Teatro ZinZanni was created by Norman Langill, and was once described as "the Moulin Rouge meets Cirque du Soleil." The show is a blend of European cabaret, circus arts, fine dining, and vaudeville performed in a Belgianspiegeltent. Until mid-2011 the show was produced by the Seattle-based non-profit events company, One Reel. Teatro Zinzanni is now an independent company. Teatro ZinZanni began in Seattle in October 1998 for an eight-week run and ended up playing to sold-out houses until it closed on December 31, 1999. It then moved its operation to San Francisco, opening there in March 2000. In 2002, it reopened a permanent operation in Seattle's Belltown district. The operation has since moved to Seattle's theatre district on Mercer Street across from Seattle Center. As of 2017, Teatro ZinZanni has moved To Redmond WA, in the Marymoor Park Area. This is said to be a temporary location through April 2018, at which time they will move to a permanent location. Teatro ZinZanni's San Francisco location closed its operation on December 31, 2011, due to the city's preparation for the America's Cup, but has plan to reopen at another location on the Embarcadero after fund-raising is complete. Teatro ZinZanni also has a Chicago location in the downtown theatre district. It's a permanent location opened in 2019. The many performers in Teatro ZinZanni productions have included Joan Baez, Duffy Bishop, Yamil Borges, Kevin Kent, Martha Davis of the rock groupThe Motels, Michael Davis, El Vez, Frank Ferrante, Geoff Hoyle, Sally Kellerman, Liliane Montevecchi, Maria Muldaur, Melanie Stace, Puddles Pity Party and Ann Wilson of the rock group Heart. Teatro ZinZanni has produced two CDs: The Divas, with Baez, Montevecchi, Kellerman, Thelma Houston and others, and Omnium, a collaboration of TZ Maestro Norm Durkee with Martha Davis. In addition to Teatro ZinZanni's evening dinner shows, Teatro ZinZanni has introduced a variety of special projects including brunches, late-night cabarets, a concert series, children's/family programming and offers year-round education opportunities including day camps.
