Showtunes Bar / Lounge

A showtunes bar or lounge is a gay bar, cabaret, or piano venue centered on musical theater music. These spots feature live piano players, sing-alongs, and recorded or performed Broadway numbers, and patrons are often encouraged to join in. They grew out of the long affinity between queer communities, especially gay men, and musical theater, offering a warm and social alternative to dance-focused nightlife. Cities with deep theater traditions, such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, have well-known showtunes venues that function as neighborhood institutions. For many regulars they are gathering places built on shared knowledge of the songbook and the pleasure of singing together.