Comedy/Varietè/Burlesque at the Moisture Festival The early years at ACT- A Contemporary Theatre, Fremont Studios, Hale’s Palladium Seattle 2005 - 2009
Avner the Eccentric photo by: Mark Gardiner
Cover photo: Hacki & Moëppi Ginda by John Cornicello
The Photographers
John Cornicello www.johncornicello.com
Michelle Bates www.michellebates.net
Mark Gardiner www.gardinerphoto.com
The Producers
The Chorus Line
Sandy Palmer
Maque daVis
Simon Neale
Megan Riggs
Ron W. Bailey
Rhonda Sable Katherine Bragdon Tim Furst
John Cornicello
Lara Paxton aka Darty Kangoo, Poppy Daze - with Aerialistas
L: David Godsey, R: Moz Wright
UL: Iman Lizarazu, LL: Baby Gramps, LC: Rod Ferrone
UC: Flordigan Can Can Girls, UR: Canote Brothers LR: Simon Neale & Esther Edelman
UL: Magical Mystical Michael, LL: Ruby Parade
UR: Michael Sheffield, LR: Airplane Bit
L: Dusty Rhodes, R: Joey Pipia 10
UL: Christian Swenson, LL: Jim Page, LC: Du Caniveaux Dancing Bear
Tom Murphy 11
L: Duo Madrona, C: Henrik Bothe 12
UR: Whit - Janet McAlpin & Kai, LR: Rhys Thomas
Aerialistas 13
L: Widow Twankey & The Cop, R: Tom Murphy 14
L: Stickleback Plasticus, R: Cohdi Harrell 15
Quynbi 16
L: Velone Sisters, UR: Eric Newton, LR: Lara Paxton 17
L: Duo Madrona, R: Sally Pepper 18
Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein 19
20
UL: Trixie Little & Evil Hate Monkey, LL: Johnny Jetpack
Martha Enson & Godfrey Daniels
Godfrey Daniels
21
L: Chantall, R: Woodhead and Cooper 22
Moz Wright
UC & UR: Zero Boy, LL: Ron W Bailey & Caela Bailey 23
L: Bing Croonsby & the Mildew Sisters, R: Mark Ettinger 24
UL: Cathy Johnson & Michael Sheffield, LL: Trixie Little & Evil Hate Monkey
UR: Ruby, Martha, Trixie, Iman, LR: SANCA’s Amazing Circus 1-ders
25
L: Fyodor Karamazov, R: Alfredo Fettucini 26
UL: Bob Malone, LL: Ann Uendo & Dudly Entendre
UR: The Peculi채rs, LR: Filipino Drill Team 27
L: Avner the Eccentric, R: Matt Hall 28
L: Scuff Acuff, C: Sandy Palmer, R: Zip Code Man 29
30
UL & LR: Professor Humbug, LL: Chair Boy & Marie Miletto, LC: Sandy Palmer, UR: Rob Moitosa the Electric Reverend
LL: Ian & Manny from SANCA’s Youth Performance Co., UL: Gabriela Milillo, R: Dr Calamari & Acrophelia
31
32
UL & UR: Bellini Twins, LL: Producers, LR: Simon Neale & Mama Rose
UL: Red Wine Sisters, LL: Du Caniveaux Dancing Bears
UR: Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band/Orchestra, LR: Tom Noddy
33
Lily Verlaine 34
L: Kitten de Ville, C: Evilyn Sin Clair, R: Lily Verlaine 35
UL: Buxom, LL: Waxie Moon, LC: Ben DeLaCreme 36
R: Miss Indigo Blue
L: The Shanghai Pearl, R: Paula the Swedish Housewife 37
UL: Inga IngĂŠnue, LL: Burlesque Finale 38
UR: TriBellas Belly Dancers, LR: Michael Clifton & John Engerman
L: Chica Boom, C: Mama Lou Strong Woman, R: Darty Kangoo 39
40
L: Belle Cozette, R: Sydni Deveraux
L: Wade Madson, R: Miss Indigo Blue
41
L: Chantall, UC: Johnny Jetpack, LC: Aerialista Derierre, R: Maranon (Mik Kuhlman) 42
UL: Ron W. Bailey & Hacki, UR: Cathy Sutherland & Caela Bailey, LL: Rhonda Sable & Larry Kezner LR: Sandy Palmer & Al Parisi
43
UL: John Olufs, UR: Damien Aitken, B: Fremont Philharmonic Orchestra 44
