Liberace Goes Glamping?
Was Liberace a woodsy guy? Probably not. But David Saffert had to be. This past weekend David had the honor of performing as Liberace at the wedding reception of Ninkasi Brewery co-founder Jamie Floyd and Lila Bichel. About 30 miles east of Eugene, Oregon is a beautiful outdoor spot called the Oregon Cliff House. Overlooking the McKenzie River, it is breathtaking.
Jamie has been an incredible sponsor of ours, most notably this past Christmas when we debuted our "A Liberace & Liza Christmas." Cheers to the happy couple and we hope you enjoy these 'rare' photos of Liberace in the great outdoors!
Jamie Floyd takes the cape off like a pro!
The newlyweds look on as Liberace wonders if the microphone clashes with his outfit.
Liberace did not read the fine print in his contract.
"This star is missing my name."
Q&A with Jason Bray
In Sequins Productions costumer Jason Bray
Jason Bray at the Michael Curry Design costume shop
I met Jason Bray several years ago while we were both working at Portland Opera. Eventually, I would ask Jason to create my Liberace wardrobe. He works on a lot of interesting projects, so it seemed fitting that I introduce him to all of you. I think you'll enjoy the following discussion I had with him.
Portland Opera & Michael Curry Design
Portland Opera's Rinaldo. Design: Jacob Climer
David: What work did you do at Portland Opera?
Jason: I was their First Hand, Assistant Shop Manager, and Design Assistant. We built several new productions for Portland Opera, most of which I was the Design Assistant for (Rinaldo/Galileo Galilei/Postcard from Morocco). The designer is never in town, so the Design Assistant is responsible for doing all the shopping and communicating with the shop. I’ve done lots of work with designer Sue Bonde. Lots of detail! Lots of gold trim! BLING! See, working with you is the culmination of all my training because of Sue Bonde being my mentor, and she’s the queen of bling.
David: And what do you do now for Michael Curry Design?
Jason: I'm a Fabric Artist. Projects that are more costume related come to me. Things that have tight deadlines. I do a lot of dye work. I work on a lot of projects that require specialty sourcing of materials, which is how I discovered the LA garment district. I also source from China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The textiles we got for the Dementor project came from Japan.
David: Let's talk about Japan! How long were you there and what were you doing?
Jason: I was in Osaka, Japan three times from December through May at Harry Potter World in Universal Studios. We were building flying Dementors for their “Expecto Patronum Night Show.”
Promo photo for "Expecto Patronum Night Show" at Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan
David: Was this the first time you’ve worked overseas?
Jason: No, I also worked at Shanghai Disneyland last year. I was at their Grand Opening Celebration doing costumes and props.
David: You must have some interesting people show up at Michael Curry’s.
Jason: We get client visits from Disney and Universal Studios all the time. Siegfried from Siegfried & Roy has been here because he’s friends with Michael (Curry). Steve Wynn is another of his friends that makes appearances. Who else? It was a bummer that Michael Jackson was never here. We did all the puppetry for his “This is It” tour. A couple of my colleagues are in the “This is It” documentary that was made from the rehearsal footage for the tour.
For Fun
David: I know that you listen to music while you work. What music has inspired you?
Jason: At the opera I tortured people with some of my music tastes. Most notably Philip Glass. I have quite a Glass collection. I find his music to be so focusing. Lately I’ve been listening to Eydie Gorme & Steve, the Nirvana Unplugged album, opera, classical music, and Liberace.
David: What do you eventually want to make for Jillian?
Jason: I need to make her some kind of Bob Mackie-Liza Minnelli outfit! Mackie designed for everybody… the Carol Burnett Show, Cher… The quintessential Liza outfit is the sparkle jumpsuit. Black or red.
David: If you could design and build costumes for anyone, who would it be?
Jason: It used to be Lady Gaga. Definitely RuPaul. I’m also in love with this guy, Perfume Genius. I’d love to costume him.
