A Celebration of Benaroya Hall’s 10th Anniversary

Day of Music & Art: 

Block Party!

A Celebration of Benaroya Hall's 10th Anniversary

Sunday, September 14, 10am-6pm

FREE Admission
Plus evening performances at The Triple Door

Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall are putting on the biggest party of the year to honor ten years of creating music, community, education and culture together. With Seattle Art Museum, Soundbridge, and The Triple Door joining us, it is  going to be a block party you won't want miss!

More information at: WWW.BENAROYAHALL.ORG

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ARNALDO! SCORES WITH PRE-PRIDE CABARET SHOW AT JULIA’S ON BROADWAY
Category: Blogging

Seattle Gay News Friday, July 4, 2008 - Volume 36 Issue 27

Bits & Bytes

by Milton Hamlin, SGN A&E Reviewer

ARNALDO! SCORES WITH PRE-PRIDE CABARET SHOW AT JULIA'S ON BROADWAY
One of the entertainment highlights of Pride Week 2008 was the thoroughly engaging cabaret show by Arnaldo!, Seattle's prize-winning "drag chanteuse" or "gender illusionist" who has been drawing huge crowds in The Emerald City for years - and is now delighting critics and cabaret fans in New York and other major cities and resort destinations.

Arnaldo!'s pre-Pride cabaret, I Am What I Am! started big, grew bigger and ends with a bang. A tribute to Judy Garland started the evening - a natural showstopper for the capacity Pride crowd. Musical tributes to The Carpenters, Edith Piaf, and Eartha Kitt followed, with a good sampling of classic songs from The Great American Songbook. Daryl Spadaccini was effective all evening on the keyboard and added a few musical quips of his own, slyly tucked into the evening's music.

Jeanette d'Armand, one of Bits&Bytes' favorite Seattle cabaret artists (and a long-time champion of Arnaldo!), added a lot of zip to the evening with two guest songs. Her trademark, "The Saga of Jenny," brought down the house, as usual. (Jenny, from Lady In The Dark, it should be remembered, studied foreign languages - among other things - and "in 27 languages she couldn't say no .")

Julia's is not the best spot for a serious cabaret show. The overflow bar, adjacent to the restaurant/cabaret area, cannot be cut off from the stage side of the club and the noise spillover was a major problem. A cantankerous microphone forced Arnaldo! to sing a couple of early songs without amplification - it worked for a brief period but would have killed his voice if the sound problem had not been solved. But, as they say, "the show must go on" - and it did.

Nathan and Steven, owners of the late and lamented Thumper's, where Arnaldo! started his cabaret career nearly 10 years ago, were welcome visitors for the pre-Pride cabaret. Check up on Arnaldo!'s upcoming shows at www.dragchanteuse.com .

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Pride Weekend Kick-Off 2008
Category: Parties and Nightlife

Julia's on BROADWAY

presents..

NY Backstage Bistro Award Winner

Arnaldo! dragchanteuse

in

"I Am What I Am"

… a Pride Cabaret

With Daryl Spadaccini, accompanist

And special guest, Jeannette d'Armand

June 26 Thursday 8:30PM

Dinner seating at 7PM

Cover $15 + 2 drink minimum

An hour of sing-along will follow after the show – so singers bring your music!!

Reservations highly recommended at 206.334.0513

Julia's

300 Broadway E
Seattle, WA 98102

**Paid parking is available on 10^th & E. Thomas.

See you at Julia's!

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Bistro Awards Acceptance 4/7/08
Category: Blogging

The photo on my homepage is mom and I at the Bistro Awards in NYC 4/7/08.  Below is my short acceptance speech.

Every performer's dream is to have a show in NY. "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere..." may sound trite and corny to most native New Yorkers, but to this Filipino immigrant living inthe Seattle area perfroming cabarets as a drag chanteuse, those lyrics are challenging and even sometimes inspirational.

Well, my NY dream came true when I had my NY cabaret debut in 2007 at The Duplex.  This year, my dream took me to another level with this award.

Thank you to Backstage and the Bistro awards committee for this honor.

Thank you to the Cabaret Conference at Yale University and it's Artistic and Executive Director Erv Raible for helping me widen my cabaret wings so I can soar a little higher.

