Fiesta de Cabaret (Cabaret Festival and Workshop)

Fiesta de Cabaret is a 10-day cabaret festival and workshop in sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Housed in the beautiful facilities of Act2PV, 10 visiting students from around the world and 6 Mexican National/Resident students will have the opportunity to work with cabaret industry professionals to refine their skills. Daily group classes, seminars, and shows by luminaries in the field, PLUS nightly opportunities to perform make this a rare learning experience. Broadway and cabaret veteran Mark Hartman has assembled a first-class team of teacher-performers to give students an unforgettable learning experience in a beautiful and relaxed environment to focus on honing their craft with some of the most knowledgeable performers in the business.

Morning group classes in Mary Ann’s Ovations Piano Bar are led by Lina Koutrakos, a multiple award-winning performer, director, and teacher. Lina’s classes and workshops are highly sought after in New York City and around the world. Simultaneously, renowned performer and voice teacher David Sabella leads daily vocal tech sessions to target singing technique and musicality, allowing students to access their full vocal potential. A rarity in cabaret workshops, these sessions are designed to allow students to work on technical challenges and expand their ability in a daily small-group setting, accompanied by acclaimed pianist and music director David Maiocco.

Guest performers through the week include Natalie Douglas, David Sabella, Sue Matsuki, Tracy Stark, and Mauricio Martínez. Their shows in the Casa Karma Red Room at Act2PV are open to the public, but tickets are included with tuition. Seminars will be taught by each performer the day after each of their unmissable shows. Each has a unique style and perspective that will inform and enrich the students’ experience.

Music Directors Tracy Stark, Yasuhiko “Yaz” Fukuoka and David Maiocco are among the most creative and innovative pianists and arrangers in the field. In addition to playing shows and evenings in Mary Ann’s Ovations Piano Bar, they will work one-on-one with students to craft their material throughout the workshop.

A typical day consists of a morning class with Lina, a vocal tech session with David, an afternoon seminar and work sessions with music directors, an evening performance by one of our guests, and a nightly open mic in the piano bar where students will have the opportunity to sing for the audience after the show.