Cherdonna Shinatra is a Seattle treasure—a unique blend of avant-garde drag and comedy, embodying a mix of Cher with a touch of Madonna.
Jody Kuehner has portrayed her to perfection for decades, gracing countless stages around the city as a solo artist and as part of productions with Kitten ‘N’ Lou, including Jingle All the Gay. After battling chronic illness for the past couple of years, Kuehner is bringing the clown back for the Intiman Cabaret Series from April 16–20.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Seattle’s Favorite dancer, comedian, and drag chanteuse creates a brand-new show for the Intiman Cabaret! Get ready to be bombarded and dematerialized as Cherdonna doles out her favorite things through run-on sentences, story derailments, and surprise audience gifts. Look under your chair and jump out of your seat because someone is going to win a new car! Just kidding, but maybe a homemade cake just for you from the wacky wild woman herself. There will be dancing and singing and music and stories and maybe even a fun friend joining in for a surprise appearance. Cherdonna’s going to be a supernova of love all over you, making you her newest favorite things.
I had a chance to chat with Kuehner over zoom, and here are some of the highlights.
On Cherdonna’s Cabaret
It’s going to be really simple—simpler than other shows in the sense that I’m just using a cabaret stage, no set, no props. Sari Brezna will be doing music for the night.
I’ve also asked Wade Madsen to be part of the show, so it’s a stripped-down version of things. As I started working on it, I realized that while I’ve been invited to do cabaret a lot, I haven’t actually done many full cabaret shows myself. I’m used to making shows for theater settings. I’ve been a guest in cabaret performances, but I’ve only really done one cabaret-style show: Cherdonna’s Birth of Rama at Re-bar for my birthday.
Even then, I approached it like my other shows—with sound cues, complicated elements, and props. So this time, I thought, Okay, let me really try to strip it down. What is cabaret as a setting?
It’s also a little more raw and unpolished—there’s not a lot of tech time, and I can’t do much with the setup because it has more of a festival-style feel. So I’ve been thinking about the parameters of this work.
As for what the show is about, it’s always hard for me to pin down. My process is organic and meandering. I often don’t know what a show is really about until the final moments, when I’m like, Oh, this is what this is about.
What I do know is that I’m in a different place right now. My body is still in recovery mode. A 90-minute solo show just isn’t possible for me, so having guests allows me to make the show doable. That limitation has shaped the show’s direction.
Cherdonna, as a character, is a challenge. She’s extroverted, full of energy, loud, poised. And right now, she’s almost too hard for me to perform. So I’ve been thinking: How do I do this in a way that feels good for me? The show has taken on themes of softness and care—questions like, How do we care? How do we connect? That’s really been on my mind.
At one point, I wanted Cherdonna to whisper throughout the entire show. I was excited about that idea. But then Sari, who’s a musician and vocalist, told me, You’re going to ruin your voice. Whispering is actually bad for your vocal cords. And I thought, Oh. Oh yeah. She told me, You can’t do that for five shows. And I was like, Oh, shoot.
I remember past performances when I had to maintain that high-pitched voice for long periods. It didn’t show in my performance, but it was exhausting. As I age, I’m thinking more about sustainability—about how performers set certain expectations for themselves and then later realize, Oh, actually, this isn’t sustainable.
So now I’m asking: What else is there? How else can Cherdonna connect with people? What’s the opposite of how she’s usually performed? Initially, I thought whispering would be that opposite extreme, but since that’s not an option, I’m searching for something else.
I also think people need something quieter right now. Everything feels so loud, heated, and overwhelming. There’s so much information constantly coming at us. So I thought, Maybe this should just be a really quiet show. Lots of small, subtle moments.
Another key idea in the show came from its title, Cherdonna’s Favorite Things. I realized I had to sing My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music. At first, I thought the show would simply be about musings on my favorite things. But as I worked on that song, I was reminded that in The Sound of Music, they sing it because the kids are scared. They use their favorite things to distract themselves from fear. And I thought, That’s exactly what people are experiencing right now. That shifted the context for me.
Biggest Laugh on Stage
The biggest laughs come when Cherdonna, who’s usually bubbly and friendly, suddenly turns on the audience—just a little. A sharp No. Or a subtle shift in attitude. Those moments always get the biggest reaction.
I love when there’s a big crowd laugh, but even more, I love the moments when I do something subtle, and I can see just a few people in the audience catch it—when I know they noticed a small detail, and they have this quiet little chuckle. That makes me happier than anything.
Drag as Art
I guess I wonder what I can add to that conversation. There are the obvious things—drag is about people expressing themselves however they want, and that’s incredibly important.
But I don’t know how to respond to what’s happening politically right now. There’s real danger for performers. It feels flippant to just say, We have to keep performing! because the reality is, There’s danger.
Your question makes me ask even more questions: How do we keep each other safe? How do we continue to express ourselves? How do we come together and create spaces that remain safe for us?
Jody vs. Cherdonna
This is a big one for me right now. It ties into everything we’ve been talking about—how I feel like Jody has less capacity for Cherdonna at the moment.
So I’m questioning: Do I have to keep doing this? Not just for health reasons, but for my career—where do I want to go next? I’ve done a lot as Cherdonna. Maybe I’ve said everything I need to say.
I still want to perform as Cherdonna, but right now, Jody—the real me—is louder than the persona.
Health Struggles
It’s getting better, but it’s slow.
Basically, I had a big year of touring, and I ran my system into the ground. I got really sick—so sick that I had to go home, and my parents had to take care of me. Some kind of dormant virus resurfaced, and I was bedridden.
I spent about nine months recovering at home in Colorado before I finally made it back to Seattle, just over a year ago. Since then, I’ve been trying to rebuild my health. The virus really messed with my system. My body is still trying to fight something that’s already gone.
I’ve had chronic fatigue symptoms, lots of migraines, and I just don’t have the energy I used to. My doctor says I’ll likely regain normal energy levels, but this kind of recovery can’t be rushed. It requires a lot of rest.
Coming Back, but Slowly
I’m going to do this show, but in a way that works for me. Baby steps.
I still want to make art. I’m still excited to create. But I can’t burn the candle at both ends anymore.
Even this past year, I had to have an understudy for Jingle All the Gay so I could do as many shows as I was able, but not all of them. When they took the show to New Orleans, it was too much for me, so I didn’t go on tour.
I’m lucky to have friends and producers who support me—who say, Do as much as you can, and we’ll make it work. That’s been a gift.
The Intiman Cabaret transforms the Erickson Theater into a 21+ venue with table and bar
seating, and cocktail lounge service throughout. Audiences will witness world-class
performances while enjoying delicious beverages and snacks delivered right to their table.
Ticket prices are low, ranging from $30-$40 per person.
All tables are now available for all Cabaret performances. Members save 30% off their table
purchase, and 15% off their bar tab, with membership starting at just $8/month. Learn more,
become a Member, or purchase your table today at intiman.org/cabaret.