The Next Liberace Outfit!
David: I’m sitting here looking at swatches of the Liberace Christmas costume you are making for me. You are creating it. It’s not based on an actual Liberace outfit.
Jason: Well, there’s a Liberace style I’m trying to emulate. He originated this style. All these people that came after him, like Elton John and Prince, emulated him. One of the major inspirations for your Christmas outfit is from my book about the Russian Master Goldsmith’s Faberge eggs. There’s a template that I’m following, but I’m dressing it differently; gold and green and red sparkle, plaid, poinsettias, jingle bells, and holly.
And finally, for the kids
David: What do you have to say to children who would like to have a job like yours?
Jason: Being a doctor or lawyer is nice! No… you don’t have to go to a fancy school and pay a lot of money. A degree in design is great, but you go to a firm like Michael Curry’s and there’s ONE designer. Learn as much as you can from home or a private sewing tutor. Try to get an internship. Get in ground level somewhere and don’t put yourself in debt over it! You should definitely learn how to sew, know your way around a sewing machine, but most importantly be able to take direction. That’s what I look for when hiring. Can someone take direction? I want people who listen, have some sort of skill to build on, and be willing to improve. Most of my best stitchers have been retired people and those who have learned from home.
But what about Project Runway?
Jason: You can’t be doing this for any recognition or stardom. Project Runway is NOT reality! It’s fun, but it’s not real. It’s a fantasy that you’re going to be a star and that these outfits are busted out in an hour.
Thank you for reading, folks! And thank you to Jason Bray for taking the time to answer a few questions. If YOU have any questions that you would like to ask Jason, please leave them in the comments section below.
- David
P.S. To see Jason's Liberace outfits in action, check out our GALLERY & VIDEO page.
Happy Birthday, Liberace!
What a rock star! And look at that smile. His zany zest for life was contagious. So much has been said concerning his warmth and generosity as a performer and human being. What more could I possibly add? Happy 98th, good sir. You and your music are remembered, just as you had hoped.
Enjoy this clip of Liberace playing "12th Street Rag."
Happy Birthday, Maestro!
Bo Ayars turns "39 plus tax"
"39 plus tax." That's how Liberace would answer someone if they asked him his age. Bo Ayars is a gem of a human and musician. He's lived three times a normal person's life and he's still going strong. There's much more to Bo than music, but it has definitely driven and defined his life.
We love you, Bo. Here's to years & years of great music and friendship.
Sincerely, David & Jillian
Introducing our Marketing Director
Jason Michael Miller
In Sequins Productions is pleased to bring aboard the marketing talents of Jason Michael Miller. Originally a good-ol' Midwestern boy, Jason lives in New York City and is the perfect publicist to "start spreading the news." We are humbled by his enthusiasm for our shows and we look forward to our collaboration. Also, he'd kind of make a nice Scott Thorson, don't you think? We'll see.
Mother's Day Brunch Show WINNER!
Our newsletter recipients were given the opportunity to have their names put into a drawing for two free tickets to our May 14th Mother's Day Brunch Show at Tony Starlight's Showroom. Names went into a sparkly silver Liza hat and one lucky person was drawn.
Below is the video of our winner being drawn! Congratulations!!
There will be more drawings and fun in the future, so if you have not registered for our newsletter, CLICK HERE!
Whether you won or not, check out our Calendar page for all upcoming shows.
We're a company!
In Sequins Productions LLC
We love what we do. Call it an addiction if you will. It is our goal to take our brand of entertainment to new levels and to share & honor the talent & spirit of the world's greatest entertainers. This is step one in what we hope will be an exciting adventure for not only us, but our audiences as well. Our fingers are crossed, which is hard to do with so many big rings!
Forming a company took a lot of time and effort, and we could not have done it without the guidance and advice from some very smart people: Dave & Kathy Saffert, Aaron Cronan (Cronan Law), Tony Starlight, Stephanie Cordell, Marilyn Scott (SCORE), and Jim Brickman.
