The BELLA VOX PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION Brings Broadway To The Palm Cabaret
The Bella Vox Performing Arts Foundation (US 501c3) kicks off its inaugural season with stars from Broadway and Cabaret, offering performances at the Palm Cabaret Theater, plus educational workshops and masterclasses for local Puerto Vallarta performers.
The star-studded season includes performances by Broadway stars Karen Mason, Stephanie Pope, and Sam Harris, composer/conductor David Friedman, cabaret star Marieann Meringolo, rising star (and American Idol Alum) Ava Nicole Frances, and Foundation President, and Broadway star, David Sabella himself.
All performances are at the Palm Cabaret Theater. For tickets please visit: https://www.thepalmcabaret.com
MORE ABOUT BELLA VOX PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION
The Bella Vox Performing Arts Foundation (founded in 2024 by Puerto Vallarta resident David Sabella) is a US nonprofit (501c3) dedicated to bringing high-quality musical productions and vocal/performing arts education to underserved communities in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Currently producing concerts and workshops with Broadway stars in New York City and Chicago, this season marks the Foundation’s official debut in Puerto Vallarta.
Previously, as General Manager of Act2PV, Sabella brought Broadway and Cabaret stars to that venue. Through the Bella Vox Foundation, Sabella is now spreading these opportunities in Puerto Vallarta at the Palm Cabaret Theater, while also presenting workshops and concerts in Chicago and a Gala Tribute in New York City.
The season kicks off with Karen Mason on Dec 29, 2025 & Jan 4, 2026, followed by Stephanie Pope (Jan 14 & 18), Ava Nicole Frances (Jan 23), Marieann Meringolo (Feb 11 & 15), David Friedman (Mar 15), and Sam Harris (Mar 26 & 29). David Sabella will also present his Peter Allen tribute “Unlike Any Other Man” at the Palm, dates TBD.
Additional Artist Ambassadors and Board Members include PV residents Brent Barrett, Cindy Du Chateau Ramirez, and Ernie Reyes, Mexican born Broadway actress Bianca Marroquin, and PV favorite Mrister Lady Zen, alongside NY theater executives Bob Hoffman and Jana Robbins. Nonprofit executive Sally Ruecking, CFRE serves as the organization’s COO/Chief Development Officer.
The Foundation also supports emerging Mexican vocal talent, offering low-cost or no-cost educational opportunities here in PV, as well as performance & education opportunities in both MX and U.S.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL PV PERFORMERS
Karen Mason and Christopher Denny will offer a Broadway Masterclass to local performers (10 students selected, auditors welcome).
Stephanie Pope will offer a Musical Theater Dance masterclass, featuring choreography from her eleven Broadway shows. (open to all local Dancers, intermediate to advanced).
David Friedman will present a 6-day Metaphysics & Music workshop (Mar 9–14) combining music coaching and life coaching, culminating in a performance Mar 15 at 5PM at the Palm Cabaret Theater.
Sabella will also offer weekly group classes in vocal technique, performance, acting, and scene study from January–March.
For more info and registration: www.BellaVoxArts.org
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE & HIGHLIGHTS
KAREN MASON – Dec 29 & Jan 4 at 7PM
MUSIC DIRECTOR: CHRISTOPHER DENNY
HOUSING SPONSORED BY BRIAN SCOTT CAREY
TITLE – KAREN MASON: BROADWAY BABY!
Celebrating her favorite music in Puerto Vallarta! Hits include All That Jazz, New York/New York, Something’s Coming, You’ve Got a Friend, and more.
MORE ABOUT KAREN MASON:
Grammy-nominated, Broadway legend, 14-time MAC Award winner, featured in TV, stage, and concerts. Visit: www.karenmason.com
PRESS QUOTES:
● “Fierce emotion! Intense and intimate!” – New York Times
● “…a powerful voice… rich resonance you associate with Judy Garland or Barbra Streisand.” –
Indianapolis Star
● “At the top of her game and better than ever!” – Backstage Magazine
STEPHANIE POPE – Jan 14 & 18 at 7PM
MUSIC DIRECTOR: MARK HARTMAN
HOUSING SPONSORED BY SABELLA VOX STUDIOS
TITLE – ALL ABOUT LOVE
Broadway songs from Hadestown, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, and more.
MORE ABOUT STEPHANIE POPE:
Award-winning performer, Fosse Dancer, Broadway star in CHICAGO, FOSSE, Pippin. Visit: www.stephaniepope.com
PRESS QUOTES:
● “…a triumphant, soul-baring evening…” – Times Square Chronicles
● “…dazzles with effervescence… one of the most reliable go-to musical performers…” – Theater Pizzazz
● “…possesses really great pipes… can go from mellow emotion to playful, lilting jazz and moves with the
grace of a panther on the prowl.”- Backstage
AVA NICOLE FRANCES – Jan 23 at 7PM
MUSIC DIRECTOR: MICHAEL COLLUM
As part of the BELLA VOX EMERGING STARS SERIES SPONSORED BY FRANK SILLETTI AND SONNY VUKIC (DADDIOS PRODUCTIONS LLC)
TITLE – THE DREAM THAT I SEE
American Idol finalist, Broadway World Award winner, debut in Puerto Vallarta.
