Ssens Duo

Ssens Duo perform a fixed trapeze spectacle of sensuality and hovering beauty. Genevieve Landry and Maxime Clabaut both graduated from the prestigious école Nationale du Cirque de Montréal in Canada. Early in their career, they were sought out by large companies such as Cirque du Soleil. In 2005 Genevieve and Maxime were invited to appear on Patrick Sébastien’s television show “Le plus grand cabaret du monde” in Paris, where they performed for the first time to a European audience. In January 2006, while in Paris, these young artists were awarded a special jury prize in the 27th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain. Ssens Duo has performed in international circus festivals (Paris and Budapest), and in grand events, concerts and prestigious evenings throughout the world (London, Tel-Aviv, Montreal). Most recently, Ssens Duo have concentrated their career on performing for world famous variety cabarets, which has led them to Seattle for their second Teatro ZinZanni engagement in Hearts on Fire.

Rachel DeShon

"Rarely have I come across as talented and noteworthy a person as Rachel DeShon,"
- Marvin Hamlisch.

A Seattle native and BFA cum laude graduate of Western Illinois University, Rachel had performed nationally and internationally. Highlights include winning Marvin Hamlisch's Search for a Star competition with the Seattle Symphony, performing with the Boston Pops under the direction of Keith Lockhart, The Vietnam Gala at the Esplanade in Singapore, and The International Cabaret Conference at Yale University. She received the Encouragement Award for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, won First Place in the NATS & Pafe Auditions in Classical and Musical Theatre divisions, Western Illinois University Concerto Competition, Seattle Civic Opera Guild Auditions, and The City Opera Company Young Opera Singers Competition. Performance highlights include: Cunegonde in Candide, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Lucille Frank in Parade, Papagena in The Magic Flute, and, of course, as The 'Littlest' Diva in Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle and San Francisco. Rachel dedicates this run to the loving memory of her big brother Tim.

Christine Deaver

An actor, singer, writer, director and voiceover artist, Christine Deaver has worked extensively in theatre, film and television in L.A. and abroad. Some favorite roles include performance artist Elsa Lasker-Schuler in Nosferatu, the over-sexed babysitter in the CBS sitcom Yes Dear, Tammy Wynette and Anita Bryant in Reagan's Women, white trash mama Lacy in the indie film Stalled, Steve Martin's Italian sister in the film My Blue Heaven (...she ended up on the cutting room floor, but she's not bitter...well maybe a little). Christine is a nominee and recipient of numerous Garland, Ovation and L.A. Weekly awards for her work in the theatre and a member of the Zoo District Theatre Company. She has written and performed several one-woman shows including Ah, Families, Leave it to Deaver, and Bodacious and toured them throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Recently, Christine was seen as the formidable Russian spy in the 60's homage The Defenders, as the power-hungry fire inspector in Empire Hotel and as the voice of Sarah Palin, Heidi Montag, Carrie Bradshaw and a plethora of others in the series The Yards. She is currently working on her first solo CD for your listening pleasure and is thrilled to be back home in the land of the Space Needle and Dick's Drive-in!

Thelma Houston

With over 23 albums to her credit, and over 43 years of performing, Thelma is perhaps best known for her 1977 smash hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” a dance-floor-filling rendition of the Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes classic. Houston got her start singing gospel with the renowned Art Reynolds Singers in the late ‘60s, and soon her emotive style and passionate vocal delivery caught the attention of industry moguls which launched her solo pop and r&b recording career. In 1972 Houston was the first artist signed to Motown’s new MoWest label and recorded several top-20 r&b hits before striking Grammy® gold in ‘77. Houston has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in pop and r&b, including Jimmy Webb, Aretha Franklin, Cyndi Lauper, Niles Rogers, Phoebe Snow, Chaka Kahn, Mavis Staples, Patti LaBelle, Jerry Lewis, the late, Sammy Davis, Jr. & Lou Rawls, Smokey Robinson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bill Cosby and Dionne Warwick just to name a few. She has appeared in both Seattle and San Francisco ZinZanni productions. Please visit Thelma's "official" website at, www.ThelmaHouston.com?

