Sunday @ the Segal: Josephine: A Musical Cabaret

May 28, 2023 - May 28, 2023 | Sylvan Adams Theatre

Free Event! In person only!
Sunday, May 28 at 11 a.m.

An enriching pre-show discussion about the journey of a show from the page to the stage! 
Josephine: A Musical Cabaret in this multi-award-winning biographical cabaret that combines music, theatre, burlesque, and dance, we follow Josephine Baker’s exploits that were groundbreaking for her time and still incredible nearly a century later. 

Join us for this dazzling panel discussion with Tymisha Harris (co-creator/performer), Michael Marinaccio (co-creator), Sean Cheesman (director/choreographer), and Taurey Butler (musical director) about how they brought this one-woman show from page to the Segal stage! This Sunday @ the Segal is hosted by our incomparable 2022-2023 season host, Sarah Deshaies (CJAD radio)! 

TAUREY BUTLER
Montreal-based pianist Taurey Butler, a native of East Orange, N.J., journeyed through Singapore, Thailand, drums, and horns before arriving at the piano, jazz, and his adopted city. On his recent trio recording One of the Others (Justin Time), he tells the story of this journey through 11 tunes, both originals and reimagined standards. It’s a story of migration and relocation, of finding a new home away from home, and of Butler’s roots as an African American. A prominent figure on the Montreal jazz scene, Taurey’s innate swing, breakneck speed, seemingly effortless technique, and imaginative sourcing of the music, have won him comparisons to Oscar Peterson as well as McCoy Tyner and other piano luminaries. He is currently the musical director for Ginette Reno.

 

SEAN CHEESMAN
Sean Cheesman is an internationally renowned choreographer, creative director, and producer. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, raised in Calgary, Canada, and trained in New York City, Sean’s career began at 17 when he appeared in Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’. From there, he has worked with some of the world’s top entertainers, including Michael and Janet Jackson, Prince, TLC, Vanessa Williams, Carmen Electra, Tina Turner, Queen Latifah, Cher, and Britney Spears. He has won two MTV Music Video Awards for choreography in Michael & Janet Jackson’s “Scream” and Prince’s “Cream” videos. Sean also appeared and choreographed in the Warner Brothers film The Bodyguard starring Whitney Houston. Sean was one of the producers and the Creative Choreographer for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for Dorothy on the TV show Over the Rainbow, airing in Canada. He is well known for his role as a choreographer and judge on Dirty Dancing: Time of Your Life, the popular T4 show Musicool, and he is a staple choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance USA, Canada, and UK. Sean recently choreographed the West End production of The Prince of Egypt. He is also a Creative Director for the world-renowned Swiss-based Art on Ice.

 

TYMISHA HARRIS
Tymisha Harris (aka “Tush”) has been performing professionally as a dancer, singer, actor, puppeteer, acrobat, stunt performer, stilt walker, choreographer, costume designer, and badass burlesque diva for the last three decades. Her early credits include assistant choreographer and backup dancer for the ’90s pop group NSYNC, backup dancer for LFO, multiple roles at Universal Studios Orlando, and a featured role in the hit movie series Bring It On. More recent endeavors include the national tour of Rock of Ages, a European tour with the innovative and world-renowned Pilobolus Dance Theater Company, and becoming a founding member and Assistant Director/Choreographer of the successful Orlando based dance troupe, VarieTease. Combining ferocious dancing, powerhouse vocals, fearless audience interaction, stunning costumes and a delightfully unpretentious sense of humor, Tush has performed her distinct and multifarious style of performing locally, nationally, and internationally since 2002. She is a featured performer with dozens of performance troupes throughout the country. In 2015, after she was awarded the national title of Entertainer of the Year, she honed her talents and shaped them into the fierce storm that is Josephine: A Musical Cabaret. Her one-woman biographical show about the legendary Josephine Baker has toured the world, played off-Broadway, received dozens of awards and excited many hearts. She is happy to share her knowledge and help shape the next generation of performers into confident, well-rounded artists.

 

MICHAEL MARINACCIO
Over his thirty year career, Michael has been involved in hundreds of professional and independent theatrical productions as an actor, producer, director, creator, collaborator, and storyteller. He received a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Central Florida and has garnered dozens of awards and certifications throughout his career. He is perhaps best known as the former Festival Producer of The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival (2011-2019), where he proudly served and advocated for thousands of independent artists. Michael is the original Director/Producer/Co-Creator of the internationally acclaimed off-Broadway show, Josephine: A Musical Cabaret. He currently works as a director and actor for The Emotional Intelligence Institute, teaching EQ and empathy through simulated scenario based training.