2020 MICM Artists
Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse
Founder of Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association and Executive Producer of March is Cabaret Month, Arnaldo! has performed his cabaret act as a classic cabaret chanteuse nationally and internationally. Arnaldo! has been honored with a New York Bistro award, a Gawad Musika award for Most Innovative Concert Artist in Manila and a Bayanihan Award from the Filipino Community of Seattle. Arnaldo! is thrilled to see the growing community of cabaret artists participating in March is Cabaret Month and grateful to all those who are supporting our festival. Performs on February 28,7:30PM and March 20,9PM
Angie Louise
Angie is the longtime frontwoman/songwriter for acclaimed band The Love Markets ("Irresistible" - Seattle Magazine); record releases include BEAUTY FACTORY and WORLD OF YOUR DREAMS. A member of Actors' Equity, she's performed principal roles at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, Theatre Under The Stars, Ordway and more. Film: Screenwriter/actress/songwriter for award-winning features GORY GORY HALLELUJAH and IRA FINKELSTEIN'S CHRISTMAS (Best of SIFF). Most recently, she composed songs for SCT's 2020 production of "Snow White". Angie is a recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize. "A singer, songwriter and actress with fearsome chops." - City Arts
Performs on February 28,7:30PM with The Love Markets
Solo: March 20,9PM and March 21,9PM
Arwen Dewey
Arwen was raised on a mix of 1940s jazz and 1960s folk-pop, then ran away from home in her early 20s to study opera in Paris. After training as a coloratura soprano for a few years, she was adopted (through marriage) by a South American family: the resulting mishmash of musical passions has been the soundtrack of her life ever since. Arwen performs around the Puget Sound in musical theater and as a featured singer with the Victor Janusz Band, and spent last summer touring as Purrlie the Cat Astronaut with Last Leaf Children's Theater Productions.
Performs on March 14,7PM and March 26,7PM
Bodacious Ladyhood
Bodacious Ladyhood is an award-winning a cappella trio who have been singing together for almost 18 years, having met each other through musical theatre more than 20 years ago. In that time, they have performed in clubs, on stages and at wineries all over the Puget Sound as well as on national radio. They have been described as a tantalizing trio with mellifluous harmony that creates an evening of show-stopping entertainment. Bodacious Ladyhood is three parts harmony, one part comedy, and a whole lot of fun. Performs on March 6,7PM and March 28,9PM
David Duvall Trio
DAVID DUVALL is a singer/songwriter, recording artist, cabaret artist, composer, orchestrator, theatrical director and teacher who has been a full-time entertainment professional for over forty years. He has received two Emmy nominations for his original television scores. Thanks to his television work, his original music has been broadcast on every continent except Antarctica. He has performed solo and as musical director/conductor for theatrical tours and in nightclubs across the country. As a singer/songwriter, he has released four CDs, with two more currently in production. David has been one of the most sought-after accompanists in the Seattle area since the 1980s. Performs on March 5,7PM
Faye B Summers
Faye B Summers has performed in Seattle and nationally for many decades. She appeared in most of Seattle's theatre venues including The Group, Seattle Rep, ACT, The Village Theatre, and as an original member of the Bathhouse Theatre Company. Her original one-person show, Kicking the Hat, was produced by ArtsWest Theater. She is currently involved with marketing her original Edith Piaf musical play, "A Sparrow's Diary". Performs on March 5,7PM and on March 7,7PM
Gabrielle Nicole
Gabrielle Nicole is Seattle's Sweet-n-Sour Sensation. Her thought-provoking productions have graced stages coast-to-coast, from NYC to Seattle's own Jewelbox Theatre, Julia's on Broadway, and Egan's Jam House. Gabrielle has been dazzling the cabaret scene for over three years now, in addition to performing burlesque as Miss Pixie Rose. With her silly antics and soaring soprano, you are likely to experience side-stretching laughter to tear-jerkers and everything in between. You never know what will come out of her mouth next. Performs on February 28,7:30PM, March 13,9PM and March 21,9PM
Gretchen Rumbaugh
A resident of Ashland, Oregon, Gretchen was a company member at the Shakespeare Festival in the late 1980s and is a charter member of the Oregon Cabaret Theatre there. She has portrayed real-life women as diverse as Mae West, Patsy Cline, Leona Helmsley, and Ann Landers in one-woman shows. Favorite roles include SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Drowsy in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, Mama Rose in GYPSY, Dot/Marie in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, and Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD at Portland Center Stage. For four years in Portland, Gretchen created, produced and hosted the professional singer showcase CABARET CHANTEUSE at Tony Starlight's Supperclub.
