Le Chat Noir bragging rights. . .
Le Chat Noir opened its doors for business in June, 1999. Since then, the media recognition has been gratifying indeed. In addition to the accolades and great reviews from New Orleans publications for the performers who grace our stage, we are especially proud of the following recognition:

The year 1999
Our opening in June after 18 months of serious reconstruction garnered a lot of print in the local media! Our proprietor was named one of the People to Watch by New Orleans Magazine. As a start up business and the only European style cabaret theater in New Orleans, we're sure there was a betting pool about our long term success.

The year 2000
Le Chat Noir was featured in American Airlines In Flight Magazine as one of the top 10 cabarets in the country. The Mayor's office awarded the Golden Hammer Award to our architects for the adaptive reuse design of our historic building. Our Stage Manager took home the top award from Storer Boone, an organization made of theater professionals. Our proprietor was named one of the Women of the Year by City Business Magazine.

The year 2001
Le Chat Noir was named the Best Place to See Comedy in the annual Gambit Readers Annual Best of New Orleans poll, and top 10 of the Best Performing Arts Venue by the editors and subscribers of the online travel site, CitySearch. CitySearch also stated Bar Noir bartenders poured one of the best martinis in New Orleans, and the publication Best of New Orleans chose the Bar Noir the summer's Editors' Choice for Bars and Clubs. Our proudest moment was to be selected as the Best Theater by the actors and other theater professionals of New Orleans at their Storer Boone Awards. And our Stage Manager was a repeat winner, too!

Can we pick 'em - Of nine nominations, Big Easy Awards (New Orleans' "Tony's") went to these Le Chat Noir productions and actors: Best Comedy, As Bees In Honey Drown; Best Actress In A Play, Charlotte Schully in the original play Spiritual Gifts; Best Supporting Actor in a Play, Bob Edes in both As Bees In Honey Drown and Spiritual Gifts.

The year 2002
Le Chat Noir was featured in articles in three national publications The New York Times, In-Style Magazine, USA Today. Zagat added Le Chat Noir to their listing for the Best Nightlife in New Orleans. The Chamber of Commerce honored us by naming the cabaret Emerging Business of the Year. The New Orleans daily newspaper, The Times Picayune named 2002 The Year of Le Chat in its year end edition.

Can we pick 'em - From four nominations, Big Easy Awards went to Fully Committed for Best Comedy and Sean Patterson, the show's star, for Best Actor. Other Le Chat Noir nominated shows included Best Drama for Visiting Mr Green, and Best Original Work (Ricky Graham and Harry Mayronne) and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical (Heidi Junius) both for Black and White Blues.

The theatre community gave a nod to these Le Chat Noir productions for 2002 Storer Boone Awards (awarded in 2003) Best Comedy and Best Actor in a Comedy Fully Committed and Sean Patterson; Best Stage Manager, Su Goncy; and Best Theater to Le Chat Noir. Other Le Chat Noir nominated shows were: Black and White Blues, Visiting Mr. Green and Dorothy and Alan.

The Year 2003
The New York Post also discovered our little corner of the Warehouse/Arts District in a Travel Section article. Gambit readers voted Le Chat Noir one of the Top Three Theaters in New Orleans.

Big Easy Awards for 2003 productions (awarded in 2004) include Roy Haylock for Best Costume Design for Hollywood Heaven, Grace Fraga for Best Supporting Actress in a Play for Rio Seco, and Best Comedy for Hollywood Heaven. Other nominations for awards included those for Bunk Bed Brothers (Best Comedy, Pat Hazell and Matt Goldman), Hollywood Heaven (Best Original Work in Theatre, Ricky Graham, Harry Mayronne), Rio Seco (Best Original Work in Theatre), The Andrews Sisters Hollywood Review (Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Rob Thomas), Small Craft Warnings (Best Supporting Actor in a Play, Martin Covert).

The Year 2004 - Our Fifth Year in Business:

Gambit and the Big Easy presented Le Chat Noir with The 2004 Business Reognition Award on the night of the big Awards Ceremony.

Le Chat Noir and proprietor, Barbara Motley, was the cover story for Biz Magazine's July issue. Motley also graced the cover of Prime Magazine in the Spring, and New Orleans Magazine did a feature on our five years in business. Zagat's again included Le Chat Noir in their list of top nighttime spots.

Four emerging Le Chat Noir performers were selected to attend the prestigious Yale Cabaret Conference (master classes): Julia LaShae, Suzaunne McKamey, Anais Patterson, and Jessie Terrebonne.

Another exciting first was the play Bunk Bed Brothers, which was retooled from its 1990-something start up in Los Angeles, and made it's new U.S. premier here at Le Chat Noir during the summer. BBB Producers have recently announced that this play by Pat Hazell and Matt Goldman - along with The Wonderbread Years, another of Hazell's creations - was picked up for national touring by The Road Company, which also handles the touring for Broadway hits like Grease, Fame and Wicked. We feel like proud parents!

Famed cabaret luminary (called by critics The Callas of Cabaret) Andrea Marcovicci made her New Orleans debut at Le Chat Noir in the fall of 2004. Ms. Marcovicci was honored as the first gala chair for the Contemporary Arts Center's popular gala signaling the opening of the arts season, Arts for Arts' Sake, and the Cabaret Soiree. With this performance, Le Chat Noir is laid the groundwork for a real Cabaret Season in 2005.

The Year 2005 so far

Ambie Award Winners for 2004 production (awarded in 2005) Boobs! The Musical (Best Ensemble Production) and Glass Mendacity (Best Production of a Comedy.) Big Easy Awards Nominees for 2004 productions (awarded in 2005) included Boobs! The Musical (Best Musical, Best Director: Carl Walker, Best Musical Director: Harry Mayronne; Best Costume Design: Cecile Casey Covert.), Glass Mendacity (Best Comedy; Maureen Brennan: Best Supporting Actress), Bad Seed and Sordid Lives (Richard Read with Flynn DeMarco:Best Directors; Brian Peterson-Best Actor in Bad Seed.) and Mating Habits/Things I've Done (Best Original Work for Theatre - written by Rob Tsarov.)

Awards and nominations in the world of Cabaret: Karen Akers (2004 New York NightLife Award for Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist in a Major Engagement, co-recipient was Keely Smith.) 2004 MAC Award nominees included Karen Mason and Anna Bergman (Best Female Artist in a Major Engagement), Shawn Ryan (Best Male Entertainer, Los Angeles) and Ricky Ritzel (Best Piano Bar Entertainer & Best CD, New York)

New Orleans is chock full of talented actors, directors and writers. If you don't live here, a variety of shows on stages in the various theaters scattered around town is well worth exploring. Le Chat Noir is closer than you may think to your hotel and we will always welcome you and entertain you. Promise!

This cabaret features two rooms: The Cabaret Room Theater and Bar Noir. The Cabaret Room serves as a venue for theater, cabaret acts and music. The performance schedule changes weekly, and a variety of different shows is available.

You may call our information and reservations line at (504) 581-5812 or click on Performances from the Homepage. You may also want to be on our mailing list in order to receive monthly calendars of events and shows. If so, drop us a line at:

Bar Noir is a cozy place to enjoy a drink and chat with friends. It opens generally Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:00 (or one hour prior to shows.) Call for special scheduling. Be sure to try a Cosmopolitan or a Black Cat, the two house specialities.