Thank you to Bob Bruneau, my long time collaborator and musical director who nine years ago tapped me on the shoulder at a Seattle Men's Chorus rehearsal and saying "Hey, let's do a cabaret together.

Thank you to my partner Steve MacFarlane who is a fantastic artist himself and who reminds me specially during rough times why we artists do what we do.

Thank you to my family for their support.  Growing up in a traditional Filipino Catholic family can be challenging specially as a dragchanteuse.  And because of their unconditional love, my family has taught me more about tolerance and understanding. 

Mommy, this is for you and dad.

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Arnaldo! Wins a 2008 New York Backstage Bistro Cabaret Award!

New York has finally discovered one of Seattle's gems!  Arnaldo!, Seattle's own drag chanteuse, wins a 2008 Backstage Bistro Award for his cabaret shows at The Duplex in New York; and will be flying to New York to accept this honor at a special Awards Night Reception on April 7, 2008.

To celebrate with Arnaldo! here in Seattle, a special New York send-off show will be held at Crepe De Paris on Friday, March 28 for one night only.

Arnaldo!  Live at Crepe De Paris will open with a special homage to one of the greatest singers of the American Songbook, the iconic and inspirational Judy Garland. The rest of the program will musically weave through various eras - from Rodgers & Hart to Sondheim - and with a dash of international flavor that is characteristic of an Arnaldo! performance..  We hope you and your friends can join us and celebrate one of Seattle's unique, elegant and classy cabaret performers. 

"Opening hearts and minds one cabaret at a time "  Arnaldo!

Arnaldo!  Live at Crepe De Paris - the voice is real, the piano is real … the rest is all an illusion

with

Daryl Spadaccini, accompanist & special guest, Timmy Pavino

Rainier Square Building, Seattle

Friday - March 28, 2008  8:30PM show

Door: $40 dinner+show package 7PM dinner seating

Reservations highly recommended.  Call NOW! 206.623.4111

While in NY, Arnaldo! will be at The Duplex for two performances on April 8 & 9 at 7PM. 

Arnaldo!  Live at The Duplex - the voice is real, the piano is real .. the rest is all an illusion

with

Bob Bruneau, accompanist

61 Christopher Street at 7^th, New York

Tuesday & Wednesday  April 8 & 9, 2008   7PM show

Door: $15 + 2 drink minimum

For reservations, please call 212.255.5438 or go to The Duplex Calendar and choose April 8 or 9, 2008

Read more:

• Arnaldo's latest NY Review
• 2008 Backstage Bistro Awards
•  Watch more of Arnaldo! On YouTube
• Arnaldo! website
• March is Cabaret Month Celebration

Thank you to Backstage for this wonderful honor … and to all of YOU for your tremendous support! 

Special thanks to:

·         my family, specially my mom, for their unconditional love

·         Bob Bruneau, my longtime collaborator and musical director for tapping me on the shoulder during a Men's Chorus rehearsal 9 years ago asking me to do cabarets with him

·         Charles Baker, for being my musical mentor and longtime cabaret collaborator

·         Steve MacFarlane, who for the past 7 years has been my rock and who keeps reminding me why I do what I do

·         My Seattle Men's Chorus Family and Dennis Coleman who always trusted me artistically

·         My Cabaret Conference at Yale University Class 2005 family and Artistic Director, Erv Raible – for giving me the courage to soar

·         And all the wonderful, creative, loving friends and supporters who continually join me on this cabaret journey … Maraming Salamat Po!

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Ring out the Old; Ring in the New

Happy 2008 everyone! 

In lieu of sending Holiday Cards & Greetings this year, my partner Steve and I spent a week painting and updating the computer room at my mom's house and turned it into a decent guest room for my brother and his family.  After a quick trip to IKEA for a sofa bed, armoire, two cabinets and a computer desk <ka-ching; ka-ching>, I turned to my mom and said "This is your Christmas present!"  Two days later, they arrive with two kids and a nanny.  This is also the first holiday in 6 years that I am home in PNW since I am usually performing in sunny Puerto Vallarta at this time of the year.  Things just did not work out this year for PV, however, I am  glad to be with the kids as they are totally adorable in spite of the usual morning tantrums that accompany any 3 & 6 year olds. J

2007 was definitely a year of milestones and challenges for me. 

