Looking at Brie Turoff Mueller’s jam-packed schedule, it appears she has more hours in the day to get stuff done than most humans are allotted. It’s an illusion, but don’t tell her that.
Mueller is a real estate broker at the Muljat Group, but can also be found helping cater large parties or art exhibit openings on a regular basis. Additionally, she helms The Brie Mueller Band — a pop cover ensemble playing hits from the 1950s to today — and produces, directs and stars in Sugar, a cabaret show she originated in New York City more than a decade ago and now revives a couple of times a year on stages in downtown Bellingham.
“There are so many things I want to do, so that makes it hard for me to say no,” Mueller, 45, said during a recent conversation discussing upcoming Sugar performances taking place at the Mount Baker Theatre Oct. 14–15, followed by a trio of shows the following weekend at the Underground Nightclub. “Do I have time to coach my daughter’s soccer team? Not really, but I do. There are days I feel like I’m losing my mind, but I don’t know what I’d give up.”
Luckily, Mueller has solid support from her husband, Evan Mueller, an associate professor of voice and acting at Western Washington University’s Department of Theatre and Dance. He’s also the artistic director of American Theatre Northwest (ATN), a nonprofit the couple founded with the goal to inspire, challenge, educate and entertain audiences in the Pacific Northwest by creating high-quality live theater. Sugar: A Cabaret falls under the creative umbrella of ATN.
“Evan is pretty fantastic,” Mueller said. “I’m lucky to not only have him as my husband, but also as my partner in this. He’s so good at keeping me calm.”
But serenity isn’t what Mueller’s alter-ego, the titular Sugar, excels at. Instead, the bustier-clad, big-haired diva commands the stage with canny choreography, a voice that draws attention and the willingness to share the spotlight with a bevy of fellow dancers and musicians. The shows are sultry, beguiling and offer a smattering of silliness. Audience participation is also part of the flirty fun.
Sugar Rush: The Best of Sugar is more of the same. After audiences are seated at tables that will be set up at each of the venues to replicate the true big-city cabaret experience, they’ll be serenaded with brand-new combinations of some of Sugar’s numbers from past performances.
Mueller said she pulled a bunch of audience favorites from the prior six years’ worth of shows, including ones the late Tabetha Clark choreographed. Clark, who founded ABCDance Bellingham in 2015 and passed away in November 2018, was instrumental in getting the West Coast version of Sugar onto local stages, and she and Mueller became close friends. Mueller said current choreographer Valerie Goliff did a great job creating numbers around some of Clark’s original choreography.
With 18 songs on the roster for Sugar Rush — including one of Mueller’s favorites, Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” — those in attendance should prepare to settle in with an adult beverage or two and give their full attention to the action happening in front of them.
Theatrical and musical assists will come from master of ceremonies Akilah Williams, musical director Toby Bruce, a handful of dancers and the Sugar Band (Josh Dugger, Sean Marcella, Dan Wooldridge and Ernie Scherb).
While the shows at both venues will be following the same set list, Mueller said the locales make it possible for them to attract different crowds. Mount Baker Theatre’s Walton Theatre offers a different vibe from The Underground Nightclub, which she said can be a little grittier and more resembles a 1940s underground cabaret.
At Mount Baker Theatre, Mueller said, people don’t always know what to expect when it comes to watching Sugar come to life. But soon enough, they find out it’s a professionally produced show designed to bring joy to its audiences.
“Give it a chance,” Mueller said. “Go and allow your senses to be overloaded with fun, sass, amazing theatrics, dance, singing and an amazing band. Expect to be entertained, to have fun, to let loose. Allow for some silliness to happen. People so often get bogged down in day-to-day BS. Just sit down and let us take care of you. Have a drink; have a good time.”
“Sugar Rush: The Best of Sugar” can be seen at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14–15 at the Mount Baker Theatre’s Walton Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. Additional shows take place at 6:30 p.m Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 20–22 at The Underground Nightclub, 211 E. Chestnut St.
All shows are recommended for audiences over 17, and the latter shows are 21-plus. Tickets start at $25. Info: sugartheshow.com or mountbakertheatre.com.
