the Cabaret Choir

Lilith Stargazer Roxxx

Soprano

Lilith Stargazer Roxxx found her love of singing early on in middle school, where she sang in both concert and show choir. She continued singing in concert choir and an all girls show choir for part of high school. College lead Lilith away from the more choral styles of singing and found her singing more classic rock and oldies covers. A woman of many interests, Lilith is currently studying astrophysics at the University of New Mexico. She is also proud of her work as a burlesque artist and her many other talents including sewing, crocheting, and jewelry making. Lilith is beyond delighted to be singing with the other talented members of the cabaret choir.

She is a recipient of the Cabaret’s Cultural Award, All-Star Cast, and is a member of the Dove and Lily Court. She will be featured throughout the evening both singing and tap dancing. It was Lilith’s idea that the Cabaret should have a choir – so this is the Inaugural Winter Show featuring the choir!

Ravenesque Noire

Soprano

Raveneque Noire, an up-and-coming performer in the Albuquerque scene, found her love in music before she could walk. At a young age, she was taken under wing of her grandmother, who performed and sang in the local theater of Odessa, Texas.

Ravenesque soon transformed her passion for music to violin, and after numerous years in orchestra, began singing throughout middle and high school. As an Alto and Mezzo-Soprano, she has won several ribbons in solo/ensemble pieces, and took state in honor choir, 1998. As a teenager and young adult, her passions only grew. She picked up a guitar and bass, and performed with a local rock and roll band, Ethereal Surrender. After a small album recording, and a short 15 minutes of fame, the band split, remaining friends.

Ravenesque continued with her passions for music and performance, and can now be found performing locally. You can often find her at her favorite kareoke bar, on the burlesque stage, and at the Black Cat Cabaret as a member of the Cabaret Choir.

Karissa Creswell

Soprano

Karissa Creswell
Soprano/Alto

Karissa began her involvement in choir with church at age 6, and in 1998, she recorded a song for the Gaithers. She performed in several church plays, and was involved in theatre for a time in high school, but found that singing was her passion. She loves karaoke and even worked for a time as a karaoke jockey. She is currently singing with the choir and on the worhip team at Metropolitan Community Church, a church for the Christian LGBQT+ community. In her spare time, she likes to play video games… a lot..

Anna C. Diaz

Soprano

​Anna started singing at a very young age in her church’s children’s choir with her older sisters. She attended a performing arts school in Vista, California where she focused on her instrumental interest in the clarinet. It wasn’t until she reached middle school she decided to switch her focus to her vocal abilities throughout high school she participated in concert band, marching band, choir, show choir and performed in many musical theater productions. After high she went on to attend UNM and focused on becoming a vocal teacher. She now gives private lessons in her spare time when she isn’t busy being a mom.

Gigi White

Soprano

​​Gigi White is a new mexico native who has been singing her whole life. Her passion for music and singing comes from her late father Ted Young whom she keeps singing for still today. Gigi is a wonderful mother of 2 kids whom she hopes finds love for music as well. A connoisseur of several hobbies and a passion for photography, Gigi plans to take the world by storm. Currently looking to start school in software development she still keeps art and music in her daily life and brings a fun flair to the cabaret. A mermaid locked on land she plans to wash away your woes with her siren song.

Terese Garcia

Soprano

3rd Place Winner of the Second Annual Venus Awards, Terese is no stranger to the stage. She’s been in the semi-finals for the NM State Fair Karaoke Competitions, and she recently won two awards for bodybuilding. Music is one of her biggest passions and she won’t let anything stand in her way.

Janie Franz

Alto

Janie Franz is an accomplished community theater participant, a professional speaker, and a published author. She has appeared in or worked tech on nearly 30 plays for community theater, Burtness Theater (UND), and churches, as well as writing and directing a one-act for UND’s Women’s Center. Franz had lead roles in Monday After the Miracle, Wait Until Dark, and the women’s version of The Odd Couple; cameo monologues in two versions of Talking With; and character roles in Come Blow Your Horn, Laura, and Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will?, and many others. She has also directed stage readings, co-directed major shows, and assistant directed/stage managed other productions. Though Franz had a background as a folkie in the 70s, singing mountain death ballads and old gospel, she admits singing isn’t her strength. However, she sang and danced in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, was in the band and chorus of Cotton Patch Gospel, and landed cameo solos in Baby and Working. Currently, she is acting and singing with the Black Cat Cabaret and the Cat’s Meow Chorus.

