Feature: CALIFORNIA CABARET performs at Sun City

I was fortunate recently to attend a highly enjoyable cabaret in Sun City to celebrate the life of Sheri Borax, who died on August 3, 2025 at the age of 83. She was active in Jewish causes in the Coachella Valley, including the local chapter of the Jewish National Fund (of which she was president for fourteen years) and Hadassah, for which the cabaret program was a fundraiser.

The three singer-dancers who took the stage, Melissa Batalles, Mary Hermansen, and Damon Kirsche, are all performers from California Cabaret, a song and dance company founded by Sheri’s husband, Jim. California Cabaret specializes in the Great American Songbook and entertained the audience with such traditional music as “Embraceable You,” “Treat me Rough,”  “Make Someone Happy,” and “Whatever Lola Wants.”

Even though Jim founded the group, its existence is partly attributable to Sheri — Jim previously told me that, when he retired from a successful 42-year career in commercial real estate, Sheri advised him to find something new to occupy his time. The result was a singalong group that soon evolved into California Cabaret.

The  crowd of about 150 people, many of whom were Hadassah members, expected to see a solo show by Melissa Batalles. However, she explained to the audience that she was recovering from an illness and the day before realized that she wouldn’t be able to do a 45-minute set. She recruited Mary Hermansen and Damon Kirsche, two other California Cabaret members to perform with her. The three rehearsed a revamped show in the Los Angeles area on Saturday night.

The audience responded enthusiastically, especially when performers walked out into the crowd to draft participants for various numbers. I was one of the lucky ones who got to do a couple of dance steps with Damon Kirsche. I really hammed it up, blowing him a kiss as he went on to the next lucky lady. The audience also participated in the finale, standing for the last number and joining in singing “God Bless America.”

Readers who would like to enjoy California Cabaret in person will have an opportunity to see them very soon — they will appear at the Rancho Mirage library on Wednesday, December 7th at 3 p.m. The library is located at 71-100 Hwy 111; the program will take place in the community room. There is no admission charge and no need for reservations.

California Cabaret’s Web site is at www.CaliforniaCabaret.com. You can read a review of a 2018 performance featuring Melissa and Damon at www.broadwayworld.com/palm-springs/article/BWW-Review-JIM-BORAXS-CALIFORNIA-CABARET-is-a-Gem-20181022; I called the show “a hidden gem that I hope more people get to see.”

Hadassah, the beneficiary of the fundraiser, is a health-focused women’s organization. According to its brochure and the introduction at the cabaret, it sponsors programs such as teaching teens here in the United States to recognize the symptoms of breast cancer and helping women better understand nutritional requirements. It operates hospitals and sponsors medical research in Israel, as well as sending crews to participate in  emergency work in disaster areas around the world. Hadassah’s programs and employment are open to all ethnicities and religions. More information is available at www.Hadassah.org.

Photo credit except for Portrait of Sheri: Jay Jarvis