Life is a cabaret… again

Berlin in the 1930s had its cabaret. And now, the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble presents Close Quarters III, cabaret for today. An evening of theatre/dance, ranging from sensuous to terrifying to surrealist farce to unbounded joy, will take turns in the spotlight with the fresh artistry and close harmonies of special guests Smoke Ring, the highest-ranked mixed voice quartet in the world. 

The Sokolow company will perform selections from Anna Sokolow’s incisive Kurt Weill and Rooms, her masterpiece of urban longing, along with the supremely silly “Threatened Assassin” from Magritte, Magritte with guest artist Clarence Brooks. As a special treat, guest choreographer Krista Jansen will perform her show-stopping “Off the Cuff.”

Close Quarters premiered in 2023 in the Lower East Side burlesque theater, The Slipper Room, and was the first time the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble designed a program especially for a cabaret-sized space. “The smaller the stage, the more the performers are compelled to reach deep inside,” said Samantha Geracht, artistic director, “which is totally in keeping with Anna Sokolow’s approach to dance.” 

In this third edition of Close Quarters, the company will counterpoint theatre/dance with live music for the first time, teaming up with Smoke Ring, the award-winning mixed voice, queer barbershop and contemporary a cappella quartet based in New York City, renowned for serving up sass and sexiness. 

Close Quarters III

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 8 p.m.

The Slipper Room

167 Orchard Street, NYC

Seating is all general admission and is first come first serve. Doors open at 7:30pm. 

Tickets: $25 and available at https://www.slipperroom.com/event-details/guest-event-close-quarters-iii-may-20.

The Slipper Room serves alcohol, this is an adults-only event.