It of course started with a NY's Eve bang in PV, with my partner Steve , where I performed with my long time collaborator and Musical Director Bob Bruneau, who also happens to be a very successful real estate agent both in Seattle and PV .  PV is my second cabaret home as you all know where also my friends and Eric & Ken have permanently moved to. It was great to spend the holidays with them - not to mention Bob's wonderful partner Gerardo who I consider as one of the most beautiful person I have ever met.  I miss them this year.

The biggest news for me was my NY cabaret debut at The Duplex in February!  NY was a fabulous experience and it's true – there is no city like NY City.  NY in the snow is also MAGICAL and for the first time, Steve and I were able to celebrate our very own Valentine dinner at the Little Owl in the Village at our own corner table.  (As you all know, for the past six years, I have been doing a special Valentine Day Show - not in 2007.)  I also met Steve's Uncle Jack and girlfriend Martha who I both adore.  My brother Abe who has lived in Manhattan since the 70's helped out promoting the show and my mom, my brother form Florida and Steve's sister form Houston all flew in to add morale support.  My colleagues from the Cabaret Conference at Yale University also showed up!! .  Erv Raible directed my show and Paul Trueblood was my musical director. Both shows sold out!  THANK YOU NY!!

Coming back from my NY high, I was invited to perform for my dear friend Aleksa Manila at her step down as Empress for The Imperial Court of Seattle.  February was busy!

However, March was busier!  I was honored to perform at the GSBA Annual Dinner celebrating the performing arts in the community as well as with The Bobs at The Moisture Festival  where I met great international performers and did my Patsy Number. For the first time, I also performed at the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival bringing my own brand of cabaret singing "Peel Me A Grape".  l was also invited to perform with the Seattle Men's Chorus for their 80's concert as Madonna.  However, I hurt my leg and had to suddenly bow out performing with SMC.  Hurting my leg was my biggest challenge in 2007 as it permanently limited my physical activity resulting to my inability to dance on and offstage.  And for those of you who know my SMC history (ECV, Oliver Button, The Dreydle, etc.) and know me personally, I LOVE to dance.  Fortunately, I am still able to perform my cabarets.  That same week, my beloved 17 year old Nikki passed away - another whammy to my already broken heart. 

Thank goodness for my music and my cabaret- I had to move on and quick!

After a couple of weeks recuperating on physical therapy and muscle relaxants, I was off to Palm Springs in April to perform at Dale's Lost Highway upon the generous and warm invitation of Larry Lazarro whom I met at the Cabaret Conference at Yale and of former Seattleite Don Hammer.  My dear friends Francina, Evan and Joe Farmer, my fabulous website designer, joined Steve and I in our Palm Springs adventure.  My family from LA drove to show their support and of course, my mom was there who flew in from Seattle.

In May , I flew to Philadelphia to perform for Aids Services in Asian Communities (ASIAC).  My dear friend and ASIAC Executive Director Ron Sy invited me to perform after seeing my NY show.  It was such an honor to be there as their special guest and also performing was my other dear friend Madame X from Chicago.  It was my first time to perform in the City of Brotherly Love and hope to be back in 2008! The same month, my friends Cheryl Serio and Sylvia O'Stayformore and I started the Pacific NW Cabaret Association.  The goal is to gather cabaret performers and venue owners to share resources and promote cabaret in the PNW.  Martin's OFF Madison is currently our home turf and we meet every third Sunday of the month at 3PM and everyone is welcome to join us.

The next couple of months, I had to focus on work - yes, I do have a full-time job on top of all these performances! >Did I mention I love my co-workers?  They come to my shows and support me as well!  How cool is that?  They are no t only my co-workers, they also happen to be my friends.  I always remind myself how fortunate I am to be in such a supportive working environment and working in one of the world's best company!

In August, I had the chance to be performing with SMC once again - this time in Festival Vancouver performing Patsy once again with the chorus.  I have to thank my mentor and SMC Artistic Director Dennis Coleman for continuously believing in me.  It was with SMC that I first started performing and found my cabaret voice. As for the Patsy Number, I honestly, I cannot count the number of times I have performed that number and in how many countries and venues.  From Barcelona to London to Sydney to Auckland to Puerto Vallarta – however, I have never performed Patsy in NYC. 

That was about to change.

