A one-of-a-kind dance/theater spectacular by Seattle’s incomparable drag-clown phenomenon.
Cherdonna returns after a smash hit at the 2010 Risk/Reward Festival! Drawing on Carl Sagan’s series Cosmos and female icons Kate Bush and Diane Keaton– Worth My Salt looks at the timely theme of gender inequity through the lens of an existential crisis. How do we prove our worth? How do we feel worthy? Cherdonna’s unique vision brings together dance and drag with clowning’s ability to tug on heartstrings, cabaret’s warm intimacy, and performances’ ability to shatter taboos to make sharp social commentary.
Featuring costumes by Mark Ferrin (chorus) and celebrated designer Mark Mitchell (Cherdonna), recently receiving acclaim for his exhibition Burial at The Frye Art Museum, visual design by award-winning performance and film-maker Corrie Befort of Salt Horse and choreographic mentorship by Guggenheim awardee Dayna Hanson.
JODY KUEHNER is a Seattle-based dance artist, director, and drag queen CHERDONNA SHINATRA. Cherdonna takes what you recognize about dance, what you believe about drag, what intrigues you about improvisation and what delights you about entertainment, Cherdonna effortlessly tosses it in a mason jar, shakes it up, and opens the lid. Cherdonna exists between dimensions and quantum shifts in time through everyday objects and emotions. While she provides a brightly decorated avenue to explore and question what is “normal”, she remains a child, innocent of rancor. She is always seeking (even while struggling), what is beautiful and shiny. She lives for the light. Cherdonna is aggressively sweet. The subtext is the made-up surface belying what exists beneath and the commentary of truth beyond what’s advertised.