Teatro ZinZanni Presents LOVE, CHAOS & COUTURE, Begins 5/20

Teatro ZinZanni's upcoming production Love, Chaos & Couture opening May 20, features an artistic collaboration with international fashion designer Luly Yang, who created thirteen original costumes for the show. An affectionate send-up of the world of high fashion, the show stars the legendary Tony Award winner Liliane Montevecchi, who returns to the San Francisco spiegeltent after an absence of two years, and ZinZanni favorite, comedian Frank Ferrante.

For the past decade Luly Yang has been celebrated for her elegant and timeless bridal gowns and evening ensembles created with the most luxurious silks and the finest fabrics. Headquartered in Seattle, she opened a second salon in Beijing in November 2008. She was voted "Seattle's Best Dress Designer" for five consecutive years by Seattle Bride Magazine, and was also the recipient of the "Best Dress Boutique and Best Bridal Accessories" Award.

Born and raised in Taiwan, she comes from an artistic family that includes a classical Chinese artist, an engineer, designers and architecture, so her decision to pursue design was a natural outgrowth of her upbringing. Her understanding of body movement resulted from numerous years as a fitness instructor, when she studied anatomy and physiology.

"The woman and her body are the soul of the design," she explains. "I love to sculpt clothing around the organic shapes of the body and see it come alive in movement, creating an ideal balance between form and function. Teatro ZinZanni is all about the joy of movement, and I'm delighted to immerse myself and my staff in this special magical world."

For Love, Chaos & Couture Frank Ferrante plays a slightly different "Caesar." Once clothier to the stars, he has retreated to San Francisco, where he is now wildly successful as a hip club owner. He lures his former muse and lover, Liliane (Montevecchi) to witness his new life, and convinces her to unveil her fall collection at Teatro ZinZanni instead of in Milan. A living legend and true fashion icon, she believes that everyone can be fabulous and accepts Caesar's invitation with relish. With the philosophy that fashion is not something you "put on," but a lifestyle, she looks forward to meeting the fashionistas of the Bay Area.

Liliane Montevecchi, is best known for her Tony Award-winning role in Tommy Tune's Nine and Grand Hotel. Her illustrious career spans four decades. Born in Paris, she joined Roland Petit Ballets as a prima ballerina at age 18, spent seven years under contract to MGM, appearing in movies opposite Elvis Presley, Marlon Brando and Fred Astaire, and more. She has taken her own highly-acclaimed show On the Boulevard around the world, and played in prestigious cabaret venues including the Algonquin, the Russian Tea Room and Rainbow and Stars. In Paris she received the Boulevard Award for her role as Mistinguett at the Opera Comique.

Frank Ferrante is described by The New York Times as "the greatest living interpreter of Groucho Marx's material." Frank originated the title role in Groucho: A Life in Revue written by Groucho's son Arthur in New York, London and on PBS television. He earned New York's Theatre World Award, a NY Outer Critics Circle nomination and London's Laurence Olivier nomination for 'Comedy Performance of the Year.' He has been profiled on The Today Show, Regis, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, the BBC and was a question on TV's Jeopardy. He directs and acts throughout the world and has been a regular at Teatro ZinZanni since 2001.

The stellar international cast assembled for the show also includes the amazing French acrobats, Les Petits Frères, Ukrainian contortionist Vita Radionova, Chinese acrobats Ming and Rui who perform with US National Champion gymnast Alexa, and the sensational Vertical Tango (Sam and Sandra). American opera singer Rachel DeShon rounds off the cast.

Teatro ZinZanni now celebrates its tenth year of performance in its own antique speigeltent on San Francisco's fabled Embarcadero. Since it opened in 2000, it has become a permanent fixture and an integral part of the lively entertainment and culinary scene in San Francisco, offering a bewitching blend of European cabaret, cirque arts, music, and comedy, combined with a 5-course gourmet dinner.

The regular weekly schedule runs Wednesday through Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. Tickets priced from $117 - $145 are available at the on-site Box Office at Pier 29 on the Embarcadero weekdays from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and weekends from noon - 6 p.m., or by phone at 415/438-2668. Premium and preferred seating is also available. For more information, visit www.zinzanni.org.

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