Performs on March 19,7PM and March 20,7PM
Heather & Ben Gonio
Heather is a Seattle based performing artist and musician. After years of performing and teaching hip hop, she pursued theatre and performed on many Seattle stages including The 5th Avenue Theatre, The Village Theatre, ACT Theatre, Book-It Repertory, and McCaw Hall. After touring Europe in 2008 as a principal singer on Celebrity Cruises, Heather decided to start her family back in Seattle, where she balances work, family, and art. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. Her favorite role: Mama.
Ben is a Seattle-based actor, playwright, producer, and teaching artist. He received a B.F.A. in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University and about M.F.A. in Acting from University of Washington. He has worked for regional theatre companies such as the Tony Award-winning Minneapolis Children's Theatre, Houston's Arena Theatre, Sierra Repertory Theatre, and Guthrie Theatre, as well as local Seattle companies including Seattle Repertory Theatre, 5th Ave Theatre, ACT Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, Empty Space Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company and Alice B. Theatre. He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association. His favorite role: Papa.
Performs on February 28,7:30PM, March 14,9PM and March 27,7PM
Helene Smart
Helene performs regularly in Kitsap County and leads a seven piece jazz band known as The Noteables. Cabaret, the blending of music and lyrics into a story worth telling and remembering, provides the format for making sure old tunes don't get lost and new tunes get brought forward. Helene has been pleased to have studied with some of the best in the craft, beginning with Seattle's Stan Keen and including divas like Marilyn Maye, Karen Mason and Andrea Marcovicci. In addition to various Seattle venues, Helene has performed at the Gardenia in Los Angeles. Performs on March 27,7PM
Jason Ganwich
Jason Ganwich is a Pacific Northwest native and performer singing, acting, skipping, and schticking on Egans stage for the first time in his debut with MICM. Jason has entertained South Sound audiences as Crumpet in David Sedaris "The Santaland Diaries", Ellard in "The Foreigner" (Dickie award), and an assortment of impressions of mid-century singers in the musical revue "Chicken Fried Diner". Under the festive, wine-soaked direction and musical direction of dear pals Jayne Muirhead and John Engerman, Jason continues the Ganwich tradition of opening his mouth and hoping people like what comes out of it. Performs on March 26,9PM
Jeannette d’Armand & John Patrick Lowrie
Jeannette d'Armand was soprano soloist in Cirque du Soleil's "Mystére" and has performed in the 5th Avenue Theatre's productions of "Sweeney Todd", "Sound of Music", "Oklahoma!", "Oliver", and "Beautiful Poison" (workshop). She has performed with Showtunes Theatre Company (Our Lady of the Spa in "Nine"; Faye in "George M"); the Seattle Opera Chorus; Amy Denio's original work "Non lo so, Polo", with which Jeannette toured Europe; and as a guest artist with Seattle Men's Chorus. Jeannette is a professional voiceover artist and maintains an active voice studio.
John Patrick Lowrie has been nominated for Gregory Awards for his work in "My Fair Lady" (Village Theatre) and "Sugar Daddies" (ACT, directed by Sir Alan Ayckbourn). He has worked at theaters throughout the US and in Europe; voiced characters in 25 video games including the Sniper in Team Fortress 2; and led acclaimed acoustic guitar duo The Kiethe/Lowrie Duet for nine years. His novel "Dancing With Eternity" won the Foreword Firsts Award for Best Debut Fiction.
