Seattle Cabaret Stars Jayne Muirhead, John Engerman Debut New Show At ACT

All is revealed as Seattle cabaret luminaries Jayne Muirhead and John Engerman join forces to take audiences on a Fool's Journey of self discovery in the new cabaret show, It's In the Cards, June 3-4 and 10-11 at 8:00 p.m. at ACT Theatre.

Blending original music and cabaret entertainment with divination fun, It's In the Cards will focus on the wisdom - and entertainment! - to be gained from delving into oracular traditions such as the Tarot, palmistry, and astrology. Each evening promises to be a unique event, as each audience will get an opportunity to submit questions and be treated to a custom "throw" from an array of Tarot-like cards. Ancient themes collide with modern life as they confront such mysteries as Why are we here? Why art? Why do fools fall in love? Why suffer?

The show also will feature several of Engerman's original tunes, along with a generous helping of their signature tweaks and torques on music from the '30s through the '60s - and yes, even a smidge of classical music, too. With 30 years in show business, this husband and wife team are among Seattle's musical theatre stars, and It's In the Cards will demonstrate exactly why their brand of sublimely silly, unforgettable cabaret has been a hit with Seattle audiences for more than two decades!

Jayne Muirhead and John Engerman have been creating shows together since 1987, when they first collaborated on ACT Theatre's Songworks production of Jayne's Adventures in Hell. Three years later they married, and began creating a series of one-woman shows at the Cabaret de Paris in Rainier Square: Jayne a la Carte, Indiana Jayne and the UFO, Jayne Unchained and The Once and Future Jayne. It's In the Cards represents the couple's first truly duo show.

About Jayne Muirhead
Muirhead began her professional career in ACT'S Songworks production of Seattle Eclectic in 1979. She has worked continuously since then appearing in such Seattle favorites as Angry Housewives, The Nerd (Pioneer Square Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (The Empty Space), A...My Name Is Alice (Tacoma Actors Guild), Falsettos (The Group Theatre), Bunnicula, Goodnight Moon, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Go, Dog. Go! (Seattle Children's Theatre), Das Barbecu, (Seattle Opera), Menopause - The Musical (ACT), and most recently The Threepenny Opera (Seattle Shakespeare Company). In her spare time she makes jewelry and was the top seller at ACT's Stage Craft Bazaar.

About John Engerman
Engerman has been composing and arranging songs for theatre and cabaret productions since 1975. Highlights include Ronnie Bwana - Jungle Guide, The Big Bad Wolf (and How He Got That Way), Ming the Rude (The Empty Space), The Ballad of Mary Reade (The Bathhouse Theatre), Prince Brat and The Whipping Boy (Seattle Children's Theatre). Cabaret shows featuring his songs and arrangements include The Fabulous Sateens, The Sirens of Swing, and Eunice and Regina Dine and Dish. He also served as music director for the long-running hit Menopause - the Musical at ACT. His latest musical, A Necklace To Die For, based on a true story involving Marie Antoinette, is in development.

About ACT: A Theatre of New Ideas - Raising Consciousness Through Theatre
Located in the heart of downtown Seattle and serving a population of curious, open-minded, and brave audiences, ACT - A Contemporary Theatre is the only theatre in Seattle dedicated to producing contemporary work with promising playwrights and local performing artists since 1965. A theatre of new ideas, ACT serves as a cultural engine that makes plays, dance, music, and film that touch us. Because contemporary life demands examination, ACT is driven to inspire and strengthen our diverse community through works that advance our understanding of human life. With more than 100,000 people who attend shows annually, ACT is an interactive community where artists and the public witness, contemplate, and engage in dialogue on today's thought-provoking issues, ideas and art, presented with intelligence, insight, and humor.

ACT gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our 2011 Season Sponsors: ACT Foundation, The Andrew Mellon Foundation ArtsFund, The Eulalie Bloedel Schneider Artists Fund, The John Graham Foundation, The Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, and The Shubert Foundation.

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