Unless you were lucky enough to catch it at past Fringes, you might not have heard about this show. "A Cabaret of Legends", co-created by Tymisha Harris (performer) and Michael Marinaccio (director, designer, stage manager), was a late stage edition to this year's Fringe festival, only barely sneaking in after another show dropped out. The show is not in any programs, but that does not mean you should look past it. Despite its secret status, this is a cabaret everyone should know about.

"A Cabaret of Legends" is a musical journey through pioneering black women in a variety of genres, from jazz, to soul, to rock. The cabaret includes tributes to Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, and many more music icons through the years, all performed by Tymisha Harris.

This was my second time experiencing this show, after luckily grabbing a ticket at the nearly sold out 2025 Fringe run. This show was a little different, as Marinaccio came out before the show (then running ten minutes late) to inform the audience that Harris was under the weather and would be performing a seated, more subdued version of the show. However, if it wasn't for this announcement, and the fact that I'd already seen the show, it is doubtful that anyone would have guessed something was wrong. Even while not feeling her best, Harris gave a world class vocal and storytelling performance, keeping her signature charm throughout. One particular standout moment was her performance of "Mississippi Goddam" by Nina Simone, which she performed with show-stopping vocals and oodles of personality,

While her vocals are awe-inspiring, the most compelling aspect of this cabaret are the personal touches. There are many Fringe shows where talented singers sing difficult songs, but Cabaret of Legends infuses each song with a history lesson or personal anecdote from Harris' life which makes the numbers feel emotionally significant, in addition to being well-performed. This separates the show from other cabarets and makes it feel truly one of a kind.

For a secret show, tickets are going fast, and it's no surprise. Tymisha Harris owns every inch of the stage, and the cabaret is incredibly well written and designed. It won't be a secret for long, I'm sure.

CABARET OF LEGENDS AT THE WESTBURY THEATRE, TWO MORE PERFORMANCES

A review by Andrea Noga, Alberta Youth Theatre Collective.