Liberace and Liza at CoHo this December

This holiday season, gather around the piano and raise a cup of holiday cheer with two of the biggest personalities in show business - Liberace and Liza Minnelli!

In a dazzling display of sequins and song, Liberace (David Saffert) and Liza (Jillian Snow Harris) invite you to share in the gaudy gifts of virtuosic piano medleys, holly jolly song sing-a-longs, and an ever-rotating cast of popular Portland personalities. Harkening back to the days of classic variety shows and televised Christmas specials, this heartwarming homage is sure to put the whole family in the holiday spirit.

Like Liberace, David Saffert is a classically-trained pianist from Wisconsin with a passion for both music and entertainment. From elaborate costumes to painstakingly researched piano transcriptions, Saffert's mission is to give audiences an authentic Liberace experience. When not portraying Liberace, Saffert plays for the Portland Opera, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Tony Starlight's Showroom.

After seeing Saffert's portrayal, Liberace's own musical director Bo Ayars (now a resident of St. Johns) joined forces with Saffert to elevate the act to a whole new level, providing insight into the real Mr. Showmanship's piano-playing, speech, and mannerisms. Ayars and Saffert have begun to perform together, delighting audiences who were lucky enough to see the real Liberace perform, and providing an honest tribute for those who never had the chance.

Bo Ayers will be a special guest on opening night of this show, along with Tony Starlight of Tony Startlight's Showroom!

***Special guests for the first weekend of performances include the three-man singing group BelloVoci, and local opera and musical theatre talent Dru Rutledge. For the most updated list of special guests, visit http://saffertinsequins.com/events/

Jillian Snow Harris has thrilled audiences across the country with her spot-on impersonation of Liza Minnelli. After graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, the singer/actor/comedienne portrayed Liza in Comedy Clubs throughout New York before bringing her big voice home to Portland, OR, where she was featured in the US Premiere of Liza, Liza, Liza at triangle! Productions. Now a regular performer at Tony Starlight's Showroom, Harris delights audiences with a diverse repertoire of famous female voices, including Bernadette Peters, Eartha Kitt, and Judy Garland. While her sharp comic timing and exaggerated Liza quirks will have audiences doubled over in laughter, it's when she starts belting out songs that it quickly becomes clear that her talent is no joke.

For 21 years, CoHo Productions has pioneered artist led co-production as a model of creating theatre. Each season, CoHo solicits scripts and project proposals from Portland's community of theatre professionals and selects three to produce in partnership. The artistic vision is democratic, reflecting the tastes of the Portland theatre community from the ground up. Seasons are diverse and unpredictable; the sole quality nurtured and insisted on is excellence.

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