David Saffert and Jillian Snow in
Liberace & Liza: A Tribute
August 30 and 31 at Depot Theatre
Pianist extraordinaire and Liberace Impersonator David Saffert. Photo submitted.
From humble beginnings in Wisconsin, piano virtuoso Liberace went on to be a theatrical superstar, known as “Mr. Showmanship,” performing from the 1950s to the 1980s. Known for his glitz and glitter, his gold-leaf and rhinestone-encrusted grand pianos, and his ridiculously outlandish costumes with ostrich feathers, mink, capes, and huge rings, he was often chauffeured onstage in a Rolls-Royce.
Also born in Wisconsin, talented pianist David Saffert seemed an unlikely person to become an impersonator of the outrageous Liberace. Saffert went to the University of Wisconsin Superior and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in piano performance.
In Duluth, he played piano for the musical “The Secret Garden,” performed at the Marshall Performing Arts Center, and was involved with several Renegade Comedy Theater productions where he played piano and was an actor in their sketch comedy pieces.
He now lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband Tyler Buswell. David has worked as a pianist with such organizations as the Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Opera, Oregon Symphony, Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Portland Center Stage.
David Saffert and husband Tyler Buswell on their honeymoon at Universal Studios in LA. Photo submitted.
Becoming Liberace
“I have been performing as Liberace for over ten years. It really started out as a bit and was never meant to go this long! In 2010, I started what would become my own yearly variety show in Portland, Oregon, at Curious Comedy Theatre.”
“My friend Sammuel Hawkins suggested to me that I perform as Liberace. He made my first rhinestone outfit and supplied me with a candelabra and rings. I will be honest, I was hesitant to do any of this.”
But once Saffert got on YouTube and started to dig into all the Liberace content and videos available, he was hooked.
David in full Liberace sparkles and sequins entertaining with music and funny banter. Photo submitted. Photo submitted.
“I even acquired Liberace’s first 1973 autobiography to get more insight and material. Prior to any of this, I had only remembered seeing Liberace on television back in the early 1980’s on The Muppet Show and several TV variety shows,” he said.
Jillian Snow channels Liza Minnelli with her mannerisms, vocals, and quirky personality. Photo submitted.
Finding Liza
“Having been in so many sketch shows and plays, I knew early on that I never wanted to have my own solo show. I love being on stage with other people and having that amazing energy bouncing back and forth like a tennis match,” David said.
He added, “By my fourth year of shows, I had met Jillian Snow who performs as Liza Minnelli, and I knew that I needed her in my show. I had seen Jillian perform as Liza several times, and I was blown away by her comedy and her powerful belting voice. There are a lot of Liza impersonators out there, but there’s only one that can do the whole act justice, and that’s Jillian.”
“Liberace and Liza” out on the town. Photo submitted.
Snow said she was a lifelong Judy Garland fan, and after finding out that Liza Minnelli was Garland’s daughter, she became obsessed with her too. “I actually sat next to Liza once at a theater production, but I was too shy to say anything to her.”
She explained that she met David through her sister who had worked with him in a theater company. Jillian said that she saw David perform in his annual birthday show and was blown away by his talent.
Though Liberace and Liza never performed together in real life, David and Jillian began putting together a show where they blend their talents as these two bigger than life personalities.
“It is a different show every time. We can start and stop and improvise,” Snow said. “We trust each other as friends and performers and that comes across on stage.”
David shares that a big part of the act is the two of them being campy and funny. “The humor comes from the fact that both Liberace and Liza aren’t elitists. They’re superstars dressed in head-to-toe sequins who can have lunch at Perkins or shop at Safeway. Can you imagine seeing Liberace and Liza at a laundromat or standing outside The Portland Malt Shop ordering sundaes? That’s where we see these characters interacting.”
Performing and Touring
Several years ago, Saffert and Snow performed their Liberace and Liza act in Superior at UWS. They are excited to be coming back, this time to Duluth.
The duo annually performs their holiday show at Portland Center Stage in Oregon with 7-8 shows a week for around seven weeks every November and December.
They frequently tour, including gigs at 54 Below in New York, residencies at Feinstein’s at the Nikko in San Francisco, and television specials from Liberace’s own mansion in Las Vegas.
“We’re also very fortunate to have guidance and musical support from Bo Ayars who was the real Liberace’s music director from 1973-1985,” Saffert said.
Ayers still conducts and performs with them at their annual holiday shows in Portland. He also creates their band arrangements and is a wealth of information from his days of performing with Liberace at Radio City Music Hall and all the Las Vegas residencies.
“We have been so lucky to have Ayars work with us and have him create our music charts,” Snow said.
David, Jillian, and Bo Ayers, Liberace’s musical director. Photo submitted.
Eye-Popping Costumes
David noted, “The only item of Liberace’s that I currently own is a black and tan brocade jacket made for Liberace by his costumer Frank Acuña. The Frank Acuña family gifted it to me several years ago, and I often wear it during television interviews.”
Saffert models one of his Liberace costumes for the audience. Photo submitted.
Saffert now has two costumers from the Portland Opera make his Liberace costumes. Jason Bray made his head-to-toe pink sequin outfit complete with cape and a 4th of July hot pants outfit with a fringe coat.
His current costumer, Jeffery Wilson, has made David a Christmas costume with light-up cape, a Victorian looking purple outfit with “diamond” buttons, and a maroon and gold outfit with dangly jewels.
John Hance, the founder of the largest online Liberace Fan Club, gifted him two outrageously huge fake fur coats. They weigh around 40 pounds apiece and David related they’re “absolute showstoppers.:
Coming Home
“I love any chance I can get to be back to Duluth because I think it’s such a beautiful part of our country. I still have many friends in the Duluth/Superior area, and it’s a joy to reconnect,” David said.
“But maybe the biggest reason I’m happy this year to be back is to be part of Duluth-Superior Pride . . . I am extremely proud to be a queer entertainer bringing this outrageous show to Pride and to all the great Twin Ports people.”
“I never grew up thinking, ‘Someday I’m going to perform as Liberace!’ But here I am touring the country with luggage full of sequined outfits and playing the piano with fingers full of rings!”
David Saffert and Jillian Snow in Liberace & Liza: A Tribute
August 30 and 31
Depot Theatre
506 West Michigan Street.
St. Louis County Depot Theatre
Tickets and Information at 218-213-2780
RubberChickenTheater.com
David Saffert and Jillian Snow return to the Northland with a brand new show that features their wildly successful mashup of two over-the-top icons. Saffert’s dizzying piano skills and Snow’s powerhouse belt team up for a hilarious evening of music and laughter.
