It’s no wonder artists from all realms of entertainment including musical icons as well as stars of stage and screen, have flocked to perform here. With its confluence of old-school Hollywood and New York entertainment, the intentionally intimate spot holds only 65 people at a time and adheres to a classic cabaret design theme sure to help transport audiences to cabaret’s golden age. What: The Gardenia now boasts the title of longest-running cabaret supper club in the entire country, operating for 36 years.
Every show requires an admission charge (which varies performer to performer) as well as a dinner or two-drink minimum purchase. The deal: Shows take place Monday through Saturday at 8:30 pm, and Sundays at 7:30 and 9:30 pm. However, Catalina has also welcomed performers from outside the strictly jazz realm as well, including talents from musical theater like James Snyder, Shoshana Bean, and Jason Robert Brown. Countless jazz stalwarts have graced its stage including Joe Williams, Marcus Miller, and Dizzie Gillespie. Luckily for patrons and performers alike, it meets expectations. What: With a slogan like “Nothing but the best in jazz,” Catalina has a lot to live up to. What could be better than that? Los Angeles, of course, has dozens of cabaret venues throughout the city at which top-tier talent from around the world will drop in for performances. And as an audience member, there is usually booze involved. All that cabaret means, really, is a combination of song and storytelling an artist able to perform as their authentic self.
The word “cabaret” brings with it tons of evocations, many of which are false.