About Us

The Storytellers | About the Summer Cabaret | Board of Directors

Why Stories?

Because stories transport us, and they carry us safely home. Because of how much we love the stories that linger with us at bedtime, greet us at the water cooler, or wait for us by the fire. Because stories are the simplest of miracles: as soon as someone says a little phrase like “once upon a time…” or “remember that time when…” a whole world springs to life.

This year, Yale Summer Cabaret will explore and celebrate the art of storytelling, and the role of the theatre artist as storyteller. A tale well told is more than just speaking; it is a shared leap of faith taken by both the audience and the storyteller. And nowhere is that engagement more vivid, more present, than in our intimate basement theatre.

It is our pleasure to present a season of three unique productions in rotating repertory. First is Laura Schellhardt’s The K of D, which muses on how urban legends can be born from fact, fiction, and (possibly) the fantastic; next up we have Of Ogres Retold, an original piece of puppet theatre inspired by Japanese folktales; and finally, Mary Zimmerman’s The Secret in the Wings delves into the dark and surprisingly dangerous world of fairy tales both rare and familiar.

After select performances, we welcome you to join us in the Cabaret garden for the Fireside Series. You’ll have the chance to chat about the show you just saw, enjoy some refreshments, and listen to a short story read aloud by firelight, with the stars in the sky overhead. We look forward to sharing this summer of magic and ghosts, humor and sorrow, mystery and adventure with you.

Welcome to 50 Nights: A Festival Of Stories. 

Tanya Dean, Artistic Director
Reynaldi Lolong, Producer