The Central Park Café is bringing the finest in New York cabaret to their restaurant across the street from Carnegie Hall. les chanteuses de cabaret featuring Meg Flather, Karen Mack, Rosemary Loar and Tracy Stark will be presented in an inaugural event produced by Marcello Rollando & Jay Michaels

The event will take place on Saturday Night, March 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Sidney Myer, a legendary figure in Cabaret, told the NewYork Times recently, “Cabaret has always offered performers an opportunity tobe themselves… In cabaret, it’s all your vision, your dream. Barbra Streisandwas a cabaret star before she was a star in movies or theater.”

With that in mind, the Central Park Café has brought together legendary names from the New York cabaret scene and Broadway to launchits new venue. Each a visionary performer with a story, a vision, a dream.

Maestra Tracy Stark, a definitive name in the cabaret world brught together for this event three of the genre’s most visisble names. Meg Flather, Karen Mack, and Broadway alum, Rosemary Loar.

Chatting with cabaret personality, MEG FLATHER, one can see firsthand what a celebrity does. In the same breath as sharing that she is an award-winning singer, songwriter, recording artist, and  cabaret artist, she shared that she is also a brand ambassador for StriVectin skincare having appeared – over the years – on all home shopping networks in North America and Australia as an expert in skincare sales. But she then gracefully segued into how her music compositions have been part of [not only] film and theatre but also on behalf of HIV/AIDS, 9/11, Alzheimer’s, Autism, suicide awareness, political activism, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

A real celebrity gives back, and Meg certainly has.

“While attending TISH/NYU my classmate, Christian Daizey, asked if I wanted to work on a “cabaret act,” Ms. Flather reminisced, “I had no idea what that was, but I trusted him.”

After a year of preparation and a few open mics (including Ye Olde Tripple Inn), she stepped into the historic original Duplex and auditioned for Mark Alan. Her first show was called “Leather & Flather” premiering at the Duplex in 1985.

“I never looked back. I was hooked! I am forever thankful for Christian’s push.”

We sat down with Ms. Flather and picked her brain about her career, inspirations, and the industry.  

Who or what inspires you?

What inspires me is when an artist gets out of the way, allows us to have our own experience, and feel OUR feelings through their performance. When an artist does not indicate, push, or get consumed with their own emotional life, I am inspired. 

What influences your song choices?

I tend to be drawn to story songs; songs that paint pictures of real human experiences. I love songs with specifics, detailed imagery, and well crafted characters. 

Tell us about your original works.

Yes, I was challenged by a very wise woman after one of my shows in the early 1990’s. I had just covered many Joni Mitchell songs and she said, “If you don’t start writing songs yourself, Meg, you will be a very unhappy woman.” Wow. I know! But that was that. I am now in the process of recording my 9th album of original songs. I am proudest of my two songwriting awards, and my United Solo Award for “Best Storytelling Show” for my original musical, “Hold On Tight” which features my songs about caregiving. 

In this post-pandemic cyber obsessed world – what does the future hold for the artform of cabaret?

Like so many of my peers, I am so thankful to sing to and with people again. Period. I have redefined my “grand” goals of 2019. I simply want to create, grow, share, and learn in any room that will have me. During this post-pandemic time, I am just thankful we are all here with any place to gather. So, for me the future of cabaret rests in our ability to be flexible, explore new “rooms,” and remember what the artform is about. 

What’s next for you?

I have begun my “Brick Room Tour” at Don’t Tell Mama’s Brick Room. I am revisiting shows that I performed in the Brick Room over the last nine years. Lennie Watts is my director. Tracy Stark is my musical director. Our next “stop” on our “tour” is on April 21 at 4 pm with “Back When We Were Beautiful.”