6th Annual Moisture Festival Kicks Off 3/11 At ACT

The 6th Annual Moisture Festival kicks off March 11, 2009 at ACT with 10 shows in the Falls Theatre. This year, as a part of The Central Heating Lab at ACT, the festival plans to dazzle and delight even more people, of all ages, with five Grand Varietè shows (family friendly) and five Burlesque shows (18 years and over). On March 19th, the Festival continues with comedy/varietè shows at Hales Palladium through April 5, 2009.

The family friendly all ages varietè shows include captivating acts of skill and daring - be it aerial, acrobatic, clowning, rope tricks, sketch comedy, juggling, dancing, singing, magic, puppetry, and astonishing bubbles. A live show band provides the underlying pulse that propels the show to create a fantastic family entertainment experience. Performances are: March 11, 13, and 14 at 7:30 p.m.; March 14 at 2:00 p.m. and March 15 at 5:30 p.m.

For an intimate adult evening, The Moisture Festival presents its glorious Libertease Burlesque shows. Featuring a tantalizing mix of burlesque stars and ribald comedy/varietè acts, these shows seduce and delight while tickling your funny bone. Performances are: March 12, 13, 14 at 10:30 p.m.; March 12 at 7:30 p.m. and March 15 at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets to the varietè shows are $10-$20, and $15-$25 for the burlesque performances. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.acttheatre.org or call ACT's Ticket Office at (206) 292-7676.

Aerialists:
The Aerialistas - Seattle's premiere all girl aerial gang
Eric Newton - formerly with Cirque de Soleil

Tamara the Trapeze Lady - Columbia City Cabaret Mistress of Ceremonies
Richochet - Aerial duo, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sally Pepper - Seattle star of the rope swing, Circus Contraption

The Velone Sisters - aerial duo from The Aerialistas and UMO ensemble
Quynbi
Amanda Crockett

Burlesque:
Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey - Baltimore
Indigo Blue - Star of the new film "A Wink and A Smile"
Miss Lily Verlaine
The Shanghai Pearl
Inga Ingénue

Plus:
Baby Gramps, Bellini Twins, Daniel Forlano, Dr Calamari & Acrophelia, Flaming Idiots, Foolz, Fyodor Karamazov, Godfrey Daniels, Hilary Chaplain, Hokum W. Jeebs, Jim Page, Jonathan Rose, Lelavision, Los Magnificos!, Mud Bay Jugglers, The Peculiärs, Reid Belstock, Rob Williams, Smerdyakov Karamazov. UMO Ensemble

This performance genre has its roots in the Music Halls of 19th century England. It evolved into Cabaret in Europe and Vaudeville in America. It's an intriguing assortment of entertainment featuring highly skilled performance mixed with unique talents, often humorous, with no limit to the imagination. The Moisture Festival's Varietè shows feature a rapid succession of acts showcasing comedy alongside awe-inspiring physical and mental dexterity, with poignant moments of strength and delicate beauty. Aerialists, jugglers, comedians, dancers, rope acts, bubble acts, clowns, acrobats, can can girls, tap dancers, drill teams, the weird and the wonderful- all keeping the tradition of Comedy/Varietè/Vaudeville alive. Each show is propelled by a live show band.

The Central Heating Lab at ACT is dedicated to cultivating new work by artists working in theater, music, dance, spoken word, film, visual art, and more. ACT provides the space and resources for both experienced and emerging artists to develop ideas in a collaborative environment, and promote new work. The Moisture Festival is committed to developing the art of presenting Varietè shows that satisfy audiences' cravings for shared live experiences that are enjoyable and inspiring. Both the Central Heating Lab and The Moisture Festival embrace the unlimited creative possibilities. The ticket prices for the festival shows are kept reasonable to insure that families and people from all corners of the community can visit the theater for some real affordable fun inside ACT's historic halls.

The mission of the festival is to showcase the many wonderful talents of Comedy/Varietè artists. Word of this springtime event, the amenable audiences and the camaraderie of the artists has spread around the USA and beyond, enhancing the festival's reputation as the major event for this exciting form of entertainment. In 2004 the first Moisture Festival was held in a Fremont tent and dazzled audiences for five straight days. In 2005 The Moisture Festival added Burlesque to the mix for its late night performances. Returning each year since then to celebrate spring, this exhilarating form of theatre has expanded into new venues including ACT Theatre, Hales Palladium in Fremont and SIFF Cinema.

For the past 44 seasons, ACT's mission has been to inspire our diverse community through theatre that advances our understanding of human life. To dare, excite, and enrich artists and audiences. To steward our many resources. Through The Central Heating Lab, ACT seeks to heat things up and create a conversation with its season that reaches for an even deeper impact.

ACT gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Season Sponsors ArtsFund, ACT Foundation, The Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, and The Shubert Foundation, along with Producing Partners 4Culture, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, The Boeing Company, Microsoft Corporation, Nesholm Family Foundation, the Peg & Rick Young Foundation, and PONCHO.

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