Once again, following my dreams, I decided to go back to The Duplex and this time with my longtime collaborator Bob Bruneau.  Producing a show in NY is no easy task so I decided to do two fundraising shows at Seattle's Crepe De Paris with guest performers Cheryl Serio and my nephew Timmy Pavino.  Word has it that I happen to be the first drag chanteuse to grace the Crepe De Paris stage.  To top it all, my whole executive team came to see my show.  Oh boy, have you ever performed with your Corporate VP in the audience?  I told Steve that if I mess up I have to see these folks at work every day!  Our Aussie friends Peter and Toan happen to be visiting Seattle at that time and manage to catch both shows!

NY in September – oy vey!  With Bush and the UN Assembly in town, hotel prices were atrociously expensive!  Thank goodness for Steve's Uncle Jack who hosted us for the first 5 days before the shows.  My sister from Vegas, my brother from San Francisco, my mom (of course), Steve's mom and dad and his sister from Houston and her whole family all flew in!  The two families had a wonderful time getting together and exploring NYC.  What a treat and a rare opportunity to be all together.

Back to the show – this time my guest performer Jenna Esposito happens to be one of NY's newest cabaret sensation.  She also was my classmate at the Cabaret Conference in Yale.  The shows were a success and I must say that I was very proud of this show as it totally captured what I was about.  As NY Critic John Hoglund concluded in his review "This was a significant debut by a "drag chanteuse" worthy of top billing at any major hotel or casino showroom".  (To read the full review, go to http://www.cabarethotlineonline.com/ then choose  After Dark then choose October 2007 and go to page 6.)

I came home tired yet revived and encouraged.  Every performer has dreams of doing a show in NY and I must say, this Filipino immigrant drag chanteuse from Seattle has managed to do just that – and mighty proud of it too!

Back in Seattle, my other cabaret collaborator and artistic accomplice Charles Baker invited me to perform with Diverse Harmony.  This November fundraiser was held at Crepe De Paris and both shows were sold out!  What a great way to end 2007 giving back to the community.

Now that 2008 is here, I am resolved to get some rest and get back to some physical regimen while being a smart hypochondriac (as my orthopedic doctor has advised me to be).  I am also excited with new adventures in the spring , and I am sure you will all get the updates on that!

So here's to "Ringing in the New "– new adventures, new friends, new milestones … and here's to LIFE!

Thank you for all of your support and let's keep on believing in our dreams!

Happy 2008!!

Arnaldo!

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CABARET CONFERENCE AT YALE UNIVERSITY

SIXTH ANNUAL

CABARET CONFERENCE AT YALE UNIVERSITY

JULY 25 – AUGUST 3, 2008

Erv Raible, Executive Director/Artistic Director, takes great pride in announcing the Sixth Annual Cabaret Conference at Yale University. The Cabaret Conference at Yale University is being developed in conjunction with the Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theater. Several conference sessions will be held in the facilities of the Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theater, including the recently opened New Theater.

SEATTLE AUDITIONS

MARCH 8, 2008

SATURDAY

THEATRE PUGET SOUND / Seattle Center House / Room B / Fourth Floor

305 Harrison Street / Seattle, WA

Our prestigious 2008 faculty currently includes: Tovah Feldshuh, Jason Graae, Carol Hall, George Hall, Laurel Massé, Sally Mayes, Sharon McNight, Erv Raible, Fred Voelpel, and Julie Wilson; piano faculty includes Ron Abel, Tex Arnold, Michael Orland, Alex Rybeck and Paul Trueblood.

The conference consultants/lecturers include: Fred Voelpel (image consultant), Tex Arnold (part singing, harmonies and back-up vocals), Matt Berman (light and sound technician), George Hall (English Music Hall), David Finkle (reviewer for Back Stage, trade publication), Michael Kerker (ASCAP, Director of Musical Theater and Cabaret).

To schedule an audition or for additional information contact Erv Raible, Executive/Artistic Director or Pam Tate, Executive Assistant at 212-629-2000 or visit our website at:

www.TheCabaretConferenceAtYale.com.

Use Only This Number To Contact Us

212-629-2000

Auditions on video, CD, cassette or DVD, please include photo and resume, may be submitted to:

The Cabaret Conference at Yale University

520 Hudson Street

Suite 120

New York, New York 10014

USA

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November 29-30 fundraiser

Our November 29-30 fundraiser is a one-act musical titled  "All I Want For Whatever," in which the singers of Diverse Harmony visit Aunt Arnaldo! for the Generic Non-Denominational Holiday.  

