Epic’s 90s Cabaret Costume Party – a Night of Joy and Celebration

Epic Players has done it again! A night of pure entertainment! Epic’s 90s Cabaret Costume Party was a night of some of the best songs of the 90s, a night reminding all of us who were rocking in the 90s and those new fans from the 21st Century of the incredible diversity of the music. From Grunge to Rap, to the Divas of the time, to the Rock of such iconic bands as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Four Non-Blondes, Alanis Morissette, Boyz II Men, Gwen Stefani, and No Doubt, The Cranberries, Sound Garden, and Counting Crows – the diverse music of the 90s was alive and rockin’ on the stage at Joe’s Pub.

The Arts for Neuro-divergent and Disabled Artists

“EPIC (Empower, Perform, Include, Create) Players is a nonprofit, neuro-diverse theatre company dedicated to creating professional performing arts opportunities and supportive social communities in the arts for neuro-divergent and disabled artists.” These artists are beautifully committed! Committed to their work and to one another, harmonizing in their singing and working together as performers. To be seen and heard as an individual is so important, and Epic Players creates just that for their neurodivergent and disabled artists, giving them an actual stage to perform and present themselves. Synchronization is so salient as artists and humans, and Epic artists have it in spades. All holding their own as they rock next to actual Broadway performers who are guest artists joining the Epic artists on stage.

Experimental Theatrics

The music of the 90s, the sometimes off-kilter melody juxtaposed with the melodic harmonies and, in some songs, chant-like almost spiritual sounds, all captured by the wonderful performers. These are reminders of the outstanding shifts, depths, and reversals of the songs of the 90s. Taking from rock and blues and jazz, classical, folk, and experimental theatrics these songs were performances of stories that became a night of joy and celebration. We in the audience were dancing in our chairs whooping and hollering as each song is introduced. The songs known so well by so many, it takes only a few notes of intro by the band for us to start cheering with anticipation. The band is all professionals devoting their time and knowledge to these wonderful young artists. I and other members of the audience screamed at this concert as one would at a rock concert. Screamed and cheered and hollered and and and… It was a full-on rock concert abounding with love and appreciation!

I’m a Creep, You Ought to Know

The songs are legends of the music world; Black Hole Sun, Mr. Jones, Believe (Cher), Man! I Feel Like A Woman!, Zombie, Un-break My Heart, Everything I Do I Do It For You, Just A Girl, All Over, I Will Always Love You, Waterfalls, Say My Name, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life ), I’m A Creep, You Oughta Know, Heart Shaped Box and so many more. There’s so much ground to cover and so many great artists to perform; the evening was not one show but two, one at 6 pm (watch HERE )and then at 8:30 pm (watch HERE ), each with different Epic performers and songs presented with exuberance and magnificence that provided an evening of celebration.
 
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Epic Performers: Ahjaah Jewett, Amanda Gerulski, Billy Eric Robinson, Eric Fegan, Andrew Kader, Nick Moscato, Rafiq Tate, Reuben Baron, Samuel Langshteyn, Chelsea Tabor, Nada Smith, Katherine Tepan, Shayna Goldberg Broadway Guests: Max Sangerman, Molly Hager, D’Nasya Jordan, Sam Gravitte, Sandra Okuyboyejo, Keri Rene Fuller, Fergie Philippe, Stephanie Torns Musicians: Scott Evan Davis on Piano. David Andreana on Guitar, David Fletcher on Bass, and Tom Pope on Drums. Creative Team: Director Aubrie Therrien, Emcee Talia Eapen, Music Director Scott Evan Davis, Choreographer Laisha Gonzalez, ASL Interpreters Samuel Langshteyn, Ernie Ajugas, Kimberly Hale, Stage Managers Cameron Stevens, Leah Glazer, Access Coordinator Jamie Rose Hays, Up next for Epic Players, A Christmas Carol, a neuro-diverse retelling of the Charles Dickens Classic. December 10 – 15 at Theatre Row. Click HERE to learn how you can help support Epic Players. Readers may also enjoy Broadway by the Year, Lou Chodosh Discovered Pencil Art in His 90s, and Rhythm in Music.