UL: Fremont Philharmonic Orchestra, LL: Fred Hawkinson
UR: Jim Knodle & Greg Powers, LR: salamandir 45
L: Bellini Twins, UR: Lily Verlaine, LR: Hacki Ginda & Chantall 46
UL: Sky, UC: Dan Stiefel, LL: Burlesque Moistettes
UR: Simon Neale, Heather Weihl & Rhonda Sable, LR: Aerialistas
47
UL: Mama Rose, LL: Shanika Davis & Jennifer Wensrich UR: David Godsey, Janet McAlpin & Kai, LR: Dr. Calamari and Acrophelia 48
UL: Burlesque Coordinators - Cathy Sutherland, Rhonda Sable & Carri Anderson, UC: Heather Meade & Mik Kuhlman, UR: Christina Bruce, LL: Dee Dee Rainbow & Kevin Joyce LR: Maque daVis & Mama Rose
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50
UL: Christina, Megan, Mik & Katherine, LL: Randy Minkler, LCL: Madeleine Sosin & Al Parisi, LCR: Rachel Murray UR: Chris and Kris Huson, LR: Norma Baum
L: Chickee & Boom Boom
UC: Maque & Sandy, C: Debbie Hodgson & Erin Avelle, UR: Kathleen & Mike Hale, LC: Michelle Bates & Jessica Hale, LR: Amy Redmond & Jenelle Weidlich
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L: Diemo Ginda 52
UR: The Birth of a Clown, LR: Fabulous Door Babes
UL: Fabulous Food Babes, LL: Chantall
UR: 2009 Lead Volunteers, LR: Simon & Cathy 53
Michelle Bates
UL: Dr. Calamari, LL: Las Mu単equitas, R: Lily Verlaine 54
L: Sara Sparrow, R: Ricochet 55
Duo Madrona 56
Aerialistas 57
UL: Karen Quest, LL: Nate Cooper 58
UR: Juggling Jollies, LR: Ben DeLaCreme
Lelavision 59
60
UL: Shayna Swanson, LL: Raspyni Brothers, UR: Brothers from Different Mothers, LR: Hokum W Jeebs
UL: The Castors, LL: Tune Stranglers, R: Shoehorn
61
L: Janet McAlpin, C: Daniel Forlano, R: Wade Madson 62
Yoda’s Brother Yogurt 63
64
UL & UR: Hacki Ginda, B: Du Caniveaux Wedding Party
L: Trixie Little & Evil Hate Monkey
UR: The Bobs, LR: Rob Williams & Deborah Person 65
Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band/Orchestra 66
UL: Tamara the Trapeze Lady, LL: One Two, Alla Babba Huey & Caela, R: Fremont Players 67
TL: God’s Favorite Beefcake, LL: Hacki’s 3D Night at the Palladium 68
UR: Toly Castor, LR: Flaming Idiots
Flordigan Can Can Girls 69
T: Aerialistas, L Burlesque Moistettes 70
L&R: The Flappers: Esther Edelman, Kari Podgorski, Cathy Sutherland, Martha Enson 71
L & R: Inga IngĂŠnue 72
L: Babette La Fave, R: Fuschia Foxxx 73
L: Paula the Swedish Housewife, UR: Babette La Fave, LR: Ultra & the Heavenly Spies 74
The Von Foxies 75
UL: Caela & the Dangerous Flares, LL: The Zebra Kings, R: Old Blue Eyes Du Caniveax 76
L: Amy G, R: Lelavision 77
L&R: Jason Webley 78
L: Jane Osborn, UR: Kaz端m, LR: Mud Bay Jugglers 79
L & LR: Madame X, UR: Avner the Eccentric 80
Doc Sprinsock & the SANCApators 81
Poppy Daze 82
L: Dr Calamari & Acrophelia, R: Laura Stokes 83
L: Mme Zazou, UC: Bill Robison, LC: Johnny Jetpack 84
UR: Zev Eisenberg, LR: Linda Severt
L: Heather Weihl & David Godsey
C: Julie Goell, UR: Kevin Joyce, LR: Godfrey Daniels 85
UL: Opera Diva Pinky d’Ambrosia, UR: Ernesto Cellini, L: Circus Contraption 86
Esther Edelman 87
88
UL: Ukelele Dick, LL: Steffon Moody - Action Man, UC: Joyce Rice
