Open Space for Arts & Community will be the destination for partygoers on Saturday night, when an extravagant fête takes over the cavernous space and turns it into the site of a cabaret variety show.
A slate of performers will present “UMO Rouge,” a benefit event for UMO Ensemble, featuring aerial, acrobatic and singing acts that will take advantage of Open Space’s high ceilings and expansive space.
Attendees will be seated at intimate tables and enjoy beer and wine and tapas by The Hardware Store Restaurant.
UMO has held a cabaret fundraiser once a year for the past few years at The Hardware Store Restaurant and decided to go for a bigger venue this year so that there’s room for elaborate aerial acts and dancing, said Elizabeth Klob, UMO Ensemble’s executive artist.
“I’m really looking forward to having the aerial happen in that space,” she said. “Having all these great acts happen in one evening in one place — I just can’t wait to see that happen.”
An act by UMO’s Young Aerialists will kick off the evening, which is for adults age 21 and older only. The youth will leave before the rest of the night’s action gets into full swing, Klob noted.
“They are amazing,” Klob said of the young aerialists.
Expect great things from the small group on aerial apparati, including trapezes and hoops, she added.
Tumbao, a spicy Seattle salsa band, will heat up the enormous Open Space, joined by a cast of Vashon and off-Island characters throughout the night.
Other acts include acclaimed aerialists Esther Edelmen and Martha Enson — “the Flying Caribe Girls” — performing a burlesque trapeze aerial act; David Godsey and Janet McAlpin with a clown trapeze act; Edelman with a solo aerialist piece; Klob singing on an aerial hoop; Stephen and Arlette Moody singing together; Kevin Joyce singing and acrobatic duo Dr. Calamari and Acrophelia sharing their talents.
Klob said the variety show format is a wonderful one that allows partygoers to chat between short acts, “and if you don’t like one act, just wait, it’ll be over in a few minutes and onto the next.”
“You won’t get bored,” she promised.
Proceeds from UMO Rouge will support UMO Ensemble’s efforts in 2010, including its operational budget, its upcoming performance, “Ven Tales,” its new dramatic acrobatics and aerial school on Vashon and its at-risk youth program, which works with students from diverse backgrounds on Vashon and off-Island.
Ven Tales, Klob said, is a family performance of “a series of ancient teaching tales told by red-nosed monk clowns.”
Saturday’s event will also feature a creative raffle/auction of donated prizes from Vashon and beyond.
“It’s amazing, we’re getting that much talent in one room, and you’ll get the best piece of each performer,” Klob said.
Advance tickets to UMO Rouge, $20, are available at Books by the Way and The Hardware Store Restaurant. Tickets will be available at the door for $25. Doors open at 7 p.m., and entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Open Space for Arts & Community.