MORE ON AVA NICOLE FRANCES:
Two-time Broadway World Cabaret Award winner, MAC Award nominee, NYU Tisch alum, Native American & Mexican heritage.
PRESS QUOTES
● “Nothing less than breathtaking…” – BroadwayWorld .com
● “A 10 out of 10” – Cabaret Scenes
MARIEANN MERINGOLO – Feb 11 at 7pm & Feb 15 at 5 pm
MUSIC DIRECTOR: MARK HARTMAN
HOUSING SPONSORED BY KIM LARUE DANCE STUDIOS/KIM LARUE FOLLIES
TITLE – Shades Of Love
Award-winning vocalist celebrates GBTQ love in all its colors, in a special valentine’s week show featuring songs from Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Cristina Perry and more.
MORE ABOUT MARIEANN MERINGOLO
Sultry, soulful, and spellbinding — Marieann Meringolo is a voice you feel as much as you hear. A powerhouse vocalist with velvet tones and magnetic stage presence, she turns every song into an intimate confession, drawing audiences deep into the heart of every lyric.
A celebrated interpreter of the Great American Songbook and contemporary classics alike, Marieann blends timeless sophistication with modern allure. Her performances shimmer with power, sensuality, and emotional honesty — a signature style that has earned her standing ovations and rave reviews on stages from New York City to beyond.
In Shades of Love, Marieann explores love in all its colors — passionate, playful, tender, and true. With her lush vocals, wit, and warmth, she invites audiences to celebrate Valentine’s week with music that stirs the heart and ignites the senses.
Embark on a journey through the ups and downs of life and love as she breathes new life into classic songs by renowned artists like Joni Mitchell, Janis Ian, Billy Joel, Neil Sedaka, Christina Perri and more! Elegant. Emotional. Unforgettable. Marieann Meringolo delivers Shades of Love — a Valentine experience that’s pure magic.
“Marieann Meringolo, a singer who bears some physical and vocal resemblance to Barbra Streisand, delivers soulful songs about love lost and strength found. Her performances are grand and captivating.” – The New York Times
DAVID FRIEDMAN – Mar 15 at 5PM
HOUSING SPONSORED BY SABELLA VOX STIUDIOS
TITLE – PUERTO VALLARTA SINGS DAVID FRIEDMAN
Composer and conductor leads local performers, sharing the stories behind his inspirational songs.
MORE ABOUT DAVID FRIEDMAN
DAVID FRIEDMAN – Songwriter, Disney & Broadway Composer/Conductor, and Author, is a multi-platinum songwriter, internationally known for writing songs that touch our hearts and speak to our souls. He was also conductor/vocal arranger for Disney films Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as conducting 6 shows on Broadway, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Grease, and musical supervising the original Broadway production of Beauty & The Beast.
David produced all of the late/great Nancy LaMott’s 10 CD’s and 2 DVD’s, and has written some of her most iconic songs, including, Listen To My Heart, We Can Be Kind, Help Is On The Way, Just In Time For Christmas, I’ll Be Here With You, We Live On Borrowed Time and Your Love (which was also a quadruple platinum hit for Diana Ross). In addition, David wrote the comedy classic, My Simple Christmas Wish (Rich, Famous and Powerful), as well as hundreds of other songs for cabaret, theater, film and TV.
He won the 2018 Drama Desk, Outer Critics’ Circle and Off Broadway Alliance Awards for his hit musical, Desperate Measures, and has written songs for Disney’s Aladdin and the King of Thieves, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Bambi 2, and Trick, as well as writing the songs and scores for 3 children’s television series and over 100 songs for the Today Show’s Everyone Has a Story segment.
David is the author of 7 books, including The Thought Exchange®, a transformational guidebook for overcoming restrictive mental patterns, and teaches this method to singers, actors, students and corporations, both privately and in seminars.
SAM HARRIS – Mar 26 & 29 at 7PM
MUSIC DIRECTOR: MARK HARTMAN
HOUSING SPONSORED BY RICK MOORE
TITLE – BEYOND THE RAINBOW
Broadway icon and multi-platinum artist delivers definitive interpretations of Broadway, pop, and standards. Visit: SamHarris.com
He is a Broadway icon, having received Tony, Outer Critic’s Circle and Drama Desk nominations for his work in Cy Coleman’s The Life, a Drama League Award and Drama Desk nomination for his role in Tommy Tune’s Grease, and in Mel Brooks’ The Producers, as well as Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hair, Pippin, The Jazz Singer, and The First Wives Club.
