If you live in Seattle and haven't been to Teatro ZinZanni for a performance, you're missing out. We recently visited the Moulin Rouge for Hotel' L'Amour - and it didn't disappoint! Thank you again to Teatro Zinzanni for inviting us as their guest for an amazing evening.
Check your worries at the door and step into the world's grandest hotel! When the staff of Hotel L'Amour get wind of the Madame's return, they literally bend over backward to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. Madame reflects on her life and tales of wonder as the Caesar charms his way into her good graces. With magic and maître' d's, bellhops and puppet masters, aerialists and sommeliers, you'll never want to check out of Hotel L'Amour.
The story of the grand hotel and the Madame is my new Zinzanni favorite, under that beautiful spiegeltent. So much so that I think I may have to talk my husband about coming back for a second showing. It was a wonderful story with a delightful cast - it's hard to put it into words. 🙂
Teatro ZinZanni is a wonderful balance of performers - ZinZanni veterans and those new to the tent. It's always fun to see an "old favorite" like Frank Ferrante, who we've seen several times over the past few years. Returning to Zinzanni is Madame Liliane Montevecchi, who last performed alongside Ferrante in 2011. Montevecchi has starred along side Elvis Presley, Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, and more recently "How To Lose A Guy in Ten Days" with Matthew McConaughey. (Side note, I'd love to sit down with the two of them, I imagine it would be an interview like no other.)
The cast of Hotel L'Amour
Liliane Montevecchi
Living legend, actress, dancer and diva, Liliane Montevecchi returns to Seattle in the original production, Hotel L'Amour. Best known for her Tony Award-winning role in Tommy Tune's Nine and in Grand Hotel, Montevecchi's illustrious career spans four decades. Born in Paris, she joined Roland Petit Ballet as a prima ballerina at age 18, spent seven years under contract to MGM, appearing in movies opposite Elvis Presley, Marlon Brando and Fred Astaire, and more. For 10 years, she was the star of The Folies Bergere in Paris and Las Vegas. Her most recent film is "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days," with Matthew McConaughey. She has starred in musicals such as Irma La Douce, Gigi, Hello, Dolly!, and La Plume de Ma Tante. Audiences have applauded her performances at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and at Lincoln Center in a concert version of Follies. On TV she guest-starred in more than 20 shows, and was nominated for an Emmy for Playhouse 90s's Child of Our Time. She has taken her own highly acclaimed show, On the Boulevard, around the world, and played in prestigious cabaret venues including the Algonquin, the Russian Tea Room and Rainbow and Stars and has recently performed her one-woman show to standing ovations in London and Paris. In Paris she received the Boulevard Award for her role as Mistinguett at the Opera Comique. Along with being knighted a "Dame" for her time spent doing humanitarian work, she was recently honored by the French Minister of Culture as the "Officer of Arts and Culture" to France and the world at large.Frank Ferrante
Frank Ferrante is an actor and director whose acting and improvisation was dubbed "masterful" by the Chicago Tribune and "artful" by The New York Times. Frank originated the title role in Groucho: A Life in Revue written by Groucho's son Arthur in New York, London, and on PBS. He earned New York's Theatre World Award, a New York Outer Critics Circle and London's Laurence Olivier nomination for 'Comedy Performance of the Year.' For three summers, he played his one-man An Evening With Groucho at Seattle's ACT Theatre. Following Hotel L'Amour, Frank is touring 35 cities in Australia with the show. In 1995, he directed and developed the premiere of the Pulitzer finalist Old Wicked Songs. Frank guest-starred as a talking mime on Rob Corddry's Emmy-winning "Children's Hospital," is a voice on the animated "Garfield" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" shows, and was a question on TV's Jeopardy. Frank has been a regular at Teatro ZinZanni since 2001.Maestro Voronin
Known throughout the world as "The Maestro," Ukrainian-born illusionist Voronin has been described as the essence of Buster Keaton and Jacques Tati. After graduating from renowned Kiev Academy of Circus and Variety Arts and Russian University of Theater Arts, Voronin founded his own company, The Theater of Cagliostro. He is an acclaimed recipient of first place in magic competitions in Germany, Moscow, and Austria; Monte Carlo Magic Stars award, Magic Hands Grand Prix, Siegfried and Roy prize for Master Magician, and The Great Lafayette award. Well-known in the world of magic for his unique style, director's vision and original character creation, Voronin is one of the most sought-after stars of the European cabaret circuit. He is returning to Seattle fresh from his most recent appearance at the International Festival of Magic in Madrid, Spain. An original cast member from the first 1998 tour, this show marks Voronin's 24th Teatro ZinZanni performance.Dreya Weber
