Welcome to the Giving Page for the Combustible Cabaret!

HISTORY AND INSPIRATION. The Combustible Cabaret began at the Puppetropolis Chicago Puppetry Festival in the year 2000 and relaunched at the Alternative Media Conference at Goddard College in 2014. Inspired by the traditions of the Dadaists, Neo-Futurists, Ontological-Hysteric Theater, Bread & Puppet, Pina Bausch, Le Grand Guignol, Spielpalast Cabaret, Bertolt Brecht, Punch & Judy, drag, vaudeville and burlesque.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT. The 2025-2026 Combustible Cabaret deploys a barrage of short-form performances to speak out against the assault on the people's pursuit of happiness, safety and identity. By mocking those who seek to steal our hope for the future: oligarchs, technocrats, billionaires, xenophobes, and ultra-nationalists, the Combustible Cabaret aims to make use of our freedom of speech to say what needs to be said with whatever means necessary- wiggly cardboard, fishnet stockings, and bawdy songs not excluded. This is a Combustible Cabaret for an incendiary timeline.

MISSION. The 2025-26 goal is to build up a company of performing artists, writers, and visionaries with a rotating regional cast, popping up in weekend residencies around New England. The CC hopes to ignite deep conversations, activism, advocacy, and community connection through cardboard commentary and saucy shtick.

FUNDRAISING. The money raised in this campaign will serve as the seed money for 2-3 Combustible Cabaret performances in the New England region in 2025-2026.

The CC's December 2025 residency will take place at the Haybarn Theater on the Creative Campus in Plainfield, VT on December 18, 19, and 20. Tickets go on sale November 27. Ages 18+.

Combustible Cabaret Artistic Director: Ben t. Matchstick (bentmatchstick@gmail.com)

The Combustible Cabaret is fiscally sponsored by The Center for Arts and Learning, a nonprofit arts center in Montpelier, VT. EIN: 45-5195841.

If you prefer to donate by check, make checks payable to:
Center for Arts and Learning with memo line: Combustible Cabaret

Mail to:
Center for Arts and Learning
46 Barre Street
Montpelier, VT 05602

We accept gifts from donor-advised funds, appreciated stock, and other liquid assets. For more information, please contact Phayvanh Luekhamhan at director@cal-vt.org or (802) 522-3973.

Thank you so much for supporting the Combustible Cabaret!

Combustible Cabaret

Incendiary Cardboard Shenanigans in Vermont and Beyond