John McDaniel's second year heading up the O'Neill Center's Cabaret & Performance Conference boasts some significant names - most famously, Broadway luminary Betty Buckley - and an entertainingly wide range of artists.

This event, which showcases the art of cabaret, kicks off on Wednesday with free opening ceremonies and then Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch on July 24. Caruso and Stritch are renowned in New York City for their performances at Bemelman's Bar at the Carlyle Hotel in NY and at the weekly Cast Party at Birdland.

Among the others on the program: Barb Jungr, who was such a hit at last year's conference that she's back, with "The Man in the Long Black Coat: Barb Jungr sings Bob Dylan," on July 27. Performers who were original cast members in various Sondheim musicals reminisce and sing numbers from the likes of "Company" and "Into the Woods" on July 29. (Said performers are Ann Morrison, Pamela Myers and Chip Zien.)

Buckley, who will do two shows on Aug. 1, won a Tony for playing Grizabella in "Cats," among her many other acclaimed performances on Broadway. Her acting range is impressive, as her TV appearances have covered everything from "Eight Is Enough" to "Oz," and her movie career has run the gamut from "Carrie" to "Tender Mercies."

Conference Artistic Director McDaniel, by the way, was the Emmy-winning composer and producer of "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," and his Broadway credits include serving as music director for "Catch Me If You Can" and for the 1999 "Annie Get Your Gun" review.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

CABARET & PERFORMANCE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Tickets are $35, except for the Betty Buckley show and the cabaret grand finale, for which tickets are $50, and the opening ceremonies, which are free. All performances are at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford. Call (860) 443-1238. There are also free open mic nights at Blue Gene's Pub after regular performances on July 24, 25, 26, 29 and 31 and Aug. 1.

Opening ceremonies, 8 p.m. Wednesday

Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch, 8 p.m. July 24

Mimi Hines, 8 p.m. July 25

Susie Mosher and the New Faces of 2014, 8 p.m. July 26

The Man in the Long Black Coat: Barb Jungr sings Bob Dylan, 8 p.m. July 27

The Sondheim Projrect, 8 p.m. July 29

Cabaret Junior Fellows, 8 p.m. July 30 and 31

Betty Buckley, 7 and 9:30 p.m. August 1

Grand Finale, 8 p.m. Aug. 2