UR: PK Dwyer, LR: Du Caniveaux Raging Gaelic Highlanders
UL: Reggie Miles, LL: Run For Your Life, R: Tom Noddy
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L: Lelavision, R: Simon Neale & Godfrey Daniels 90
UL: Terry Crane, UC: Magical Mystical Michael, UR: Chantall, LL: MoĂŤppi, Rebecca & Diemo Ginda, LC: Back Man, LR: Hilary Chaplain 91
Nanda & Nada - Harry Levine, Ron W Bailey, Cathy Sutherland & Hacki Ginda 92
Nanda 93
L: Foolz, UR: Reid Belstock, LR: Noodlinis 94
UL: Jonathan Rose, UC: John Gilkey, LL: Tom Murphy, C: Smerdyakov Karamazov, UR: Blanche De Bris, LR: David Godsey 95
UL: Randy Minkler & Godfrey Daniels, LL: Robin Worley, LC: Bellini Twins & Poppy Daze, LR: Poppy Daze & Godfrey Daniels 96
UL: Mike Hale & Phil O’Brien, UC: Ted Lockery & Katherine Bragdon, UR: Sandy Palmer & Zero Boy LL: Finale Marathon Show Order, LC: Burlesque Moistettes, LR: Maque daVis & Norma Baum
97
Mark Gardiner
Hacki & MoĂŤppi Ginda & Kaja 98
Hacki Ginda & Kaja 99
100
Hacki & MoĂŤppi Ginda & Kaja
Hacki & MoĂŤppi Ginda & Kaja
101
L: Charlie Brown 102
UR: Tom Murphy, LR: Iman Lizarazu & MoĂŤppi Ginda
L: Aerialistas, R: Baby Gramps 103
Tom Noddy & Mousie Tongue 104
UL: Frank Olivier, LL: Tom Noddy, R: Amanda Crockett 105
L: Nate Cooper, R: Godfrey Daniels 106
Foolz 107
L: Avner the Eccentric, R: Savannah Fuentes 108
L: Moz Wright, R: Aerialistas 109
110
UL & LL: Aerialistas, LC: Sally Pepper
R: Trixie Little & Evil Hate Monkey
L: Duo Madrona, R: Aerialistas
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Aerialistas 112
Aerialistas 113
UL: Butt Rock Suites, LL: Seanjohn Walsh, UR: Janet McAlpin & David Godsey, LR: Nada 114
L: Artis, UR: Aerialistas, LR: Grand Finale 115
116
L: Entry to the Palladium, R: Amanda Starr
Dr. Calamari and Acrophelia
117
UL & UR: Nanda, LL: ASL Interpreter, LR: Rhys Thomas 118
L: Rhys Thomas, R: Velone Sisters 119
UL: Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein, LL: Amanda Crockett, R: Sally Pepper & Darty Kangoo 120
L: Frank Olivier, R: Amy G 121
L: The Cabiri, R: The Red Queens – Carlin Briner & Erica Keeling 122
L: Sally Pepper, R: Janet McAlpin 123
Flaming Idiots 124
L: Darty Kangoo, UR: Martha Enson & Ruby, LR: Lelavision 125
L: Kids in the Audience, C: Frank Olivier & kid from the audience 126
UR: John Gilkey, LR: Reid Belstock
UL: Clay Martin, LL: Nanda & Diemo
UR: UMO’s Buffoons, LR: Kevin Joyce & UMO’s Troll kids 127
Aerialistas 128
L: Stickleback Plasticus, R: Trio Manchego 129
Miss Indigo Blue 130
L: Trixie Little & Evil Hate Monkey, R: Tamara the Trapeze Lady 131
L: Fuschia Foxxx 132
UR: Miss Indigo Blue, LC: Ben DeLaCreme, LR: Chantall
L: Inga IngĂŠnue, R: Miss Indigo Blue 133
L: Joselynn Plank, Michael Clifton, Ron W. Bailey, Sandy Palmer 134
R: Mama Rose’s Birthday
UL: Cathy Sutherland & Caela Bailey, LL: UMO’s Trolls, R: Moëppi & Diemo Ginda 135
UL: MoĂŤppi Ginda, Simon Neale & Sandy Palmer, LL: Moisture Festival Producers, R: Festival Work Crew Outside the Palladium 136
Thank You One and All
Closing Night at the Palladium by: John Cornicello 137
Memorial
We shared the stage with these friends for the last time.
