FYP’s fall cabaret shines a spotlight on inclusion

First Year Players (FYP), a student-run theater organization at Syracuse University, is stepping back into the spotlight this weekend with its annual fall cabaret.

The event brings together SU and SUNY-ESF students with performers from Front Row Players (FRP), a local group that champions theater for people with developmental disabilities.

The night will feature live musical performances that emphasize the importance of inclusive, accessible theater. Tickets are $10, with all proceeds benefiting FRP. The event is 7 p.m. Sunday in the Schine Underground.

After its hit spring production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, which went viral on social media and became FYP’s highest-grossing show, the organization hopes to carry that momentum into the cabaret.

In addition to the live performances, FYP will also raise funds for FRP through a series of Instagram Story challenges to encourage community participation and donations.

SU senior and FYP co-public relations director Jackie Arbogast, who helped organize the event, said that this year’s show is designed to highlight the partnership between FYP and FRP.

“We wanted to really harp on the fact that this cabaret is for them,” Arbogast said. “We want to really highlight FRP as the main focal point of cabaret, because it’s really important that we raise money for them.”

While past cabarets have been successful, Arbogast said this year’s event stands out for its stronger emphasis on fundraising and FRP’s mission. To implement this, FYP included its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) team in the planning process.

The performances will feature a mix of musical theater numbers and popular songs, ranging from Broadway classics, Bill Withers songs to 1980s hits.

For the first time ever, FYP and FRP performers will share the stage for a joint number — an exciting new addition that highlights the spirit of collaboration at the heart of this year’s event.

SU junior and FYP’s other co-public relations director Spencer Howard said that FYP’s long-standing tradition of singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” before every show helped inspire the onstage collaboration.

“A joint number between our two organizations felt like the best way to do that, and ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ was the perfect song to connect to FYP’s traditions,” Howard said.

Arbogast and Howard have been involved in every step of the process behind the scenes, from booking the venue to coordinating fundraising efforts, working closely with the creative team to shape the show’s vision.

“Being a part of the planning and execution of cabaret is so important to me because I feel like it’s FYP’s major chance to give back to the Syracuse community,” Howard said. “While our spring show brings community members together, cabaret is our main opportunity to uplift others.”

Howard said that his experience reinforces the importance of inclusion, both on and off the stage.

“Working with Front Row Players is always a great experience that gives me a deeper appreciation for the power of music and performance,” Howard said. “As a student, it carries into my everyday life and demonstrates the need for inclusive spaces even beyond the stage.”

In a press release, SU senior and FYP co-producer Nirai Kabilan echoed that sentiment.

“FYP is thrilled to use our platform to uplift another arts organization that shares our passion for creativity, inclusion and community,” Kabilan said. “Cabaret is always a special night full of talent and purpose.”