WEIMAR, YOU ASK? HERE’S THE ANSWERCabaret the musical, opening on Broadway in a transformed theater, may sound exciting, but here’s a highly recommended event for those who crave complete immersion in a 1920s Berlin Speakeasy with period-themed food and drinks, vintage dress, and more. In partnership with Carnegie Hall as part of their Weimar Festival, Death of Classical — which offers astounding salons in, among other locales, the Crypt under the Church of the Intercession — presents Tiergarten, a subversive, underground cabaret event in the magnificent Great Hall underneath the Church of St. Mary’s on New York’s Lower East Side. For three performances only April 17-19, 2024, at 7, prepare yourself for a wild evening of music, theater, food, and drink, as you reflect on the gathering clouds that enshrouded the crumbling Weimar Republic, and look ahead with increasing angst upon the fragile balance of the present moment. Tickets are going fast — Friday night is already sold out! Get them here. 
The evening takes its name from the Tiergarten — “The Garden of Beasts” — a sprawling central park around which the Third Reich rose to power. The program traces a path backwards in time, exploring historic moments of societal madness through music ranging from Verdi to Kylie Minogue, Dean Martin to Max Richter, William Byrd to Brecht & Weill, with a panoply of performers that includes singers, dancers, actors, a newly-commissioned shadow puppet show, created and performed by Foreshadow Puppetry, a burlesque dance by artist Pearls Daily, and a dance duet by Liana Zhen-ai and Dylan Contreras. Music accompaniment throughout will be performed by nine-piece swing ensemble the Grand Street Stompers, including new arrangements by bandleader Gordon Au and Matt Musselman. Hosting the evening will be Master of Ceremonies Kim David Smith, singing songs by Marlene Dietrich, Vikki Carr, Frank Sinatra, Eden Ahbez, and more. Lighting design is by Abigail Hoke-Brady and costumes are by Everyday Fay and New York Vintage.  Kim David Smith (photo José Alejandro Espaillat; costume by Miodrag Guberinic)
“Weimar Republic” is the name given to the German government between the end of the Imperial period (1918) and the beginning of Nazi Germany (1933). Political turmoil and violence, economic hardship, and also new social freedoms and vibrant artistic movements characterized the complex Weimar period. True, many of the challenges of this era set the stage for Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, but the 1920s saw a remarkable cultural renaissance in Germany. During the worst phase of hyperinflation in 1923, the clubs and bars were full of speculators who spent their daily profits so they would not lose the value the following day. Performers adopted popular styles from abroad, particularly those that Hollywood was popularizing in American films of the late ’20s and early ’30s.  One million mark note issued in Ahrweiler District in Germany
as emergency currency during the runaway inflation of the 1920s
(U.S. Holocaust Museum)
Death of Classical Founder and Artistic Director Andrew Ousley is making his directorial debut with Tiergarten, which he also wrote and conceived: “In recent years, I’ve developed a fascination for the moments in human history when the collective weight of our individual decisions either tipped humanity into darkness, or turned us toward something greater – the gathering clouds that enshrouded the crumbling Weimar Republic, the fierce sense of independence that simultaneously gave birth to the United States and American slavery, the zealous piety of the mob that both murdered and immortalized Jesus. I believe that in these moments of fragile balance, our fate as a society is decided by the way that each of us responds to the situation that surrounds us – what we will and will not stand for, what we do and do not allow – and that is what I want to explore with Tiergarten.” - ALL FOOD DRINKS AND FOOD ARE INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE: There is red & white wine, several types of beer, and cider to drink, as well as non-alcoholic cocktails from Curious Elixirs. For nourishment, there is a thematically-appropriate buffet of assorted meats, cheeses, breads, fruits, and vegetarian/vegan snacks – plenty of victuals to pair with your libations.
- EACH TABLE INCLUDES FOUR SEATS, PLUS A BOTTLE OF SPARKLING WINE IN THE COST: So bring friends, make friends between now and then, or spread yourself out luxuriantly across four chairs … as you wish.
- THERE WILL BE A PRE-CONCERT HAPPY HOUR: You should plan to arrive between 7-8PM, so you can get settled in your seats, grab some food and drink, and prepare yourself for the madness ahead…
- BENCHES ARE GENERAL ADMISSION: So arrive on the early side to get the best seats. Tables are organized by section, and your location will be determined within your section.
- 1920s ATTIRE IS STRONGLY, EXUBERANTLY ENCOURAGED: You don’t HAVE to bust out your finest vest or flapper dress, but the more that you can get into the mood, the more everyone will be transported…
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