Behind the curtain of 'Liberace and Liza' * Oregon ArtsWatch

"The duo first met around 2011 through Snow's sister. After seeing each other perform, they recognized an opportunity to combine their talents and collaborate. Snow, a trained singer and dancer, has admired Liza Minnelli since childhood and had been portraying her on stage for years. Saffert, a classically trained pianist, came to Liberace later in life, once he saw the need for a dynamic counterpart to match the energy of his new creative partner."

"Although the real Liberace and Minnelli never performed together, the pairing feels natural. Snow describes both performers as "quirky and larger than life in their own separate ways," while Saffert emphasizes their shared understanding of showmanship. The modern duo draws on that dynamic during their stage shows. They have found a balance by leaning into the contrast and allowing Minnelli's energy to expand while Liberace anchors the performance. They play off one another with easy, friendly banter that brings warmth and levity to the show."

"While their show embraces camp, it is careful never to slip into parody or crudeness. For Snow, her portrayal is rooted in admiration. "Liza is my hero," she says, likening the work to playful dress-up rather than caricature. Saffert agrees, arguing that exaggeration is already built into the source material. "These two people are so over the top as it is," he says. "Why do we need to add more?" Instead of relying on shock humor, the duo focuses on character-driven comedy and timeless situatio"

David Saffert and Jillian Snow perform Liberace and Liza: A Tribute each winter in Portland, staging a holiday edition Dec. 18-21 at the CoHo Theater titled Regifted and Unscripted. The duo met around 2011 through Snow’s sister and combined talents: Snow is a trained singer and dancer who has admired and portrayed Liza Minnelli for years, while Saffert is a classically trained pianist who adopted Liberace later to provide a dynamic counterpart. The pairing draws on the performers’ shared showmanship and contrasting energies, with Minnelli’s exuberance expanding and Liberace providing an anchoring presence. The show embraces camp without veering into parody, focusing on character-driven comedy, warm banter, and respectful homage rather than shock humor.

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