His new show, “Beyond the Rainbow,” a nod to his legendary rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which put him on the map at age twenty-two, dazzling 25 million viewers a week for the entire premiere season of Star Search, the ground breaking show that preceded “American Idol” and The Voice”.
The show launched his astounding career which spans Broadway, television, records, and concert performances. “Beyond the Rainbow” features Harris’ singular, definitive interpretations of Broadway, pop and standards by everyone from U2 to Sondheim, Lady Gaga to Kander & Ebb, and many more, along with his hilarious, self-effacing, and topical wit.
BELLA VOX PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION SERIES
Karen Mason and Christopher Denny will offer a Broadway Performance Masterclass
January 2, 2026, 10am – 1pm (Location TBD, in English and Spanish) Open to ALL local performers. 10 students will be selected to perform. Auditors may watch. This educational program is offered by the Bella Vox Performing Arts Foundation (US 501c3) on a “pay what you can” donation basis to ALL local performers. No performer will be turned away, but only ten students will be selected to participate. Audience/Auditors pay $400 MXN at the door. For more information and to REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS as a participant or auditor/audience visit – > www.bellavoxarts.org
Stephanie Pope will offer a Broadway Dance Masterclass
January 16, 2026, 10am – 1pm (location TBD). This class will feature choreography from many of your favorite Broadway shows, which Ms. Pope has starred in. (Open to local, intermediate and advanced dancers, no auditors) For more information and to REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS as a participant or auditor/audience visit – > www.bellavoxarts.org
David Friedman will present a 6 day workshop
“METAPHYSICS & MUSIC”
A MUST FOR ALL PERFORMERS IN PV! (March 9-14, Spanish translation available) This Educational Program offered by the BELLA VOX PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION features acclaimed songwriter, Broadway, TV, and Film composer, conductor, and self-help author, David Friedman, in a week of intense musical and performance coaching, in both a group and private setting.
Free your voice and free yourself from negative thoughts in this EXTRAORDINARY workshop, half music-coaching, half life-coaching as Friedman, author of “The Thought Exchange,” works with each singer to unleash their full potential. Workshop participants will perform at the end of the week, March 15 @ 5PM, at the Palm Cabaret Theater. Feel the sensations and FLY!!
SCHEDULE:
DAY 1 (March 9, 10am – 1pm) – Introductions, all participants sing 2 songs of their choice. After hearing each singer, Mr. Friedman will assign one of his own songs that he feels suits the singer’s talents, which they will learn during the week and sing in the concert at the end of the week. Full class together, auditors welcome.
DAY 2 (March 10, 10am – 1pm) – Thought Exchange work – looking at how our thoughts create our lives and how to use them to create the success and fulfillment we desire. Full class together, auditors welcome.
DAY 3 (March 11, 10am – 3pm) – Individual Private Coaching with each singer on their “David Friedman” song. (30 mins) Participants are welcome, but not required, to watch all coachings. No Auditors/Audience
DAY 4 (March 12, 10am – 1pm) – Music Performance coaching, Full class together, auditors welcome.
DAY 5 (March 13, 10am – 1pm) – Putting it together. We will put the upcoming show on its feet. Auditors Welcome.
DAY 6 (March 14) TBD as needed rest or work. No Auditors/Audience
Day 7 (March 15) Put the show onstage, Tech rehearsal, SHOW at 5PM
This educational workshop is offered by the Bella Vox Performing Arts Foundation (US 501c3) on a “pay what you can” donation basis to ALL local performers. No performer will be turned away, but only Ten students will be selected to participate. Auditors may also attend the workshop for a daily rate of $200 MX per day, paid at the door (4 Auditing days). For more information and to REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS as a participant or auditor/audience visit – > www.bellavoxarts.org
David Sabella will offer weekly group classes in both Vocal Technique & Performance, and Acting & Scene
January 2, 2026, 10am – 1pm (January – March, Location TBD, Spanish translation available). For more information and to REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS as a participant or auditor/audience visit – > www.bellavoxarts.org
For more updates on how The BELLA VOX PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION Brings Broadway To The Palm Cabaret visit the GAYPV website here.
Author: Tim Wilson
Wilson is the founder of GAYPV.com and www.gaybartour.com and has been the leading LGBTQ+ travel and lifestyle authority in Puerto Vallarta since 2005. With over two decades of local expertise, Wilson specializes in being a community advocate and leader for Puerto Vallarta , and local cultural insights that only a long-term resident can provide. He has dedicated 20+ years to advocating for safe, inclusive travel in Banderas Bay, establishing GAYPV as the region's most trusted resident insider.. His work has been cited by major travel publications, and he is widely recognized as a trusted insider voice on Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene.