An acclaimed actress, producer, aerialist, choreographer and musician, Dreya headlined in Teatro ZinZanni's, Hail Caesar!, Gangsters Of Love, When Sparks Fly, and The Hot Spot. She produced and stars in the feature film "Raven's Touch" as well as "A Marine Story" and "The Gymnast," and has been honored with 48 international festival awards including seven 'best actress' wins. As aerial choreographer, Dreya conceived Pink's celebrated 2014 and 2010 Grammy performances, deemed "transcendent" by Oprah Winfrey. Choreographic credits include Michael Jackson, Cher, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, and all of Pink's tours. Writing credits include Raven's Touch, Club Seduce, and Gangsters Of Love. Dreya recently starred in the documentary Driven, and is proud to be a part of the P90X workouts - 1, 2 & 3. Dreya has starred in plays all over the world and will be returning to Holland this winter to appear in Ola Mafaalani's Fellini at the Noord Nederlands Toneel.Kristin Clayton
American lyric soprano Kristin Clayton has enjoyed portraying some of the great leading ladies in the operatic repertoire with companies throughout the United States. She has garnered high praise for her appearances with Houston Grand Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Theater of Saint Louis, and San Francisco Opera, where she is a graduate of both the prestigious Merola and Adler Fellow Programs. An original San Francisco ZinZanni cast member, Ms. Clayton's vocal and theatrical artistry has been on display in the spiegeltent in a wide variety of roles. Ms. Clayton, who lives in San Francisco, is featured on a recording of Jake Heggie's songs titled "The Faces of Love", (RCA-Red Seal), as the Young Babylonian in Massenet's "Herodiade", (Sony Classical) and on a Teatro ZinZanni recording of "The Divas".Svetlana Perekhodov
Russian performance artist Svetlana blends modern dance, pantomime skills, magic, and contortion in the creation of her sensational puppet act. Undulating, shifting, transforming right before your eyes, Svetlana's puppet has been warmly received by the audience as both a highly skilled acrobatic performance and as a new comedic and romantic character. Trained in the ancient art of contortion from the age of nine, Svetlana studied at the Kiev Municipal Academy of Circus and Variety Arts and has performed at some of Europe's most distinguished venues including the Wintergarten and the Apollo, Palazzo. She is an original Teatro ZinZanni cast member.Viktor Kee
Ukrainian born juggler Viktor Kee has been performing on stage since he was six years old and graduated from the professional Academy of Circus Arts in Kiev. A favorite with audiences around the world, Viktor has performed at the Moulin Rouge, Lido de Paris, the Friedrichstadtpalast in Berlin, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand with Barbra Streisand in Las Vegas. He has also toured internationally with Cirque du Soleil's Dralion and Amaluna. Quite possibly the world's best juggler, he has developed a unique, mesmerizing style of juggling that melds dance, acrobatics, and juggling into a wondrous ballet of sensuality. Recently, Viktor founded the nonprofit Viktor Kee Foundation, which focuses on giving back to communities by creating charity missions around the globe where Art Helps the World! Viktor made his Teatro ZinZanni debut in 2008 and is excited to return to Seattle in Hotel L'Amour.Ling Rui
Rui has been performing and training in the circus arts since he was very young. At the age of 10 he joined the Flag Circus of China where he traveled worldwide. In 2000, he joined Cirque du Soleil's Dralion and toured North America and Europe for five years. In 2006, Rui joined another Cirque production Delirium with his straps act. He presented his act and received numerous prestigious awards including the gold medal at the Wuhan International Acrobatic Arts Festival. Rui was also a finalist in the "Amazing Chinese" TV show. In 2010 ¡Caliente! marked the debut of his straps act with Teatro ZinZanni, which he has been performing off and on since then. In his off-stage time, Rui is focusing on a transitioning to an artistic direction. Most recently he served as Artistic Director for a world-class aquatic production in China by Franco Dragone.
Get ready for several hours of amazing talent, and audience participation, illusions, acrobatics and so much more. Not to mention a 5-course feast, choosing from meat, seafood, or vegetarian options. With your dinner, enjoy a flight of finely paired wines to compliment each unique course.
Don't miss this amazing show, which runs through September 26, 2016. Tickets start at $99 and you can buy them online at http://zinzanni.com/seattle or by calling the box office at (206) 802-0015
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