Our audiences are what keep us going. Thank YOU for coming and inspiring us!
- Jillian, Bo, & David
Gorgeous photos from "Dirty, Stupid Music"
Kenton Waltz, a professional photographer in Portland, Oregon, took some marvelous photos of our show "Dirty, Stupid Music." Actually, he took around 250 photos. I've chosen a few to share with you.
Resonance Ensemble's "Dirty, Stupid Music"
Photography by Kenton Waltz
David Saffert as Liberace
Soprano - Vakare Petroliunaite
Mezzo Soprano - Beth Madsen Bradford
Baritone - Erik Hundtoft
Baritone - Stacey Murdock
Resonance Ensemble's "Dirty, Stupid Music" on All Classical Portland
Vakare Petroliunaite, Beth Madsen Bradford, David Saffert, Stacey Murdock, & Erik Hundtoft
Resonance Ensemble's "Dirty, Stupid Music" cast had the honor of performing on All Classical Portland's live radio broadcast of "Thursdays @ Three." Robert McBride was on fire as host and Stacey Murdock, Beth Madsen Bradford, Erik Hundtoft, and Vakare Petroliunaite sang for a very enthusiastic studio audience! David Saffert played piano and gave the audience a little taste of his Liberace wardrobe.
Host Robert McBride & David Saffert - live broadcast on All Classical Portland Radio
A history of "a la Liberace!" Act 2
Some major talent was being assembled for that 4th year birthday show. But Jillian, my Liza Minnelli, was about to give me some news that would change our lives.
click here for Act 1
Act 2
A Rhinestone in the Rough
Now let me make something perfectly clear: I never intended this Liberace act to continue after my 4th birthday show. Ne-ver. It was to be fun and surprising and wonderful. And then 'hasta la vista.' But about two weeks before we opened, do you know what happened? Jillian suddenly informs me that Bo Ayars, Liberace's Music Director, lives in Portland. Huh? "Yeah, he plays piano over at Tony Starlight's. They're having a staff Christmas party tomorrow night. I'm going and you can be my date." Jillian worked for Tony's music club waiting tables, so it wasn't out of the question for me to tag along. But meet Bo Ayars? Chapter 9 of "Liberace: An Autobiography" Bo Ayars? What would I say? What would I wear? Breathe, dummy.
David Saffert & Bo Ayars
It's interesting the mental picture we get of someone before we meet them. Having not seen Bo before, I imagined him looking like a combination of Burt Bacharach and Marvin Hamlisch. Jillian and I entered Tony's club late: We'd had a rehearsal, and by the time we got there Tony was giving away the final White Elephant gifts. It only took me a few seconds to scan the room and make my guess. "That guy... that's Bo Ayars." He was sitting alone at a table near the stage and I could wait no longer. Jillian led me through the club, and when we approached he was all smiles. "Hello, Jillian!" he boomed. (What a voice and expression!) "Hey, Bo," replied Jillian. "I want you to meet someone. This is David Saffert and he's going to be playing..." Embarrassed, I interrupted. "I've read about you recently in a book, Bo. Liberace's autobiography." Bo was as delighted as he was surprised: Someone was reading that book. "Really?" He bellowed. (That voice again!) Bo and Jillian and I sat there and talked for about 15 minutes while the background noise seemed to completely disappear. I was tingling as Bo spouted on about his musical relationship with 'Mr Showmanship.' We were told playful stories about his conducting work in Las Vegas, Radio City Music Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and on and on. It was a fifteen minute talk that felt like fifteen seconds. Not wanting to overstay our welcome, we thanked Bo for his time and memories and retired to the bar. They call alcohol 'liquid courage.' Well, after a stiff Manhattan and a half hour to talk myself into it, I was ready to find Bo and tell him MY Liberace story.