Manda Baca

Contralto

​Manda is a New Mexico raised performer and cultural sponge. Her interest in performing arts stemmed from her early days in Sunshine Generation. In elementary and middle school she performed in plays and was key note speaker at the release of a novel she helped write, her 3rd at that point. Throughout her schooling she was involved in choir, show choir, and drama. She was a member of NM All-State choir in 2001 and a regular participant in Solo/Ensemble festivals. She took part in Eric Whitacre’s 2nd virtual choir. Throughout her education, Manda has held a specific interest in the physiology of singing and pursued a career in speech pathology, where she currently works in elementary schools as an apprentice while earning her graduate degree. She is excited to be in choir and performing arias again, and looks forward to building with the cabaret

Maury Evans

Tenor

Maury moved to Albuquerque two years ago from Vancouver, WA. He grew up in Ft. Collins, CO, went to a small Presbyterian college in Sterling, KS but graduated with a BA in Theatre from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. By day, I am a corporate international travel agent with BCD Travel by night he is writer/director of Celebration Theatre at Metropolitan Community Church of Albuquerque.

Maury toured with the Missoula Children’s Theatre from 1991-1993. He has done several shows in the Portland area, playing Charlie Brown, in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, Chief Bromden in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, Benny Southstreet in “Guys and Dolls”…and many others. He also has written, directed and produced several shows for both the Vancouver and Portland Title IX Indian Education Programs as well as many Christmas musicals and various other non-musical shows. Maury is an enrolled Lakota on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.

Paul Anway

Tenor

Paul can be seen locally with Celebration Theater and started with The Easter Bonnet, then last year’s Café Christmas and most recently in Letters From the Heart. He got started in theater in middle school and then performed in several high school productions. He was also active in Community Theater in Clearwater Florida. He is an ordained Pastor with Metropolitan Community Church, “Doing Church is a lot like doing theater, we get to wear costumes, sing and we have to learn our lines!” He hails from the New England and Florida, he moved to Albuquerque four years ago.

​Jeremy “Jerebear” Aspen

Bass-Baritone

Jeremy “Jerebear” Aspen is a transplant to Albuquerque as of last year. He moved to New Mexico from South Dakota after finishing a tour in the Navy and going back to school for a time in his hometown of Rapid City South Dakota. Prior to moving to Albuquerque he found internships in New Mexico and promptly fell in love with the area. He was very pleased to find a career prospect here after his graduation this summer and has recently been looking for opportunities to express his artistic side more in the ABQ community. Jeremy’s singing background stems from high school choirs and ensembles as well as a few years spent in pursuit of a vocal performance degree before eventually discontinuing school to join the navy in 2008 following the recession. He sings Bass/Baritone and enjoys singing many different genres and styles of solo music, although he most enjoys A’cappella ensemble pieces and choral music.

Renato Estacio-Burdick

Conductor

Renato Estacio-Burdick, Bass-Baritone/Countertenor, is the Artistic Director of the Black Cat Cabaret (Co-Owner of S4200 Sidewinders) and has been active for 30+ years in productions to include one-acts, musicals, revues, operas, operettas, theater; Estacio has also been an entertainer in singing, acting, radio, and voice-over narrator, as well as show host for over 25 years. As Artistic Director, Estacio-Burdick is focused primarily on guiding artistic excellence, artistic growth, leadership development, and community engagement. Estacio-Burdick also served as a Commissioner of Music for New Mexico, where they assist in the preservation of music in New Mexico from 2014 through 2019; Estacio was Founder and District Director for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for New Mexico during the 2015 and 2016 MONC auditions.

Estacio-Burdick is a guest judge for the NM State Fair Karaoke Competition, was President of the Southwest Arts Group from 2013 – 2016 (holding a residency at the African American Performing Arts Center), and Director of Marketing/PR for the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Renato was a professional casino entertainer, hosting shows and performing on stage in Broadway and Holiday Show Revues. Other stage credits include Masetto (Don Giovanni), Spirit 3 (Magic Flute), Marco (Gianni Schicchi), Player 4 (If Men Played Cards as Women Do), Gentleman Starkey (Peter Pan), Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz), Tin Woodsman (Wizard of Oz), Guardian of the Gates (Wizard of Oz), Brian Furman (Christmas Recaptured), Sir Despard Murgatroyd (Ruddigore), Luis (Gondoliers), Boysy Dunbar (War on Tatem), Epimetheus (Prometheus), Teddy (Rhiannon’s Diary), and other roles. Estacio conducts the choir “The Cat’s Meow” and has taught voice for 18 years.

Estacio-Burdick took courses in acting at the Acting Studio (NY), and voice, movement, and acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in Residence). In high school, Renato was recipient of the Mark Hamill Fine Arts Award, and several awards for his performances in pantomime, and one-act plays. They hold advance degrees in music (performance) and business marketing.