SideWays

by M.J. Fine

cabaret

Ellipsis wasn't broke. The late-night cabaret had an eight-month track record of making stage virgins and between-gig pros feel welcome. Not all of the acts were great, but even the worst were entertaining. Then, in December, organizer Julian O'Reilley pulled the plug.

The Adrienne's PlayGround Stage "was a dream in terms of a professional space where the audience would really pay attention to the performers, but hard to sustain financially," says O'Reilley (pictured). Her new venture, SideShow, keeps Ellipsis' eclectic spirit, but she's made some fixes. It's earlier in the evening, and it's free. And in its fourth-Monday spot at The Khyber, it won't be all-ages.

But the biggest change is a heavier emphasis on professionals. Where Ellipsis was all-access, all the time, SideShow will have only a few open slots. "There will still be room for the untried and experimental, but we'll have screened most of the acts first," O'Reilley says. "I sort of liked that some things totally bombed at Ellipsis — it kept things exciting, and kept us all humble."

O'Reilley reprises her role as host, but to avoid burnout, she's sharing production duties with singer-songwriters Kendall Roark and Despina Kontos. Their first SideShow brings back some Ellipsis vets (comic Kelli Dunham, rocker Todd Young) and gets some new blood (dancer George Alley, performance art from Howard's Dilemma). It also marks the debut of Roark's country trio, The Lunchbox Cowgirls.

In a new segment, "Stories of the City," Kristo plans to divulge construction secrets about the Cira Centre. O'Reilly's looking forward to that kind of real Philly insight.

"It's hard as an audience member not to love someone who's really being authentic and heartfelt," she says. "I think with this new venue and format, we'll keep some of that newness, but also bring the general quality up a notch. After all, now we have to compete with beer."

SideShow Cabaret, Mon., June 27, 8 p.m., free, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888, www.sideshowcabaret.com.