On Friday, Nov. 1 and Sat., Nov.2, the black box theater was transformed into an elegant showroom ready for talented Niles West staff and students to fill the space with music, poetry, and more. The theatre department has worked tirelessly since Oct., holding auditions as well as organizing the acts and putting the scenery together. Auditions were held in early Oct. and were open to anyone who wanted to perform.

Andrew Sinclair usually hosts the event; however, this year, Hannah Luthringer and Sam Rosenfeld ran it due to Sinclair being on paternity leave. The Coffeehouse Cabaret works as the major fundraiser for the theatre department with student tickets at $15 and adult tickets at $20, as well as having items up for a silent auction.

Long before the show, the black box entrance was packed with peers and family of the performers, anxiously awaiting to receive permission to enter the lightly lit room filled with cloth colored circular tables and colorful lights beaming on the center stage. Parents and students alike excitedly paid for admission, receiving a coffee mug as their ticket. They then strolled to the pastries and sweets table covered table with many drink options ranging from coffee to hot cocoa to tea.

The show then began at 7:30 pm and was packed with talented acts until 9 pm. Students performed popular songs such as “Someone You Loved, and Like I’m Gonna Lose You” to original songs and poetry. Students also created and performed their own comical skits; however, students were not the only ones to perform as staff members sang and performed skits as well.

Students like senior Eliana Meyer were surprised at how talented her fellow peers were.

“I never realized how amazingly talented everyone at West is, and it was probably the best part of my weekend,” Meyer said.

Senior Lilly Born regrets not attending the Coffeehouse Cabaret all four years of high school.

“This is actually my first time going to coffeehouse, and now that I went, I wish that I went all four years. I bet the average person wouldn’t think of a high school student being that talented, but then [you] go to an event like this and [you’re] like wow,” Born said.

Senior Edward Byrd was also really glad he attended the event.

“It was really fun, and it was cool seeing many of my friends being out of their comfort zone,” Byrd said.

Overall, both nights were very successful, with the theatre being packed, performers being proud of their hard work and performance, and family members and peers having a fun night out of the house. In review, I’d give the annual Coffeehouse Cabaret a ten out of ten because of the cute and detailed set-up, the passionate and well-executed performances made by the performers, and the fun atmosphere.