Performs on March 7,9PM and March 28,7PM
Jeff Caldwell
Jeff Caldwell returned to Seattle four years ago after living and working in New York City. He played piano on Broadway, sang with New York City Opera, and taught at Juilliard. He produced several showcase cabarets at The Duplex, and performed in "My Boyfriend Back Home" at Don't Tell Mama. Jeff is on the faculty at the University of Puget Sound as collaborative pianist for the Voice Division and Choral Programs. Performs on March 13,9PM and March 27,9PM
Joanne Klein
Ms. Klein performs all over the Northwest as well as throughout the USA, Costa Rica, Paris, Canada and Scotland. Her repertoire includes theatre, musicals, cabaret, concerts, jazz, saloons, and any place that will hire her. She is witty, dramatic, silly, and experienced. Joanne loves entertaining audiences of all ages, performing in the smallest venues to the largest professional stages. She believes Art Saves Lives!
Performs on March 26,7PM and March 28,9PM
Karen Skrinde & Jordan McClellan
Karen has been an actress and singer for over 25 years throughout the Pacific Northwest. She has appeared at A Contemporary Theatre, Village Theatre, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, and Tacoma Actors Guild, among others, and has been a regular at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Karen was one of the three creators of the cabaret series at Thumper's Restaurant and performed in six solo shows there. She has also appeared as a soloist at the Inverse Opera, the Crepe de Paris, and the Moisture Festival. Jordan made her mainstage debut at The 5th Avenue Theatre in "The Sound of Music". Previously, she joined the Tyrolean Opera on a full summer scholarship in Austria. In 2014 she appeared in "Yoshinada" by Garret Fisher with the Fisher Ensemble, playing Tomoe in an adaption of the traditional Japanese "Tales of Ise", which made its world premiere at ACT Theatre's Central Heating Lab Series. For Pacific Northwest Opera in Mount Vernon, she has appeared in Bellini's "Norma", Mozart's "Don Giovanni", and "The Magic Flute". Jordan also completed a six-month tour with Portland Opera as Hansel in "Hansel and Gretel".
Performs on February 28,7:30PM, March 20,7PM and March 27,9PM
Linda Kosut
Award-winning cabaret/jazz singer Linda Kosut sings the standard with a fresh look and makes the obscure seem like a standard. She performs nationally from San Francisco to NY to LA to Seattle, and also works as a singer's coach teaching performance technique. Linda's newest release "Easy Come Easy Go: The Music of Johnny Green" received rave reviews ("Wonderfully winsome" - Doug Boynton, GirlSingers). Her first two CDs, "Life Is But A Dream" and "Long As You're Living", received national acclaim.
Performs on March 13,7PM and March 14,7PM
The Love Markets
THE LOVE MARKETS make songs of love and revolution for a modern world. Led by songwriter Angie Louise and inspired by the artists of Weimar Berlin, these "ruffle-clad ruffians" have spent the past decade gracing and disgracing Seattle stages with their unique mashup of subversive wit, political bite, and intoxicating soul. Their acclaimed record releases include BEAUTY FACTORY and WORLD OF YOUR DREAMS. “Irresistible… Intoxicating... A deliciously dark carnival.” – Seattle Magazine. “Sultry cabaret rhythms and a revolutionary's hankering to bring down the system." - JetSpace Magazine. “Louise is a singer-songwriter with fearsome chops.” – City Arts Magazine. Performs on February 28, 7:30PM
Maureen Mershon, David Blackham,
Tina Paradiso & DJ Wilson
Maureen Mershon, David Blackham and Tina Paradiso have been performing together for many years. Tackling everything from Kurt Weill music to funny specialty numbers, they have performed in theaters and cabaret spaces throughout the Northwest. The incomparable DJ Wilson at the piano has been involved with these crazies for too many years to talk about!
