INSIDE THE GREER CABARET THEATER. | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

Until 2023, the name wasn’t quite right.

Yes, the Greer Cabaret Theater featured cabaret-style entertainment — new musicals, live performances and solo shows that mixed banter and song. But in presentation, it didn’t quite feel like a place that evocative word, cabaret, describes. It was more of a black box, the theatrical term for a modular, bare performance space.

Then the renovations came. Suddenly, the Greer, a Pittsburgh Cultural Trust venue, defined itself: this was Downtown’s cabaret. A place where you could grab a drink or dessert before or after — or before and after, come to think of it — a show. A place where you could watch world-class entertainment while being served wine, charcuterie or cheesecake. A place that felt more like a night out than just a performance space.

PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

The seating is the main improvement. There’s still perfectly acceptable table seating on the main floor of the Greer, and it offers the best views. But for those who prefer the more cozy confines of a booth, there are now comfortable banquettes along the walls and in the rear of the theater; the best feel like your own opera box. Rail seating lines the stage, so you can opt to be up close and personal — and given the raucous comedies that frequently draw crowds here, you might just end up a part of the show.

Speaking of raucous comedies: The first holiday season at the new Greer featured the bawdy spoof “Who’s Holiday!,” produced by Pittsburgh CLO, an R-rated Christmas visit with a grown-up and jaded Cindy Lou Who. The one-woman show, featuring a bombastic performance by Lara Hayhurst, was a sold-out hit for the theater; naturally, Cindy Lou Who is back for a return engagement this month, with performances of “Who’s Holiday!” scheduled through Dec. 22.

LARA HAYHURST IN “WHO’S HOLIDAY” AT THE GREER CABARET THEATER. | PHOTO BY KG TUNNEY PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s everything that makes the Greer an essential part of the Cultural District landscape — fun, intimate (scandalously so) and better with a drink in hand. Indulge a bit; you’re out for a night on the town.

Insider’s Tip: The good news? You can park under the same roof, thanks to the Theater Square Garage; the elevator out of the garage will lead you straight to the lobby of the Greer. The bad news? It’s far from the cheapest parking in town. If you want convenience, spring for parking on site; if you want to save a few bucks, opt for another Downtown garage (the Smithfield-Liberty Garage, about two blocks away, is just $8 on evenings and weekends).

While You’re Here: You can get a full meal while you watch the show, or before the lights dim at the Lounge at the Greer Cabaret. But if you want to relocate — very slightly — the same complex also contains Meat and Potatoes, the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group gem. (Are you a daring diner? Try the roasted bone marrow.)