Sandahbeth Spae
Tony Duggleby Jim Hinde
Greg Palmer 138
Acknowledgements
In 2004 Ron W. Bailey, Maque Da Vis, Simon Neale, Tim Furst and Sandy Palmer began working together to create a Comedy/Varietè festival. Named The Moisture Festival, it was to be an annual springtime event to welcome varietè artists to perform in Seattle. Three major influences in the festival’s creation were the vaudeville community at the Oregon Country Fair, the creative energy constantly released from the center of the universe in Fremont and Hacki Ginda’s Varietè/Comedy Festival held in Berlin in 1996. kkk The success of The Moisture Festival during its first six years is directly related to the outstanding volunteer work of a group of people lovingly referred to as the sacred staff led by Rhonda Sable, Katherine Bragdon and Megan Riggs. This team of sacred staff members who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes and often throughout the year also include Randy Minkler, Tom Noddy, Danny O’Brien, Norma Baum, Cathy Sutherland, Mary Fleischman, Phil O’Brien, Jennifer Wensrich, Shanika Davis, Christina Bruce, Robin Worley, John Olufs, Stuart Zobel, Eben Sprinsock and Godfrey Daniels. kkk We are eternally grateful to the varietè artists: Avner the Eccentric, Frank Olivier, Tom Noddy, Hacki Ginda, Karen Quest, Henrik Bothe, Rhys Thomas, Amy G, Tom Murphy, Rob Williams and many other artists who have so generously contributed their talents and wonderful performances. Their good humor and love of varietè entertainment is contagious and inspiring. You are the reason the audiences have returned year after year. kkk Our scheme of bringing the art of Burlesque back into the varietè fold was a success and a pleasure because of Miss Indigo Blue, Paula the Swedish Housewife, Lily Verlaine, Fuschia Foxxx, Evilyn Sin Clair, Inga Ingénue, and many others in the star-studded Seattle burlesque community. We appreciate their willingness to exhibit, in their own special way, what collaboration is all about. Rhonda Sable, Cathy Sutherland, Martha Enson, Tamara the Trapeze Lady and Carri Anderson: thank you for your work on these shows. kkk We thank our dedicated theater technicians: lights, sound, rigging, stage management and videographers. The show bands: The Zebra Kings, The Fremont Philharmonic Orchestra, Doc Sprinsock and the SANCApators. They have all performed with natural style and class, happy to be playing shows in a brewery. kkk Putting on a month-long festival is a tremendous amount of work that could not be accomplished without additional volunteer help. It has been our good fortune to have a group of volunteers who always play well with others and love to dress up. Door babes, food babes, box office, security, merchandise - we love you. When festival time rolls around these folks happily jump in to play a critical role in organizing the festival each spring: Heather Meade, Rodman and Susan Miller, Mick Westrick, Tony Koons, Cathy Johnson, Annmarie McMahon, Mik Kuhlman and Cousin Kenny Peters. There are so many others who help in a thousand ways. We are grateful to all of you. kkk Mike and Kathleen Hale have supported the festival in countless ways with tremendous trust, joy and faith. The fabulous staff at Hale’s Brewery makes us feel at home and never fails to accommodate. The Moisture Festival without Hale’s Palladium would be like a genie without a lamp. kkk ACT-A Contemporary Theatre, under the artistic direction of Kurt Beattie, offered a chance for the festival to expand creatively and benefit from years of theatrical experience through their Central Heating Lab at ACT. Adam Moomey, Alyssa Byer, Harley Reese, Jacquelyn S. Rardin and all of the ACT staff have been a treat to work with. Thanks also go out to Jason Montgomery and all of the union crew members. The story of the festival and all of the fun we’ve had in the first six years is told in these photographs taken by Michelle Bates, John Cornicello and Mark Gardiner. We want to thank them for their dedication while capturing all of the artists so beautifully, for illuminating what we have accomplished together and for answering the question: what is The Moisture Festival? We especially thank Corey Scherrer who provided hours of labor and the expertise necessary to make this book a reality. Merci Beaucoup, The Moisture Festival Chorus Line: Tim Furst, Sandy Palmer, Ron W. Bailey, Maque daVis, Katherine Bragdon, Rhonda Sable, Megan Riggs Back Cover Photo: Aerialistas by Michelle Bates 139
Comedy/Variete at The Moisture Festival - Seattle
www.moisturefestival.org