by MK Scott
We’re used to seeing Scott Shoemaker as the one and only Ms. Pak-Man, singing up a storm or starring in his holiday ensemble show, War on Christmas. But in his next show, he goes full galactic queer geek.
PROBED! is a hilarious supernatural comedy that “deeply probes” the depths of UFO phenomena. Shoemaker will be your host and guide for the evening, sharing strange and outrageous tales of Sasquatch, connections from beyond the grave, and everyday citizens who have been abducted by aliens… multiple times! This extraterrestrial comedy—featuring songs, dance, and video—will leave you convinced that the truth is out there. WAY out there.
I sent Shoemaker some questions, and here are his responses.
ONW: Tell me about Probed!
It’s kind of like a staged version of Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack from the ’80s and ’90s or, if you’re of a certain age, In Search Of with Leonard Nimoy from the ’70s. But of course, it’s all tongue-in-cheek, and I sing songs as well. Robert Stack and Leonard Nimoy never sang songs on their shows! Along with the audience, my character explores various supernatural topics, probing for the truth behind paranormal mysteries.
It’s actually a partial remount of Probed! from 2019 at Re-Bar. Some material remains, but about three-quarters of the show is brand new.
ONW: Who shares the stage with you?
On stage, it’s just me! But we do have some really fun video segments featuring a few extra folks. Ian Bell plays a precious haunted doll collector, Mandy Price, Major Scales, and Christian Swacker are hippie cultists, and Glory Joel is the most fabulous Bigfoot you’ve ever seen.
Behind the scenes is my partner, Freddy Molitch—one half of Shoes and Pants Productions (along with me)—who does most of the writing. Oh, and he appears in some video segments too, but I won’t spoil those! When we did the original version in 2019, The Drama Tops (Elby Brosch and Shane Donahue) performed as dancers, and they were fabulous. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it work for them to be in it this year, and we miss them!
ONW: What inspired you to create this show?
Shoes and Pants Productions is always about Freddy’s and my obsessions, and paranormal stuff is high on the list for both of us. We love Unsolved Mysteries and In Search Of, and I was a big fan of the old Art Bell radio show. We even have (almost) the entire Time-Life Mysteries of the Unknown book collection! So when we were brainstorming ideas for a new cabaret show, this was a no-brainer.
ONW: How different is it from Ms. Pak-Man?
Pretty much in every way! It’s more subject-matter-driven than character-driven, and there’s less emphasis on music—though there are some fantastic numbers. It’s also not a drag show, though I do play some lovely ladies in a couple of the videos. The vibe is completely different, but it still has that same brand of ridiculous outrageousness.
ONW: With it being a more intimate space, what should the audience expect?
We want the audience to feel like they’re back in the ’80s and ’90s, sitting in their living rooms, watching this amazing one-of-a-kind paranormal TV show—and I think we’ve succeeded in that. The only difference? The two-drink minimum!
ONW: What’s next for you?
Next up is Ms. Pak-Man’s debut at The Triple Door! We’re so excited to perform in such a beautiful venue, and we can’t wait for people to see Ms. Pak-Man class it up a little. We’re also debuting a new Halloween show at Theatre Off Jackson called Uncle Basement’s Attic of Horrors, and of course, Scott Shoemaker’s War on Christmas will return there as well!
Probed! will be performed April 10–13 at the Erickson Theater in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Tickets are available at www.shoesandpants.com.
