By John Amodeo***Last season, MAC Award winner and pianist David Maiocco was hosting open mics in Puerto Vallarta (PV) at Act2PV’s piano bar and Ovations, in addition to performing his Liberace show in Act2PV’s Red Room. He was also in the background, along with performer/administrator Cate 
Elizabeth, as assistants to then General Manager, Broadway star and MAC Award-winner David Sabella, whose summer 2025 departure from the venue left an opening, one which Maiocco and Elizabeth have filled.
“Cate Elizabeth and I are the faces of Act2 now,” says Maiocco. “We book the majority of the acts. Cate knows how this theater works, and I know a lot of the tribute acts and cruise ship acts and some Broadway people.” Maiocco and Elizabeth are grateful to Sabella (with whom they remain close friends), for the work he did to elevate Act2PV as a performing arts center, as well as the quality of acts he brought in—all of which they want to build on. “Last year we did a very heavy cabaret series,” Maiocco notes. “And I played for a couple of performers alternating with Mark Hartman [Act2’s other house pianist].” While tribute shows to famous artists have always been very popular in PV and will be prominent in Act2’s calendar, Maiocco seeks a balance. “We aren’t doing just tribute shows,” he stresses. “We are also bringing some intimate cabaret and the American Songbook.”
Maiocco, who trained classically at Boston Conservatory, made his way to New York playing in Broadway pit orchestras. But after several years he needed a change and began working with impersonators—such as Steven Brinberg (Barbra Streisand)—in cabaret clubs in the Village and Hell’s Kitchen. It was Brinberg who urged Maiocco to take on Liberace, performing solo shows as well as a duo show with Chuck Sweeney as Peggy Lee, which earned them a Best Duo MAC Award. This Liberace/Peggy Lee show has been so popular in PV, the act will return with Peggy’s Back! And Maiocco is especially happy to bring back a show he did with Elizabeth last year, Bathhouse Bette and Barry, a salute to Midler and Manilow, who both got their start in New York’s Continental Baths. “It was a sloppy show last year,” admits Maiocco, “but now we have polished it.” The show will run on Mondays in January.
As to traditional cabaret, Maiocco stresses their value: “In cabaret, we want that intimacy and authenticity,” he explains. Running down what’s to come this season, Act2’s more traditional cabaret performances include Double Standards, with pianist Michael Ferreri; vocalists John Carden and Tony Oakley and local artist Luis Villanueava. Frenchie Davis, an American Idol and The Voice contestant, arrives in February. “We are so lucky to have her,” Maiocco says. Additionally, Paul Fracassi will be doing his Franki Valli tribute Walk Like a Man and other tributes will include Cher, Kenny Rogers, Elton John, Roy Orbison, Amy Winehouse, Adele and especially Montse in her debut as a headliner performing as Michael Jackson.
For the complete schedule of shows at ACT2PV, and to purchase tickets, go to act2pv.com
Act2PV is located at Basilio Badillo 339, Zona Romantica, Emiliano Zapata 48380, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
