The rain held off, the show went on, and thanks to Tom T. Hall, the perfect encore closed “Legends: From LaBelle to Lupone,” a fundraising cabaret presented last weekend by NewArts/The 12.14 Foundation.

As an audience trickled in Sunday afternoon, performers of all ages began gathering near the southern end of the pavilion behind NewSylum Brewing Company. Most of the performers were already affiliated with NewArts, which recently issued a call for performers for the midsummer outdoor event. Others, according to NewArts Director of Operations Ryan Loucks, were members of the community who “wanted a chance to perform.”

“This allowed us to open the stage to everyone, while also letting more people know about NewArts,” he told The Newtown Bee.

For an hour and a half on August 1, those who answered that call delighted an audience of well over 100 people of all ages.

NewArts Creative Director Michael Unger was unable to attend in person, but he was still present for the show thanks to an open cell phone video call. Erin Loucks, who later performed, carefully balanced a phone on a table close to the stage, and checked in with Unger before the show began.

“Can you see OK?” she asked, as her husband called all performers to the side of the stage for one final pre-show pep talk.

The show began just after 1 pm. With the northern exterior wall of Stamford Hall as their backdrop, singers belted out selections of their choices. Performing well within their comfort zone, the enthusiasm from the stage — and the fellow performers, who repeatedly yelled encouragement to each other — was contagious.

“Everybody won,” Ryan Loucks told The Newtown Bee following the show. “You really saw an eclectic mix because we let them pick their songs. It was all their choices.”

Fifteen performances were offered, with most vocalists accompanied by prerecorded music or live music by members of the band Milo’s Mojo. The cabaret opened with all performers on the stage, singing

When she performed Taylor Swift’s “August,” Ava Baroody was the only singer to accompany herself on guitar.

And the youngest performer of the afternoon, Siobhan Reilly, was the only one to sing a cappella.

Reilly sang “Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds,” she told the emcees, “because the Beatles are so much fun to listen to.”

One of the few duos of the afternoon may have been the most fun. After performing their own selections, Charlie Hartel was Judy Garland to Nicole Kolistas’s Barbra Streisand. The two did a medley of “Get Happy/Happy Days” that brought many in the audience to their feet.

Some acts went full-on with costuming, including one participant, Billie, as Cher, complete with a gold lamé jumpsuit and long black wig, and Erin Loucks in ’80s hair, makeup, and attire for her performance of Madonna’s “Borderline.”

Charlie Hartell went all out with her homage to Elton John, from her purple star-shaped sunglasses to the white ’70s era shoes on her feet. Hartell got into character, working the audience with the call and response section during “Benny and The Jets.”

Although audio issues challenged at least two performers, both pushed right through their songs like champions. Those moments, in addition to the talent already being displayed, offered one more example of the capabilities and professionalism already instilled in the cabaret performers.

Nicole Kolistas honored one of the show’s namesakes when she performed a gorgeous rendition of “Meadowlark.”

Before her performance, Kolistas told the emcees — who introduced each performer and asked each about their selection — that she selected that song because of its intrinsic tie to Patti Lupone.

“She is such a force that this song has become a staple of theater,” Kolistas said. “She’s like Midas. Everything she touches turns to gold, and isn’t that what we all strive for?”

By the end of the 90-minute show, legends had indeed been celebrated. From Cher and Madonna to Bobby Darrin, Carole King to Queen, those already mentioned and other performances ran the gamut from classic to contemporary.

Just past 2:30, as the final notes of Journey’s “Lights,” performed by Dave Kilkourse, faded away, Ryan Loucks thanked everyone in attendance.

“This has been a great afternoon, and we thank everyone who performed, and everyone who came out to support the performers,” he said. He then called for Rick Mazzariello to return to the stage. A short time earlier, Mazzariello had performed “Mack the Knife,” his homage to Bobby Darrin.

Then Mazzariello had the idea, according to Ryan, for the afternoon’s encore selection.

“We’re at a brewery, after all,” he told the audience. “It’s a family friendly brewery, and Rick had a great idea on what we should do to salute them.”

Holding his cell phone in one hand (lyrics cued up on the screen) and a pint of beer in the other, Mazzariello stepped to the mic.

“While Tom T. Hall may not be a legend, exactly,” Mazzariello said, “he did make some very good country songs.”

With that, Mazzariello began singing “I Like Beer,” which was, absolutely, the perfect selection to close the afternoon.

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Associate Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.