El Vez

El Vez Sweeping through the crowd with the grace of a 1959 Coupe de Ville, Teatro ZinZanni’s glittering crooner is the legendary Mexican Elvis, El Vez. “Born” the love child of Charo and the true King, El Vez has been taking care of business and preaching Elvis love and Chicano power since he was old enough to dress himself in gold lame. Audiences around the world swoon for his twisting salsa-hips and Latino renditions of Presley classics such as "En el Barrio," "Está Bien, Mamacita," and "Viva La Raza." El Vez has numerous recordings under his studded white belt, including "Graciasland" and "G.I. Ay, Ay! Blues." His very first recording (with ‘70s punk sensations, The Zeros) is on display at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, where he was an original ZinZanni Seattle cast member since 2002.

Les Petits Frères

Les Petits Frères (Gregory Marquet, Mickael Bajazet, Domitil Aillot) formed in 1993 at the internationally acclaimed Annie Fratellini Circus School in Paris where they were trained in the fine arts of the circus by master teachers, Davis Bogino and Nelly Rachman. The European press called them the “Floating Act” because of their unique ability to defy gravity with graceful aerial acrobatics. The wit and charm of their unforgettable act has been captivating audiences around the world for many years. In 1999 they toured the U. S. with Barnum’s Kaleidoscape. In recent years they have performed at some of the best venues in the world including Cirque D’Hiver Bouglione in Paris and Apollo Variété in Düsseldorf, Tiger Palast in Frankfurt, Winter Garden in Berlin, and Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle and San Francisco.

Vita

A featured performer in the 2003 Tiger Lillies circus tour of Finland, France, England, Germany and Greece, the sensational Ukrainian contortionist Vita Radionova made her North American debut in Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle in 2004. She graduated from the legendary Circus School of Kiev in 1999, and since then has performed her elegant and sensual act at some of the finest venues in Europe, including the Apollo in Düsseldorf, Palazzo in Munich and Frankfurt, and with Circus Salto Natale in Zurich. Vita most recently performed in Japan. Enchanting, mesmerizing, sexy and sensuous, Vita defies the laws of physics with her powerfully mesmerizing act.

Orchestra DeVille

Norman Durkee - Musical Director, Piano, Keyboards
Norman Durkee's whole life seems to have prepared him for his role as Musical Director of Teatro ZinZanni. Durkee was a piano playing child prodigy and got his first break working for Seattle Opera's youth program, where he created a touring "opera" for kids with director Arne Zaslove. The latter lead to his appointment to lead the band for the opera's memorable production of The Who's Tommy at the Moore Theatre, which gave the young Bette Midler her first starring role on stage. Durkee's work includes 18 ballets, 32 chamber works and commercials for Boeing, Nike, Coca-Cola and many other corporations. He was also musical director for Hair and composed several scores for Daniel Sullivan at Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Hans Teuber - Saxophone, Clarinet & Bass
The son of two professional musicians, Hans came to Seattle in 1988 and has established himself as one of the Northwest's top-call musicians. Over the years he has performed with many of the greats, from Dizzie Gillespie to Ani DiFranco. Hans teaches at Cornish College of the Arts. In September 2009, Hans did the arrangements for the premiere of Mirror Tent Music Presents Stone Gossard & The HankKhoir at Teatro ZinZanni.

Luis "Loco" Peralta - Percussion
Percussionist Luis Peralta of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has moved Seattle audiences since 1975. He has played along side such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Lalo Schifrin and Blossom Dearie. Luis was honored as part of an all-star drummers concert in Carnegie Hall in the company of Grady Tate, Tito Puente, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Jo Jones, and Art Blakey.

John Morton - Guitar
With literally thousands of commercials and well over two hundred albums, including Boy Meets Girl, Sheena Easton, and The Brothers Four to his credit, John has played with the likes of Abraham Laboriel, Carlos Vega, Jimmy Johnson and Don Grusin.