Cabaret Palooza

Mary Payne Omohundro (Founder / Singer) organized and performed in the Lorton Cabaret Series for over 7 years and thrilled to be finally taking this talented troop on the road!  Other credits include–  NYC:  Duplex Cabaret Theatre:  Nevermore (Muddy) [NYC Premier Concert Version]. REGIONAL:  Shenandoah Summer Theatre:  Sound of Music- (Baroness).   Totem Pole Playhouse:  Grand Night for Singing (Allison).  DC AREA:  Workhouse Arts Center:  Man of La Mancha (Aldonza), Carrie the Musical (Margaret White), Pandemonium: Nevermore (Mother), Signature Theatre:  Into The Woods (Cinderella), Grand Night for Singing (Allison),  First Lady’s Suite (Mary Gallagher, Margaret Truman),  Grand Night for Singing (Allison), 110 in the Shade (Ensemble, u/s Lizzie).   Round House Theatre:  Pippin (Player, u/s Bertha).  Olney Theatre:  Secret Garden (Ayah, u/s Lilly), She Loves Me (Tango Dancer, u/s Amalia/Ilona),  Man of La Mancha (Belly Dancer, u/s Aldonza).Creative Cauldron:  Nevermore (Muddy).  NATIONAL TOUR:  Holiday Swing (Featured Singer/soloist). 

Alvin Smithson (Pianist) is an established presence in the Washington, DC, area music and theater scene as a pianist, composer, arranger, musical director and teacher.  Following graduation from Kansas University with a Bachelor of Music degree, he moved to this area to pursue his studies at the Catholic University of America where he earned Master of Music degree in piano performance with emphasis on performance physiology.  Over the years, he has won top prizes in national competitions and was a bronze medal winner in the International Piano Recording Competition.  Alvin can be seen and heard regularly in various area theaters and cabarets, and has performed at the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Strathmore, The American Century Theater, Theater Lab of Washington, Keegan,  Atlas, Savoyards, Creative Cauldron, Workhouse Theater, and many other local and national performing arts venues.  He has been part of a number of Helen Hayes Award winning and recommended shows, either as a performer or music director, usually both.

Brandon Scott Heishman (Pianist)

LindaRose Payne (Singer) spent 20 years in the professional theatre including 5 years in the Capitol Steps as a performer and costumer, 5 years at Mac Haydn Summer Theatre and 7 years in Broadway Christmas Carol at the Round House Theatre.  Some of her most memorable roles include the title roles in Evita, My Fair Lady, Kiss Me Kate, Naughty Marrietta and The Merry Widow.   Some of her more crazy roles include Ms. Hannigan in Annie, Ado Annie in Oklahoma, the Old Lady in Candide, Sr Mary Amnesia in Nunsense and Madam Allagazzaza in Sugar Babies.  She spends most of her time now designing kitchens and baths, quilting, doing puzzles and coloring – however – she would come back to the boards to play Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd.  Any takers?

Karissa Swanigan (Singer) –  Has been performing in musical theatre and cabarets in the Metro area for the past 20 years and is thrilled to be back entertaining with Cabaret Palazzo. Other Credits- Signature Theatre: Sizzlin Summer Cabaret: Least Complicated, Naked. Creative Cauldron: Nevermore; Landless Theatre Co: High Fidelity (DCTS audience choice nominee), The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Evil Dead, Diamond Dead, Debbie Does Dallas the Musical (DCTS audience choice nominee); Studio SecondStage: The Who’s Tommy; Pandemonium Players: Rock of Ages, Nevermore; KAT: A New Brain, Zanna, Don’t!, Nevermore, Kiss of the Spider Woman (W.A.T.C.H. nominee), Company, The Rocky Horror Show. DC FRINGE: Super Claudio Bros, Diamond Dead. NYC FRINGE: Diamond Dead

Barbara Breen (Singer) is thrilled to be working alongside her closest friends with Cabaret Palooza! She graduated from Seton Hill University with her BFA in Musical theatre and has spent more than 15 years performing in both Pittsburgh and the DC Metro area. Favorite previous credits include Riverside Center: Grumpy Old Men (Lo), Kings Dominion: Tinker’s Toy Factory (Dottie), The Mistletones (Holly), Grand Carnivale Spectacle of Color (Cancan Dancer) Workhouse Arts Center: Carrie The Musical (Carrie), Man of La Mancha (Governor), Nevermore (Virginia), Into the Woods (Little Red) Seton Hill University: Company (Amy), The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy Chaperone), The Seagull (Polina), Nine (Carla).

Michael Omohundro (Singer) has been performing professionally throughout the Washington DC area for over 25 years.  Some of his credits include:  South Pacific at Arena Stage, Grand Hotel at Signature Theatre; Sweeny Todd at Cumberland Theatre, She Loves Me, Man of La Mancha and Joseph at Olney Theatre, a concert version of The Rink for Signature Theatre at Lubber Run and Rocky Horror, Man of La Mancha, Rock of Ages and Full Monty at The Workhouse Arts Center.  Other credits include several shows at Toby’s Dinner Theatre and West End Dinner Theatre including both main stage productions and children’s theatre.  AT this point in life, the Cabaret Series has given me an artistic outlet to continue singing and I am very appreciative for the opportunity.

John Hollinger (Singer)

DanDaniel Felton (Singer) has lived in the Washington, DC, area for nearly 25 years and has appeared in more than 50 musicals at such venues as Arena Stage (Sunday in the Park with George), Ford’s Theatre (1776), Metro Stage (Closer Than Ever), Olney Center for the Arts (She Loves Me), Signature Theatre (Assassins, Company, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, The Fix, The Rink and Side Show), The Kennedy Center (Sondheim Celebration) and Toby’s Dinner Theatre (1776, It’s a Wonderful Life, Les Miserables and Westside Story). A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, Dan is a government relations professional for Philips, and since 2000 has also been involved with the Commission on Presidential Debates in support of their quad-annual presidential and vice presidential debates.Felton (Singer)