Miss Saigon Alum to Perform in Seattle

Jennifer Paz, who has appeared as the title character in the national tour of Miss Saigon and on Broadway in Les Miserables, will perform selections from her recently released album, "Awakening" on June 15 with the help of local favorites including Jessica Skerritt, Brian Earp, and music director R.J. Tancioco at Thumpers Cabaret on the Hill.

Paz's "Awakening" album features an acoustic introspective of contemporary theatre with classics and pop standards. Among the highlights are duets featuring fellow Flower Drum Song co-stars Lea Solonga (Tony winner, Miss Saigon) and Jose Llana (...Spelling Bee) and Miss Saigon tour alum Dane Stokinger with songs including "For Good" from Stephen Schwartz's Wicked (with Salonga), "In Whatever Time We Have" from Children of Eden, and the title song written by local composer Harry Turpin.

Awakening performs at Thumpers Cabaret on the Hill at 1500 East Madison Street on Capiton Hill. For one night only, June 15. Cover charge is $5 with showtime at 8:30pm, dinner and cocktail seating from 6pm-8pm. For reservations call 206-328-3800. Contemporay Classics presents the evening of song as part of its Cabaret Series.

While on the road for three years with the first national tour of Miss Saigon, Jennifer earned a Carbonnell Award for Best Actress in a Musical and a Helen Hayes Award nomination. In addition to her Miss Saigon and Les Miserables credits, Paz has also appeared in acclaimed Los Angeles productions of David Henry Hwang's updated Flower Drum Song at Mark Taper Forum, and the acclaimed LA premiere of Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World. Some of her TV and film credits include "Touched By An Angel", "Can't Hardly Wait", "Santa with Muscles" among others. Los Angeles theatre audiences most recently saw Jennifer in East L.A. Classic Theatre's adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, directed by Tony Plana and in the Seattle area, the title role of Sacagawea a new musical with book by Mary Bracken Phillips and music by Craig Bohlmer with Village Originals.

R.J. Tancioco is a local music director who's work has been seen at Village Theatre (South Pacific, Annie, Making Tracks, Sound of Music), ArtsWest (Just So), Crepe de Paris (Songs for a New World), Civic Light Opera (Ain't Misbehavin'), Fifth Avenue Theatre (HAIR, Dreamgirls, Smokey Joe's Cafe), and more. Jessica Skerritt has been known to Thumpers audiences for her numerous cabaret appearances including Live By Request and Men I've Had. In Seattle she has been seen at Village Theatre in South Pacific and Emma and Company, Civic Light Opera's Kiss Me, Kate, and On the Town, ReAct's The Last Five Years, and most recently in Showtunes!' Flora the Red Menace. Brian Earp is known for his turns in the Northwest premiere of john & jen, Village Originals' Robin Hood, Little Shop of Horrors and Terezin, and Seattle Children's Theatre's The Magic City and Alexander...Very Bad Day.

Contemporary Classics is dedicated to providing Seattle with high quality and important theatre; presenting contemporary shows that wouldn't find a home in traditional houses; producing new and unique versions of classic shows; and developing and fostering the talent of new writers, composers, designers, directors and performers. It's Seattle credits have included the Northwest premiere of john & jen, The Last Five Years, and ONSTAGE. For more information please visit www.contemporaryclassics.org.