Artists You Should Know: Kat Robichaud and Misfit Cabaret
When singer/songwriter/actress/showwoman extraordinaire Kat Robichaud enters a room, heads swivel on necks as if a puppet master has tugged on strings. There’s something magnetic about her presence — an energy that commands attention and invites curiosity. As a longtime fan of her music, I had been eagerly awaiting the chance to witness her live performance. It wasn’t until I saw her channeling Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Spike swaggering through Terror Vault last year that I realized: it was time to visit Misfit Cabaret.
On December 27, 2024, at the Great American Music Hall, I watched Misfit Cabaret Divine Decadence and knew immediately that one show would never be enough. Misfit Cabaret is more than a performance; it’s an experience — a dazzling, eclectic, and glittering celebration of some of the most talented performers the city has to offer. Kat Robichaud, Jordan Nathan and their cast of artists played to a sold-out crowd, their polished performances revealing the work of world-class craftspeople. This was live theater at its most unrestrained, and it was breathtaking.
Luckily for all of us, Misfit Cabaret is flying again in February for their anti-Valentine show, Heartbreaker. Tickets can be found here: https://www.seetickets.us/event/misfit-cabaret-presents-heartbreaker/631743.
A Dream of Two Performers
Misfit Cabaret, born from Kat and Jordan’s artistic vision in 2015, is a place where no one is judged for being a misfit — in fact, the very concept of the “misfit” is celebrated. Kat had already earned a reputation in the San Francisco music scene, but with Misfit Cabaret, she and Jordan sought to create a world where her passion for music, theater, and performance art could collide. “ I want to create something that people love, but I have to love it, too. It has to be from the heart or it won’t be enjoyable for anyone. I mash all the things I love together in a way that flows naturally to me, and in the near ten years that Jordan and I have been running Misfit Cabaret, I’ve learned what our fans respond to, and that brings me joy.” said Robichaud.
One of the most exciting aspects of Misfit Cabaret is the unpredictable mix of talent on display. Onstage, you might witness a punk rock singer performing alongside a drag queen, a pair of Ariel dancers going to war in a hoop, or a cabaret singer sharing the limelight with a burlesque performer. The eclectic nature of the show fosters a rare, boundary-blurring kind of art. There’s an intimacy and fluidity to the performances, where each artist pushes their own limits.
At the December performance I attended, Robichaud, sometimes affecting the persona of a mad German scientist à la classic Hollywood, led us through the night. With every shift in tone, she drew us deeper into the narrative, guiding us through the spectacle. Her ability to hold the audience’s attention is unmatched; her energy infectious.
And Yet, It’s Not Just About What Happens on Stage
It’s about the atmosphere. As I looked around, I spotted the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence across from me, their iconic white faces luminous and fixed on the stage. Their many-colored feathers were at rest as they feasted their eyes on the beloved spectacle before them. The audience was dressed to impress — a colorful mix of seasoned veterans and new faces, all united in their appreciation for the magic unfolding before them. The cheers, the catcalls, the whoops of support — they were all part of the communal camaraderie that makes Misfit Cabaret feel like more than just a performance. It’s a celebration of belonging.
An Unlikely Stage for Unlikely Art
Misfit Cabaret has since become a sanctuary for artists of all kinds to experiment with different genres — burlesque, drag, comedy, music, and avant-garde theater. It creates an experience that breaks down the fourth wall between performer and audience.
“When I first moved to the Bay, I attended drag and burlesque shows ravenously, and my mind was blown by the efficacy with which performance art can tell a complete story in a five-minute song. The art, the drama, the creativity, the sense of belonging in a world that’s told you that you don’t. I draw so much inspiration from San Francisco queer art and cherish going to shows where you can see the painstaking craft that goes into expressing your full heart,” says Robichaud.
A Place to Belong
Kat, whose career has spanned both music and theater, sees Misfit as much more than just a show. It’s a space for self-expression, an invitation to challenge traditional beauty standards, gender norms, and societal expectations.
“I was a very weird child that didn’t fit in anywhere and just wanted to be loved. I sought friendship in tv and movies and music and books when I felt like I would burst from loneliness. If we’re performing it on stage at Misfit Cabaret, it’s because I love and believe in it and want to share it with you.” Robichaud told me.
A Home for the Avant-Garde
While Misfit Cabaret’s shows are undeniably fun, there’s a deep undercurrent of social commentary woven into the performances.
At the performance I attended, the energy in the room was palpable, with both the performers and the audience feeding off each other’s energy. In one moment, a performer might break your heart with a soulful ballad. In the next, a drag queen might have you doubled over in laughter with a sharp-witted social critique. It’s this unexpected combination of joy, vulnerability, and irreverence that makes Misfit Cabaret feel like a truly unique theatrical experience.
The Community It’s Built
Since its inception, Misfit Cabaret has fostered a loyal, diverse, and eclectic community of artists and audience members. The space is home to everyone from theater buffs and drag enthusiasts to musicians and art lovers — all of whom share a desire for something that challenges the ordinary. Whether you’re there for the burlesque, the music, or simply to witness something unlike anything else in San Francisco, there’s a palpable sense that Misfit Cabaret is a haven for those who don’t fit neatly into societal boxes.
Sly comments on the state of the world creep into the show, but not in an invasive way. “I don’t box outside my weight or try to tell a story I can’t relate to. Jordan and I like to say that Misfit Cabaret is escapism at its finest. You can leave the news and doom scrolling at home for the evening. If we do have commentary, it’s going to be very wink-wink. We let the material speak for itself, and if we do spell it out for you, it’s because we want a collective groan.”
“More than anything, we want our audience to feel a sense of community. The world continues to be a broken, fragile beast, but we can hold each other and marvel at how we still manage to create heartbreaking, precious things,” Robichaud stated. And for all the political things pending on the horizon, we could not agree more.
Misfit Cabaret Presents Heartbreaker
Great American Music Hall
Friday February 14th, 2025
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