Ann Talman Brings Her Elizabeth Taylor Cabaret Memoir to Washington’s Arts Club on February 28, 2026
A one-night performance in downtown Washington
Actor and cabaret performer Ann Talman is scheduled to present her solo show, Elizabeth Taylor and the Shadow of Her Smile, at The Arts Club of Washington on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with a 7:00 p.m. start. The engagement is set at the private arts venue’s I Street location in downtown Washington.
The date carries a commemorative framing tied to Elizabeth Taylor’s birthday; Taylor was born on February 27, 1932, and the Washington performance falls the following day.
What the show is—and how it is structured
The production is a cabaret-style musical memoir that blends spoken storytelling with songs associated with Broadway and the Great American Songbook. Talman’s narrative centers on her personal connection to Taylor that began in the early 1980s, when Talman appeared as Taylor’s onstage daughter in a Broadway production of The Little Foxes. The two later toured with the production, and Talman has described the relationship that followed as a lasting friendship.
In addition to anecdotes, the show is presented as a through-line of music selections chosen to support the story’s chronology and themes. The performance has been staged at a range of theaters and cabaret rooms in recent years, reflecting an ongoing touring life rather than a limited run tied to a single venue.
Creative team and performance format
The show is directed by Lina Koutrakos, with music performed live under the musical direction of Alex Rybeck, who accompanies Talman at the piano in many engagements. The format is designed for intimate rooms—an approach aligned with The Arts Club of Washington’s programming model and its history of presenting music, spoken-word events, and salon-style performances.
Context: Taylor’s legacy as a cultural figure
Talman’s stage memoir draws on public and private dimensions of Taylor’s life: the actor’s well-known status as a film star and celebrity presence, as well as her highly visible humanitarian work. Taylor became closely associated with HIV/AIDS advocacy beginning in the 1980s, particularly through fundraising and institution-building efforts that helped define celebrity activism in that era. The show incorporates this aspect as part of the broader portrait of Taylor’s influence beyond the screen.
Key details
Event: Elizabeth Taylor and the Shadow of Her Smile
Performer: Ann Talman
Venue: The Arts Club of Washington, Washington, D.C.
Date and time: Saturday, February 28, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Talman’s show is built as a first-person account of an artistic partnership that began on Broadway and continued through years of professional and personal proximity.