Native Yodeling Dominatrix Manuela Horn whips issues up at Teatro ZinZanni’s ‘Coming Dwelling’

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Local Yodeling Dominatrix Manuela Horn whips things up at Teatro ZinZanni’s ‘Coming Home’

By Scott & Theresa Schaefer
Photos by Filling the Frame Photography

We love comedy and believe that humor helps everyone escape into a wonderful world where there is nothing to worry about than experiencing pure joy inspired and infused with laughter.

Add some great food now. And a wonderful cabaret setting. Surrounded by some of the best singing/acrobatic/comedy talent in the Northwest – dare we tell the world? It all adds up… You must be at the new location of Teatro ZinZannni in Seattle’s SoDo area.

We recently had the privilege of attending the current performance of ZinZanni’s Coming Home thanks to local comedian/actress/legendary local yodeller Manuela Horn (holding a handful of beer upstairs). It was an easy 20 minute, ~8 mile hop up the 509 from Burien and easy to park thanks to two adjacent lots and ample on street parking.

Manuela plays multiple roles in this excellent production (running through March 12, 2023) which includes a sumptuous 4-course feast (complete with appetizer, soup, choice of entree and decadent dessert). The new space is a remodeled, visually lush and intimate old warehouse in Seattle. Guests enjoy the feast surrounded by an ongoing live comedy show, which even includes short clever song and dance numbers to introduce the courses!

Seeing a cabaret, burlesque and aerobatic performance, but with dinner and drinks included, was quite the spectacle. The food was great, the live band was great, the 10 or so diverse actors (most playing multiple roles) incredible, always in the right place at the right time thanks to expert direction, polished rehearsals and experience – and of course sheer talent. The result was a fantastic, hilarious ‘Vegas meets Aerial Hula Hoop’ variety show featuring ‘Love, Chaos and Dinner’ that will delight your senses and make you forget all outside worries for a full 3 hours.

And if you happen to be a bald guy with a shiny scalp, beware – you might even be part of the show! Guests are often invited to dinner, which is all fun and creates even more laughs (other guests might even want to autograph or take a selfie with you!).

The theme of the current production, Coming Home, is also quite relevant considering what we’ve all been through in the past few pandemic-filled years. It’s comforting to go back to performing in person and nothing quite compares to it.

“When the world went dark more than two years ago, people scattered everywhere and life was turned upside down,” the show’s producers said. “Today, as we rebuild and focus on our future dreams, we find that home is where our hearts are — and Seattle is home.”

As soon as you enter the lush, red-carpeted and curtained converted old warehouse, you are transported into a warm space filled with servers, actors and more, all with one purpose – to offer you an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience of great food and laughter offer and marvel at what they can all achieve together and individually. Actors can stroll around, visit tables, make quirky greetings (and even sit with you), crack jokes, rub elbows, or comment on someone’s outfit. Laughter follows, the mood is elevated and next you’re laughing with a bunch of new besties.

After a few minutes of this ad lib mix, you’ll be trying to figure out each actor’s role(s) (is that mousy woman holding a plumber’s assistant really “just” a janitor? Stay tuned…), the lights will dim , the smoke machines kick in and suddenly a charismatic chanteuse named “Rizo” enters and belts out Elton John’s classic “Take Me to the Pilot” in an amazing power singer performance. While the meaning of the lyrics is subject to interpretation, the mood Rizo conveys is one of desire for escape and need for guidance. In between, “Wow!” While you enjoy a tasty appetizer or sip a great cocktail/drink, this siren dominates the room, singing with emotion, passion and more – is she the love child of Liza Minelli, Stevie Nicks and Freddie Mercury? – Hit and hold notes like you won’t believe. Rizo sings, seduces, and sometimes even taunts the crowd.

Then your emcee comes in – quite a tall, busty one? and curvy drag performer named “Doily” with tons of attitude but always in total control of the space. Played by Kevin Kent, you’ll get LOL as you admire his/her improvisational skills, costumes, and crude sense of humor.

There must be 30 hula hoops spinning around Vita!

Soon, the enchanting, mesmerizing and sensual Vita Radionova performs an amazing hula hoop performance that will take your breath away, followed by French artist Domitil Aillot, who performs an incredibly athletic Chinese pole dance that emits “oohs” and “oohs” throughout the room. Ahhs,” not to mention a little sweat on his forehead.

Two mild-mannered “kitchen crew” workers morph into the incredibly athletic duo Madrona.

Acrobatic couple (from West Seattle!) — who dressed like part of the kitchen crew for a time, before stripping off their white uniforms to not reveal much underneath — “Duo Madrona” featured a stunningly athletic aerial rope routine that was anything but routine was . The stunning sheer power of these two showed through their fit bodies as they twisted and twirled above the crowd. How much do they rehearse to do stuff like that?

Manuela Horn is lifted up by viewers as part of “Austrian Tinder”.

Then comes our good friend Manuela Horn in her sassy, sexy “Oktoberfest” costume, who as a single lady, with the help of (you guessed it) a couple of male dinner guests who have to pick her up, does a funny part about the “Austrian Tinder” makes stand up and show them to all the single guys in the room. What a scream!

We have to admit that we were a bit intimidated later in the show when Manuela suddenly appeared as the yodeling dominator in her leather outfit and with a whip. With the help of another audience member – “what a cute little appetizer!” she said of the average-sized guy standing in the shadow of her 7ft tall Austrian mythical creatures. Who would have thought yodeling could reach such heavy metal heights as the AC/DC inspired “Highway to Yodel” we were treated to. Always a crowd puller!

You will do as Manuela commands, or else…

At times it was as if she were simultaneously summoning a herd of mountain goats and serenading a group of German beer lovers. It was truly a sight (and sound) to behold. And seeing her ride around the room on her good old trusty motorized sheep being pulled by some viewer minions wasn’t baa-aad either.

The acrobatics were impressive and sensual and enchanted and enchanted us. Luckily the waiters were like ninjas, quietly and quickly delivering plates and drinks without disturbing the show. Who would have thought that servers could serve during choreography?

All in all, Teatro Zinzanni’s Coming Home show at SoDo was a hilarious, breathtaking, immersive and downright awesome experience that we would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good time and a great dinner. Just bring a sense of humor and an empty stomach, and dress smartly if you can!

Oh, and if you’re a bald man with a shiny skull or you like to show off, be sure to polish your head or wear something sexy! Just make sure you have a “safe word” ready in case Manuela chooses you!

Find out more about this great show here:

Upcoming performances by Manuela Horn

Manuela is currently preparing for her 2023 Oktoberfest season and will be headlining Kirkland’s 10th anniversary this year.

First and last weekends at Oktoberfest “IN” Leavenworth (the original is in Wenatchee, and the town now hosts its own Oktoberfest)
Oktoberfest NW at the Washington State Fair,
Oktoberfest in Mount Angel, Oregon
Oktoberfest at Fort Benning in Georgia.

Until then, she’ll be pumping up two albums for which she’s started a GoFundme page and plans to direct two music videos:

More Manuela:

About Teatro ZinZanni

Founded in Seattle in 1998, Teatro ZinZanni has produced more than 100 shows over the past two decades, featuring dozens of incredible artists from around the world. In everything we do, we aim to engage, transform, educate and inspire with our unique celebration of cirque, comedy and cabaret.

From Seattle to San Francisco and Chicago to Costa Mesa and beyond, we believe we have the best audience on planet earth and we can’t wait to hear the laughs, see the slow dances and generally get back together celebrate.