Men's Chorus delivers 'Santa Baby,' with guest Betty Buckley

Psst, let's make a deal: You don't mention "Memory," and I won't mention "Memory," and maybe, just maybe, Betty Buckley will sing it this weekend at Benaroya Hall.

Buckley, who won a Tony Award in 1983 for her portrayal of the tattered Grizabella in the Broadway debut of "Cats," still sings that character's signature song (and the most famous tune from the musical) quite beautifully. But that doesn't mean she'll automatically belt it out when she appears as guest artist today and Sunday in the Seattle Men's Chorus holiday show, says SMC's longtime music director, Dennis Coleman.

"She's delightful on the phone," says Coleman, "but she won't commit to what songs she'll sing. She likes to decide during a show."

Buckley — a familiar figure on Broadway ("Pippin") and London's West End ("Sunset Boulevard"), as well as television ("Eight Is Enough") and film ("Tender Mercies") — will be the icing on the first two performances of "Santa Baby," the Chorus' very promising program of comedy and music.

After Buckley's weekend appearances, "Santa Baby" will carry on four more times through December. But there's plenty to look forward to, with or without her.

"Musically, it will be the usual mix of traditional carols and pop songs," Coleman says of the Chorus' show. "There will be a lot of humor, including Christmas texts sung to music of Tchaikovsky and Wagner. There's also a takeoff on a song from 'The Little Shop of Horrors.' We have vocal jazz by an amazing beatboxer (a singer who can carry a tune while doing percussion with his mouth). It's very lovely."

Coleman says another SMC tradition, a performance of "Silent Night" with all 250 singers signing the song, will occur in the second act.

Seattle Men's Chorus was formed three decades ago, shortly after the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus gave its first performance on the steps of San Francisco City Hall after the murders of Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk.

For Coleman, this 30th anniversary of Seattle Men's Chorus is a time to reaffirm the organization's support of Seattle's gay community.

"The Chorus is one of the large, very public groups seen as the face of the gay community in King County," Coleman says. "Music reaches hearts and minds and makes people realize we're just like you. The Chorus helps put a human and humane face on us."

Asked about the Seattle Men's Chorus' fortunes in a painfully downbeat economy, Coleman says the nonprofit arts group came through the year strong, but not without sacrifices.

"We were $500,000 in the hole after last Christmas because all the snow cut into ticket sales," says Coleman. "So this spring and summer we hustled: There were cuts in salaries, services and staff, reducing our deficit to $40,000. The only way for arts groups to survive in these times is to do what has to be done. Ticket sales for 'Santa Baby' are strong, however, so that's encouraging."

Tom Keogh: tomwkeogh@yahoo.com.