He was about to leave. "Bo!" I shrieked as not to make a scene. And I spilled my saga. Bo listened with the degree of attention one gives another on a good first date. When I'd said all that I could say, I stood there exhausted, and waited. Again, he was all smiles. "I think that's wonderful," he finally said. "Let me give you some advice." I perked. "A lot of people remember Lee for his rings, his costumes, his homosexuality... but you know what he really wanted to be remembered for? As a pianist. Let me know how it goes." And that was that.
David Saffert & Bo Ayars at a dress rehearsal in Superior, Wisconsin
But that wasn't that. Because I emailed Bo the next week and invited him and his wife, Barbara, to the show. "Sounds good," he responded. "We'll be there opening night."
"There is no Try"
Sweet Jesus. The only living person who worked with Liberace more than anyone on the planet was coming to opening night. But I've seen enough "Star Wars" to have had Yoda's philosophy pounded into my head. And it doesn't matter if there's a reviewer in the audience or a Bo Ayars, you 'just do it.' (Additional thanks to Nike)
The show went very well. Jillian and Sammuel were terrific. And to be honest, I was concentrating so much on my act that I completely forgot about Bo and Barbara out there in the dark. That is, until I played Liberace's "Boogie Woogie." There's a music break in the Boogie Woogie where the band (we had bass & drums) yells, "HEY!" It's a little shtick Liberace had invented which invites the audience to join in with a collective "HEY!" during later music breaks. Well, at the first music break my band yelled the first "HEY!" And someone out in the dark joined in with a booming "HEY!" of his own. I'm sure you know who it was.
Bo and Barbara didn't stick around after the show. This worried me. But all panic was tossed aside that next morning as I opened a lengthy email Bo had sent. I read it and cried. Happy-cried. Bo's comments and praise were overwhelming. It was a kind of validation that I had never experienced before. He liked what was happening. And he could foresee a future that Jillian and I had never dreamed of.
Three Years Later
I have three outfits now, and a fourth is on it's way. My new costumer is Jason Bray, and my outfits are tailor made and based on originals. Sammuel, who played Truman Capote and made the first "Rhinestone Costume," was only part of those 4th year birthday shows. I'm happy to say that he now manages and conducts a 14-piece 1920's band called The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra. (I told you he can do anything!)
Jillian, Bo, & David
Our act is solid, but Jillian and I still meet up to work on music and talk about our material and shtick. These rehearsals are mostly for me so that I can get the giggles out before we hit the stage. Bo works on our arrangements. In fact, Bo arranged and conducted twenty numbers from our show for a 6-piece band that we performed September 2016 in Wisconsin. We're stronger than ever, and chances are, wherever you live, there's going to be some Liberace and Liza headed your way.
How did this happen? A history of "a la Liberace!" in two acts
"How did 'a la Liberace!' get started?" "When did you and Jillian realize that you were so good together?" "How did you meet Bo Ayars?" These questions come up time and time again. And it's about time that I gave you some answers.
ACT ONE
Rainbow Connections
Have you seen "The Muppet Movie?" I'm talking about the 1979 film where Kermit decides to make it big and discovers all of his Muppet friends along the way. That's the kind of story I'm about to tell you. Before Liberace had ever entered my mind there were "The Birthday Shows." Every January I created, hosted, and played piano in my own variety shows that happened to land around my birthday. (January 22nd, and this year I just want money.) Each year was a different show with different acts: ballet dancers, classical musicians, puppets, opera singers, etc. I was a sort of Dean Martin who held the shows together by hosting and playing piano for each act. These performances were sell-outs and garnered quite a following. But the 4th year birthday show... that was the one that turned my life sideways.
