For over two decades, self-described “drag chanteuse” Arnaldo Inocentes has been performing his inimitable form of drag cabaret both locally and internationally.
Inocentes performs in drag, but unlike many traditional drag queens who lip sync to music, he sings live, performing under the name Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse. The International Examiner previously highlighted Inocentes’ work with the Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association, and his mission to build bridges across communities.
Now, Inocentes returns with a new Intiman Cabaret series which will take place over four evenings in March.
Each night of the Intiman Cabaret series will feature two different performing artists.
“Our partnership with Intiman Cabaret is new and exciting!” Inocentes said. “This cabaret showcase of talents is very much in sync with what we do at Seattle Cabaret Festival.” The guest artists range from the Sirens of Swing to Bodacious Ladyhood, Heather Gonio, and Mark Rabe, among others.
As host, Inocentes will focus on his definition of and passion for cabaret. “I believe that everyone and every performing art form are welcome in cabaret,” he said. “We perform with live musicians, memorized materials, no music sheets on stage for the main performers, and live singing.”
Inocentes is delighted to be back on stage following the shutdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We were severely affected by the pandemic and we missed performing in front of a live audience,” he said.
But Inocentes met the pandemic challenge initially through a partnership with Vashon Center for the Arts. “We offered two shows with them,” he recalled, “one in the Spring of 2022 via a strictly virtual live stream and the other in the Fall with a combination live stream and limited in-person, masked audience.”
Continuing pandemic concerns led to larger shifts, as Inocentes and his fellow artists re-branded their “March is Cabaret Month” festival to become the Seattle Cabaret Festival (SCF). The artists also permanently moved the Festival from March to May so that warmer weather would allow for open windows and doors at the festival venue, increasing air circulation.
And these changes have since led to further brainstorming. “This year we are also excited to have Cornish students ages 21+ participating in the festival, giving them an opportunity to experience a live cabaret audience,” Inocentes reported.
Inocentes’ tenacity and commitment led to him receiving the 2024 International Examiner’s Community Voice Award for Leadership in Arts and Culture, shared with drag performer and social activist Aleksa Manila. The award recognized the contributions of Inocentes and Manila to the Seattle drag and cabaret communities, and for their joint work with Pride ASIA Festival, which has a mission “to celebrate, empower and nurture the multi-cultural diversity of the LGBTQ communities through the Asian Pacific Islander lens.” Manila founded Pride Asia and Inocentes serves on the Pride Asian Executive Committee.
“2024 was a pivotal year for me,” Inocentes said. “I quit my corporate job to focus on elderly care for my mother and for self-care.”
Amid these changes, Inocentes was honored to receive the recognition. “As I mentioned on the awards night, my goal is to add more diversity to the festival with music and stories from other cultures,” he said. “We mix veteran, professional performers with emerging talents through our performances, masterclasses, workshops, and in collaboration with other arts organizations.”
As producer, Inocentes also focuses on fundraising, partnering with Shunpike, 4Culture, and ArtsFund, as well as individual donors. “Part of fulfilling our mission is to keep our festival tickets affordable and to give our performers 90 percent of gross ticket sales,” he explained.
After the Intiman Cabaret this month, Inocentes’ calendar is full for 2026 and beyond. “In April, we will have two days of Cabaret Masterclasses with New York Cabaret performer and Manhattan Association of Cabaret (MAC) awardee Craig Pomranz,” Inocentes said. Then, on May 8, the Seattle Cabaret Festival opens at The Triple Door and runs for a month at Egan’s in Ballard.
Inocentes also continues to serve on the Executive Committee for this year’s PRIDE Asia. “We have an ongoing weekly ‘What’s the Tea?’ at Oasis Bubble Tea for those who are seeking a community and a safe place to gather,” Inocentes said. “On the Sunday of Memorial weekend, we will have our annual Pride ASIA Festival at Hing Hay Park, hosted by none other than Aleksa Manila.”
In addition, Inocentes is also a consultant for the Gender Based Violence Prevention Program for the Filipino Community of Seattle, and is already making plans for SCF’s 20th anniversary in 2028.
Above all, Inocentes repeatedly extended his love to the Seattle community: “I remind myself to be grateful that I have all these projects and relationships, to ground myself and not forget that life is both challenging and wonderful.”
Arnaldo! and Friends Intimate Cabaret runs March 26 to 29 at the Erickson Theatre, 1524 Harvard Avenue, Seattle.
