Point Park Presents: the Songwriters Cabaret Series
Written by Arlo Grey MacFarland
Point Park University recently announced that its musical theater program will start a cabaret-style showcase series of their students. Called the Songwriters Cabaret Series, these concerts will take place at the Greet Cabaret Theater, and offer a chance for students to perform at a professional venue in front of a paying audience.
In the article announcing the series, the Artistic Director of Point Park’s School of Theatre, Film, and Animation, Gary Kline, said, “This showcase is not only an extraordinary opportunity for our students to shine, but also for alumni, family, friends and the larger community to experience the rising stars of the musical theatre world. It's a chance for audiences to see the artistry of our student performers while directly supporting the annual Senior Showcase, which supports their introduction into the theater business in New York.”
The inaugural show, I Will Be Me, features the songs of Michael Kooman and Chris Dimond, two Emmy-nominated songwriters who have worked in both Broadway theatre and television. Kooman and Dimond have roots in Pittsburgh, with both of them graduating from Carnegie Mellon University’s Conservatory program. In the article from Point Park, Kooman and Dimond said,
“We are incredibly excited to be returning to Pittsburgh, a city that is truly near and dear to our hearts. We're both Western Pennsylvania natives, met while we were students in Pittsburgh, and have had some of our earliest and most significant professional experiences here. It's always a joy to be back in the 'Burgh. We're also thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this talented group of Point Park students. Point Park has a stellar reputation in the industry for producing brilliant performers, and we're honored to get to watch these students bring our songs to life.”
The Songwriters Cabaret Series aims to expand upon Point Park’s goal of providing students with experiential opportunities to enhance their creative excellence. This series will extend Point Park students’ reach into the professional theater world of both Pittsburgh and beyond.
The opening show is taking place on Sunday, November 23, 2025 starting at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 5:45 p.m. for cocktails and refreshments. It will feature the graduating class of 2026 from the musical theater program, singing originals by Kooman and Dimond. The Greer Cabaret Theater is located at 655 Penn Ave. Downtown, tickets for the event start at $25. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Cultural Trust website here.
