Place Jazz Project series each Tuesday evening at 7:00pm. A different jazz ensemble is featured each week, showcasing the talents of Eastman School of Music students and other area jazz artisans.

Performances take place at 20 Windsor Street, downtown Rochester (free parking at the corner of East Main and Scio Streets, handicap accessible). For more information visit www.DownstairsCabaret.com. To make reservations call (585) 325-4370.

General Admission Tickets are $10, with half price tickets available for DCT members, Grove Place Neighbors, and Eastman faculty, students and staff.

At 20 Windsor Street, downtown Rochester:

Rochester Folkus

Downstairs Cabaret is pleased to announce its latest collaboration, this time with retired RIT President William Destler: Rochester Folkus is a brand new series that will showcase Folk, Traditional, Old-Time, Bluegrass, and other acoustic music on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month (with occasional exceptions). Upcoming events include: Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen (November 8); Magpie (November 29); and The Dady Brothers (December 13).

Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen are incredible singers, songwriters, and musicians (including clawhammer banjo!). Magpie features Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner, consummate singers, songwriters, and musicians featuring traditional and contemporary songs covering a wide spectrum of Americana. Rochester's own Dady Brothers bring their wonderful blend of American and Irish roots music accompanied by guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, bodhran, pennywhistle, and more!

Performances take place at 20 Windsor Street, downtown Rochester (free parking at the corner of East Main and Scio Streets, handicap accessible). For more information visit www.DownstairsCabaret.com. To make reservations call (585) 325-4370.

General Admission Tickets are $10.