Claude McNeal and his team have been creating original-concept cabaret-style productions for over 50 years. An East Coast native, McNeal came to Indiana in the mid-1980’s and set up residency with his American Cabaret Company in the famous French Lick Springs Hotel. In 1989, the company moved to Indianapolis, and in 1990 opened its doors at the historic Athenaeum, with the new name American Cabaret Theatre (ACT). For 15 years, McNeal and his troupe enjoyed critical success, creating over 90 original cabaret shows. In 2005, McNeal retired as ACT’s Artistic Director and formed Claude McNeal Productions to expand the reach of the educational programs he and his team first created.

Today, we are housed at McGowan Hall, reaching over 10,000 audiences of all ages a year, with student and adult programming for both the Indianapolis community and across the entire state of Indiana.