I wanted that 4th show to be something different. It needed a new direction and it had to possess something that the audience would never see coming. That "something" came in the form of Jillian Snow Harris. Now, I had seen Jillian perform as Liza Minnelli once at a talent show. To say that I was WOWED by her performance is an understatement. Watching Jillian was more comparable to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita witnessing "the splendor of a thousand suns." (Dramatic, isn't it?) Jillian had the physicality, vocals, and soul of Liza. One might ponder if there had been a previous deal with the devil. Whatever the case, I got in touch with Jillian and asked her to play Liza in the 4th Birthday Show. If you saw that one, you know she said, "yes."
My friend Sammuel Hawkins can do just about anything: play musical instruments, costume, build old microphones and speakers. And he does a damn fine Truman Capote impression. He and I were together one night taking in a jazz concert at Vie de Boheme when I asked him to play Capote in my 4th birthday show. He agreed. Great! Now I had a Liza and a Truman! But as that jazz concert continued, I started to think eccentric thoughts. Should I perform as myself or have a go at my own impersonation? Intermission came and I brought up my conundrum with Sammuel. It didn't take him long at all to say, "You should perform as Liberace! In fact, I could make your costume." Upon hearing this, I did not immediately witness 'a thousand suns' as Arjuna had. Who was Liberace? I only knew a little: He was one hell of a pianist who wore lots of rings and draped himself in heavy, elaborate outfits. But maybe that's all I needed to know, because the idea stuck with me and I thought, "Come hell or high water, that's what I'm going to do!"
Liberace for Beginners
Impersonations require 'the look.' But becoming Liberace was going to take everything I had ever learned: piano skills, comedy, improvisation, and guts. Thanks to Sammuel, the costume was already underway. I needed to work on Liberace from the inside-out.
YouTube. Yup, that's where we all go to see and hear whatever we want. I typed in 'Liberace' and there he was in Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, London, at home, on Johnny Carson and Oprah. Try it yourself! You won't be disappointed. It didn't take me long to discover some of his more iconic piano pieces, namely his "Chopsticks" and "Boogie Woogie." I have a good ear. It's something I take for granted. And that's how I started to learn his music - by ear. Listening, rewinding, listening, rewinding. The average person would have chucked their computer out the window after five minutes, but not me. I'm a go-getter, and like I said, "... come hell or high water." I also payed close attention to his onstage mannerisms and vocal cadence. He has a charming way of speaking to his audiences. He's the boy next door. He'd be over in a second if you needed cream and sugar. This resonated with me. I'm a small town Wisconsin boy. Turns out, so was Liberace.
Life was good! I was memorizing music, Jillian was perfecting her already-perfect act, and Sammuel was constructing a costume and rummaging through rings. Samm also provided me with my first candelabra. He owned several. (Did I mention that Samm can do anything?)
At this point my love affair with Liberace started to blossom. So much in fact that I bought his first autobiography, cleverly titled, "Liberace: An Autobiography." My intention for "The Birthday Show" was to perform as "Mr. Showmanship," the genius on stage, but I wanted to know more about him through his own words. His autobiography is a delightful read that spans his childhood through his 1950's television series, Las Vegas appearances, and international tours. There are photos of him with Shelley Winters, Dean Martin, Carol Channing, and Queen Elizabeth. And there's Chapter 9. ??? What could be so important about Chapter 9? Well, a certain individual is mentioned in that chapter who would later become Liberace's arranger and Music Director. A man who would spend the next 13 years of his life being involved in around 5,000 Liberace shows. A man who... happened to live in the same city as I.
Little did I know, luck was about to land on my Liberace doormat.
New Year = New Page!
"Well, look me over!"
Welcome to our new Blog. This page will be updated frequently to provide you with never-before seen photos & video, special interviews, fun facts, and insider information. It's the kind of page you'll want to visit if you've been having a rough day. Or ANY day, for that matter! We keep things light and positive around here. So sit back, relax, and enjoy!
For upcoming shows, check out our CALENDAR page. And if you want special treatment, subscribe to our newsletter by CLICKING HERE!
From all of us at "a la Liberace!" - Happy New Year!
