The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret

After 10 incredible shows and nearly 200 songs sung live, Savannah’s best theater and music experience took a look back with The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret. Part cabaret, part retrospective, and part lively celebration, the show was performed one night only on Friday, October 7 at 7:30pm at Club One’s Bay Street Theatre.

The Bay Street Cabaret has gone from a scrappy live-music start-up to an established performance company that stages original productions with scripts, characters, costumes, and interactive elements to sold-out audiences. Along the way, the troupe has sung nearly 200 songs from a wide spectrum of genres including Broadway, the greatest love songs, big band, standards, pop, rock, holiday favorites, and much more.

This “Best of” show featured a panel-style gathering of Bay Street Cabaret performers who regaled the audience with behind-the-scenes stories and sang some of their favorite, most crowd-pleasing numbers. Every past show was featured including the original Broadway series (Showstoppers, Hot Summer Broadway, Award-Winning Broadway, Bawdy Broadway), special events (HSF Wine & Trolley Tour 2022) and the production series (Vivian and Bill’s Christmas Party!, Love Stories/Love Songs, Time Traveling Drag Queens in the 1940s!, Say Gay, Murder at the Bay Street Cabaret).

The evening also featured some surprises including the “Song Steal,” that will allow performers to “steal” a song that someone else performed in a previous show.

The talented castincluded BSC favorites Travis Cheek, Travis Harold Coles, Hannah Dodson, Cami Nicole Hall, Justin P. Kent, Gwen Leahy, Taylor Mercier, Trey Norris, Chris Stanley, and Dani Vazquez. The show was produced by Rick Garman.

Chris Stanley shows off his moves during his performance of “Rude” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Chris Stanley performs “Rude” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Cami Nicole Hall and Chris Stanley share a moment during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Cami Nicole Hall belts out “Rose’s Turn” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Hannah Dodson sings “Time After Time” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Hannah Dodson gets a special gift during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

An audience member wins a door prize during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Gwen Leahy performs “Little Girls” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Gwen Leahy receives a special gift during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Justin P. Kent performs “When I’m Not Near the One I Love” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Dani Vazquez sings “You Give Love a Bad Name” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Dani Vazquez performs “You Give Love a Bad Name” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Travis Harold Coles performs “You’ll Be Back” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Travis Cheek performs “Good as Hell” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Travis Cheek shows off his flexibility while singing “Good as Hell” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Rick Garman sings “For Forever” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Another audience member wins a prize during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Trey Noris performs “Getting Married Today” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Trey Norris performs “Getting Married Today” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Taylor Mercier has a laugh during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Taylor Mercier performs “Burn” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Gwen Leahy, Dani Vazquez, and Hannah Dodson perform “You Could Drive a Person Crazy” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Trey Norris and Hannah Dodson dance during his performance of “Miss Otis Regrets” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Dani Vazquez, Travis Cheek, and Cami Nicole Hall share a candid moment during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Chris Stanley performs “In Short” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Cami Nicole Hall belts out “Since U Been Gone” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Hannah Dodson performs “When You’re Good to Mama” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Travis Cheek performs “Good Morning, Baltimore” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Gwen Leahy serenades Cami Nicole Hall and Travis Cheek with “All That Jazz” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Trey Norris and Cami Nicole Hall perform “Happy Days/Come On Get Happy” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Justin P. Kent performs “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Justin P. Kent finishes big during his performance of “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Gwen Leahy, Justin P. Kent, and Hannah Dodson perform “Love Shack” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Rick Garman and Hannah Dodson sing “Nothing Compares 2U” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Taylor Mercier sings “She Used to be Mine” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

Dani Vazquez sings “Don’t Rain on my Parade” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.

The crowd goes wild as Dani Vazquez performs “Don’t Rain on my Parade” during “The Best of the Bay Street Cabaret” on October 7, 2022. Photo credit Travis Spangenburg.