Drag chanteuse Arnaldo! ("The voice is real, the piano is real... the rest is an illusion") has wowed audiences in appearances with the Seattle Men's Chorus and in solo cabarets, most recently at The Duplex in New York City. 

In the elegant Crêpe de Paris Restaurant in Seattle's Rainier Square, you'll be treated to a three-course dinner and a show quite different from any Diverse Harmony has ever performed.  Diverse Harmony and Arnaldo!, together on stage at last!

Visit Arnaldo!'s website:  www.dragchanteuse.com.

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Check out this event: All I Want For ... Whatever!

Hosted By: Arnaldo! drag chanteuse!
When: Thursday Nov 29, 2007
at 7:00 PM
Where: Crepe De Paris
1333 5th Avenue (bet. Union & University)
Seattle, Washington|48 98101
United States
Description:
Arnaldo! drag chanteuse!

Click Here To View Event

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After Dark Review by John Hoglund
Category: Art and Photography

AfterDark Reviews:
By John Hoglund, Cabaret Hotline Online

Arnaldo
Just An Old Fashioned Girl"
The Duplex "  Septembre 27, 28 & 29, 2007 

Because it's so easy to rely on the overextension of camp, shows by female impersonators always risk being redundant and sometimes tasteless. With rare exceptions like the late Charles Pierce and others of his ilk, who depended mainly on over- exaggerated spoofs of famous ladies, the creator's imagination gets as far as the maquillage and stops, as though painting their faces and dressing up were enough. Consequently, the act gets stuck at some bar room level, without the intelligence and entertainment value that would make it fly in cabaret. Not so here.

Arnaldo is not just another drag act. Arnaldo is "Just An Old Fashioned Girl" and about as close to an old time night club chanteuse as we're likely to find on today's scene. Armed with an hour's worth of well-chosen songs, fun banter and laid back ease with an audience, this drag is no drag. He's the real deal in a world where prejudices and quick judgements are too often the norm. Not since Clinton Leupp made his sensation debut as "Miss Coco Peru" in 1992 at Rose's Turn and later Eighty Eight's has a man in drag left such an impact in a cabaret debut. However, Leupp created a gay character that propelled him to instant recognition locally in a carefully scripted act that was delivered with a mix of camp and high drama that worked for the underpinning of a complicated tale of happy and sad experiences. Eschewing all that, Arnaldo is simply an entertainer with a future who fully engages his audience.

Looking beautiful in a satin peach gown with a flowing chiffon wrap, he sang standards and novelty songs that had his adoring fans (many had flown in from his native Seattle) cheering throughout his well balanced set. With musical director Bob Bruneau and a guest solo spot with talented thrush Jenna Esposito, the delightful show made for one of the most unpretentious, high quality acts to emerge from Gotham nightlife in awhile that even gravitates more toward Rosemary Clooney or Ella Fitzgerald in its good taste in song and substance which he notes early on adding, " ... well, I'm not influenced by Britney Spears or Paris Hilton!"

He has fun with "I'm Just An Old Fashioned Girl" (Marve Fisher) and "I Enjoy Being a Girl" (Rogers and Hammerstein ll) and he also notes, " I also like Chopin and Bizet and the songs of yesterday." The room exploded in side-splitting laughter with his one recklessly over the top comedy number singing "She's Got You" (Cochran) aided by a seemingly endless stream of bizarre and kinky props hidden beneath the ball gown he has changed to.

But it was on the more serious songs that you knew this was a special artist with depth and intelligence on classics like "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" (Rodgers and Hart) and the Piaf classic "Hymne a l'mour" (Piaf-Monnot.) On such moments, it was like watching one of yesteryear's femmes caught up in the rapture of romance in a smoky nightclub from an old movie.

In closing, he noted with humility, "It all started with a dream in the cabaret rooms of Seattle. I hope what I do opens some minds and hearts to keep believing in spite of the prejudices that still exist in our society." It led to a heartfelt reading of "If You Believe" (Smalls.) This was a significant debut by a "drag chanteuse" worthy of top billing at any major hotel or casino showroom.

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