The Downstairs Cabaret Theatre is a live, professional, not-for-profit (501-c-3) theatre; producing musicals, comedies, dramas, new works, and cabaret artists in a year-round, repertory schedule. Since its inception in 1983, the Downstairs Cabaret has made its mark in the Rochester community by producing a diverse offering of musicals and plays. Mostly known locally and nationally for developing Nonsense and producing the world premiere of Forever Plaid, the DCT has always been an important player in the development of new works.
In recent years, the DCT has exploded onto the theatrical scene producing some of the most exciting new works as well as the most entertaining pieces in Rochester. Producing Director Christopher F. Kawolsky reopened the Theatre in February 1992 (after three years of inactivity). Since then, we have produced more than 175 different productions, ranging from popular musicals such as I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, to the hilarious Run For Your Wife!, to the Holocaust drama The Grey Zone, to the world premiere of James Lecesne's Word of Mouth (which went on to win Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards when later produced by Mike Nichols in NYC), to cabaret artists including KT Sullivan, Mark Nadler, Charles Cermele, Laura Theodore, D. C. Anderson, Quinn Lemley, Combo Fiasco, and others.

Part of our mission includes producing non-traditional work which, by its nature, attracts non-traditional audiences. We take special pride in drawing a large number of first-time theatergoers by providing opportunities to attend live theatrical performances to those who might not otherwise have the means or experience as a regular theatergoer.

We produce our own work, co-produce with other professional theatres nationally (Chicago, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Austin, etc.), and book-in events - allowing us to offer the Rochester community the finest productions possible!