Performs on February 28,7:30PM, March 13,7PM and March 14,9PM
Princess Guy
Princess Guy, otherwise known as Seattles Most Fabulous Vocal Quartet, is a self-directed, independent male vocal quartet of four guys in tiaras, offering original vocal arrangements of pop, jazz and comedy songs, as well as comedic takes on non-comedic songs. Princess Guy emphasizes interesting harmonies and unexpected interpretations. Featuring Eric Lane Barnes (baritone), Jeffrey Erickson (tenor), Paul Rosenberg (bass) and Ritchie Wooley (tenor).
Performs on February 28, 7:30PM and March 21,7PM
Roger Schmelzer
Roger Schmelzer, an accomplished baritone based in Indianapolis, returns for MICM! Directed by the legendary Marilyn Maye, he made his New York cabaret debut to critical acclaim at the Metropolitan Room in 2017 and recently performed at Carnegie Hall in the Mabel Mercer Foundations tribute to Jerome Kern. Roger has spread his infectious musical message of kindness and optimism across the country (New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Seattle, St. Louis, Indianapolis). Roger serves on the board of the Great American Songbook Foundation, founded by Michael Feinstein. He and his wife Lucinda have three grown children and a three-year old granddaughter.
Performs on March 6,9PM and March 7,7PM
The Sirens of Swing
The Sirens of Swing features three of Seattle's cabaret luminaries - Karen Kay Cody, Joanne Klein and Jayne Muirhead - with music direction by John Engerman. First produced in the '90s, their tributes to the infectious sounds of classic vocal trios such as the Boswell Sisters and the Andrews Sisters were hit shows at the Cabaret de Paris. With lush harmonies and jive rhythms, they take audiences on a musical journey back to the 1930s and '40s full of sass and romance. Additional original arrangements of tunes such as "Moonglow" and "Sheik of Araby" make this a musical evening to remember.
Performs on February 28,7:30PM, March 6,9PM and March 21,7PM
Sweet Spot Combo
Sweet Spot Combo mines its material from the deep vein of gold that is mid 20th century music, sharing a passion for the swing, jazz and popular music of that era. From the Mills Brothers to the Four Freshmen to the Rat Pack and beyond, they love it all! Upright bass, guitar, cocktail drums and three voices make for a lush wall of sound. A swinging good time is inevitable. Featuring Ben Lang, David Salonen, and Matthew Stull.
Performs on February 28,7:30PM and March 20,9PM
TER Gallagher
TER Gallagher, graduate of the UW acting program and Yale Cabaret Conference, is back for her first MICM show in four years after five sold-out festival shows. TER spent the last four years performing in the Palm Springs/Palm Desert areas to standing ovations and a great Cabaret Scenes review. TER performed in LA and San Diego to ovation audiences, and was included three years running in the spectacular Barbra Birthday big-name cabaret fundraisers for Project Angel Food at Vitello's and the Catalina Jazz Club, where she was praised by Barbra's own Music Director and Producer! Our hometown girl is back!
Performs on March 26,9PM
Tom Orr
Tom Orr is an actor, singer, producer, director and lyricist best known for his musical parody revue Dirty Little Showtunes!(three Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Actor, Best Lyrics), which has been staged sixteen times in seven major US cities since 1997. His solo work includes "I Feel A Thong Coming On!", "A Crass Act!", "Jingle Bell Jock!", "The Devil Wears Nada!" and his recent "The Greatest Showqueen" which played to SRO crowds in Seattle and San Francisco. He dedicates this performance to the memory of his music-loving guitar-playing mom, Bonnie Orr Heywood.
Performs on March 6,7PM and March 19,7PM
The Ward Collective
A Canadian mom and her first-born move to Seattle and start playing music together when said child is a teen. Two little boys join the family. The youngest also becomes a musician, so now the three of them play together! Mom Heather Ward, oldest child Shaina Ward-Siegel, and youngest child Aidan Ward-Richter work with a rotating roster of musicians, including Josie Carscadden on drums and Jeremy Dupea on piano. The Ward Collective loves trad jazz and new jazz, but also gets a kick out of jazzifying pop, rock, folk and movie songs too.
Performs on March 7,9PM and March 28,7PM