Downtown Bellingham building transitions from warehouse to creative hub
One evening in February, the lights dimmed for a sold-out performance by Cabaret Atelier. The stage came alive with the magic of “Calypso,” set in a world deep beneath the sea.
The production celebrated movement, bodies and community, marking the culmination of the season for students, said Cybele León, founder and owner of Cabaret Atelier. “Calypso” showcased the talents of emerging performers alongside the instructors from Cabaret Atelier’s dance studio in downtown Bellingham.
It was clear that 207 Prospect Street — home to both New Prospect Theatre and Cabaret Atelier — remains a vital space where creativity, individuality and community continue to thrive.
If the walls of 207 Prospect Street could talk, they would tell a story of adapting to the needs of Bellingham for 102 years. When it was first built in 1923, the building was used as a furniture warehouse. Then in 1930, it was converted into a laundry. As Bellingham’s needs changed, the structure eventually transformed from a place of function to one of creative production.
At the turn of the 21st century, the building became a creative hub that provided meeting spaces for artists and performers under the name Sylvia Center For The Arts. In 2022, The New Prospect Theatre was established to cater to local independent theater performers and artists in need of stage and rehearsal space.
A space for emerging talent
New Prospect Theatre carries the legacy of adaptability forward by meeting the ever-evolving needs of emerging performers and staying in tune with the city’s dynamic culture. With a unique business approach, the theatre continues to foster creativity and collaboration, shaping the future of Bellingham’s arts scene — particularly in the case of Cabaret Atelier.
“The team here does not adjudicate possible performances or events, thus leaving the artists able to freely create and produce the work of their choice,” said New Prospect Theatre’s program director Suzanne Mackay.
Mackay said that the team cuts down on costs and functions as a kind of entertainment co-op.
“Our house and technical team can handle the tickets, public relations and technical aspects of the show, thus reducing additional costs to the companies,” she said. “The companies in exchange help each other and the theatre through networking, offering technical support, lending props and costumes and sharing performers.”
She said they offer rental agreements and company sponsorships in the hopes that young or emerging artists have more access with less cost upfront.
The team at New Prospect Theatre is a conglomeration of performers and renters who worked in the theatre when it was Sylvia Center for the Arts.
“Knowing the space’s potential, when we heard that the space was going to be closing its doors we decided to reach out to the owner of the building, to see if we might be able to save it as a performance venue,” said Mackay.
After the doors opened in 2022, the flood of community engagement has shown that the “open to all” venue was just what the community needed. It is nearly booked for the rest of 2025.
Tradition with a modern twist
One of the most prominent aspects of cabaret is its historical connection to resistance. Before World War II, cabarets became a haven for women and LGBTQ+ individuals, offering refuge in a time of oppression.
Depicted in the Broadway musical-turned-film “Cabaret,” the Kit Kat Club was inspired by real Berlin nightclubs like the Eldorado and Comödienhaus. In these venues, performers engaged in drag performances and political satire, challenging social norms and Nazi ideology, as LGBTQ+ individuals and others defied the increasingly repressive regime at a time when existing as an LGBTQ+ person was illegal.
This legacy is not lost on the performers at Cabaret Atelier, many of whom see their participation in the art form as an act of rebellion against societal expectations, said León. Today, the Atelier continues to breed personal and collective empowerment.
“I can be sexy on stage and still deserve respect,” said Maya Boehmke, a dancer with the Atelier. “This art form is nuanced, complex and, above all, authentic.”
Performing in front of an audience can be a radical reclamation of one’s body, according to Boehmke. Her cabaret performances challenge conventional norms of modesty and propriety, allowing performers to confidently embody their individuality.
“I feel like we’re actively resisting societal expectations for women,” Boehmke said. “By embracing sensuality and performing with confidence, we’re empowering ourselves and others to be proud of who we are. It’s about reclaiming ownership of my body and my self-worth.”
From vision to reality
Bellingham has taken the Atelier’s display of individuality and reclamation in stride.
“I think the cabaret has been significantly embraced,” said León. “For one, just the amount of people that walk through this door is continuing to grow. And the enthusiasm from every single person who has become a part of it just kind of speaks for itself.”
As a young person working at the Pink Door in Seattle, León worked at the front of house while watching burlesque performers. She had daydreams of being on the stage and slowly worked her way to becoming a performer herself.
In an effort to regain lost ground after not being able to dance during the pandemic, León started to teach dance classes in Bellingham in 2021. With nothing but a few fliers and hopes that others would be interested, this quickly grew into the robust business she has today.
León sees “cabaret” as an umbrella term for various art forms — burlesque, drag and dance.
“Cabaret is not just about putting on a show,” León said. “It’s about celebrating ourselves, our bodies, and our creativity. It’s a space for people to thrive, not just survive.”
Community through individuality
“The sense of community the cabaret gives me is unbelievable,” Boehmke said. “Depending on how many classes you take a week, you see a lot of the same people and form such sweet connections in a vulnerable but supportive space.”
At a recent dress rehearsal for the Cabaret Atelier’s student showcase, the cast’s sense of camaraderie was unavoidable. The warm-up, led by stage manager Sepanta, began with the soft sound of ocean waves and whale calls filling the air as the performers gathered on stage.
Sepanta instructed the cast to walk around one another and make eye contact with those they pass. Then, some were told to become whales or sharks in a sea of fish. The lights and music changed to mimic ocean spray, only to be broken up by giggles and the sounds of fake shark attacks.
After affirmations and a round of applause, the dancers dramatically changed the mood to seductive and expressive with red lights, leather and booming bass.
Community is no small feat in a culture where individuality and competition often overshadow collaboration. But Boehmke and her fellow dancers find themselves in a different environment — one that celebrates growth over competition.
As León explained, “There are so many best friendships that have grown and developed and continue to grow and connect. So, I think that the community that has grown out of the cabaret has just become so closely knit that it’s just kind of become this enigma that everybody wants to be a part of.”
Asked to sum up Cabaret Atelier, León replied, “Celebration, confidence, dazzling and liberation.”
As 207 Prospect Street continues to serve as a hub for creativity and collaboration, its legacy is shaped by the contributions of artists and performers. León emphasized her mission to, “create a bridge… an opportunity for people to grow, not just within the craft, but also within themselves.”
— Story and photos by Mickey Mann
Also read in Salish Current:
• “Pandemic’s past but local theaters are (cautiously) optimistic,” Aug. 11, 2023
• “Sylvia Center closure clouds future for local theater,” July 7, 2022