On Saturday, October 18th, Cutler hosted its first Open Stage Café in the Cutler common room, allowing students to show off a wide range of talents, from singing to playing instruments. What started as a lineup of individual performances gradually became a spontaneous and enjoyably chaotic group karaoke, with students jumping in and out of acts. The café was designed as a more accessible version of Warham’s coffee house, aimed especially at underclassmen, and became a highlight of the weekend.
The idea for the Open Stage Café came from Ms. Dovi, Head of Cutler Hall and a Social Science Faculty member, who wanted to create a low-pressure space where students could perform without nerves or formalities. Prefect Chloe Porter ’27 said, “I felt like a lot of underclassmen were able to participate and there was a lot of engagement. Ms. Dovi achieved her goal of making it a more comfortable space, and it was kind of a chiller version of the Warham coffee house.”
The common room was set up like a cozy café: chairs faced the back, where microphones and speakers were ready, and a TV displayed lyrics for anyone who needed them. Performers signed up in advance or spontaneously during the night, creating a flexible, organic flow. Anywhere from 30 to 40 people filtered in at a time, with energy building as new acts took the stage. Prefect Jade Antoine ’27 described the scene: “I felt like I could sing and wasn’t judged at all; everyone was really energetic and kind!”
Performances ranged from solo to duets. Aarona Kisakye ’27 performed with her younger brother Luke Lufafa ’29, singing Heartbreak Anniversary. Maeve Rodgers ’29 gave kudos to the duet’s wonderful performance.
Another highlight of the night was the duet performance of Theo Artemiuk ’29 and Gabe Chapman ’29. “Theo and Gabe really surprised me; they sang Fly Me to the Moon. [It was] very impressive.” Scarlett Zimmer ’28 said. Adding on, Scarlett remarked that beyond any individual performance, how the space brought everybody together was the most meaningful aspect of the event: “I really enjoyed how everybody sang their heart out.”
Maeve Rodgers shared a similar sentiment: “The highlight was singing with everyone and seeing people get into it.” The informal, slightly chaotic flow only added to the fun, making the night feel relaxed, spontaneous, and memorable.
By the end, the Cutler Open Stage Café had succeeded in its mission: bringing together students across grades, celebrating creativity, and fostering unity all in a lively, inclusive space. With its success, the hope is that this will become a beloved, recurring Cutler tradition.
