Cathy began her solo stand-up career in Seattle during the mid-eighties, sporting a variety of unsavory hairdo’s and wearing earrings larger than her own face. San Francisco was the next stop for Cathy, where she cut her comedy teeth as a solo performer.
The city housed several busy comedy clubs and Cathy garnered lots of attention and favorable reviews, being called “Brilliant But Unheralded” and a “Notable Arrival” by the San Francisco Weekly. She was described in San Francisco Focus Magazine as “the illegitimate child of Groucho Marx and Imogene Coca.”
Four years in San Francisco and a nine-month 200 city college tour later, Cathy jumped the puddle to London, England where a healthy stand-up scene was just beginning to blossom. There, Cathy took part in pub shows, cabaret, and large shows at theaters like The Hackney Empire, where she was showcased in the annual New Act Of The Year show.
Her stand-up was featured in a radio ad for Tampax that was aired throughout the British Isles. Cathy stayed one year in London, then returned to the United States, choosing Seattle as her home base and residence.
1991 through 1997 brought Cathy to the world of television and international comedy festivals. She appeared on shows produced by HBO and Showtime, and developed an animated pilot and produced interstitial spots with MTV in New York. The 1995 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen said of Cathy “Sorbo rips into her work with such humor and insight that her act appeals to just about everybody.”
Her credits include national voice-over work for radio and television ads and and mc-ing corporate events. She has also been a regular performer on NPR’s news/satire shows Rewind and Weekend America.
Current:
The Mrs Bill Larsens
One of three vocalists in 8-piece band that covers 60s girl-group music.
The Zooma Bella Trio
A musical-comedy offshoot of the full Zooma Bella band presenting mash-ups and medleys.
Songs of Filth Revue
A marriage of karaoke and stand-up reworking standard lyrics to fit with comedy show content.
Other Projects:
Zooma Bella
An 8-piece band with horn section capturing the swing era of Louis Prima – vocalist
The Science of Deduction
Vocalist/lyricist/arranger – Electronic trio – original music with a few choice covers.
Z.E.R.O.
Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra – recorded vocal projects as well as live performance.
Super Jam: A Tribute to Squeeze and Elvis Costello
Backing vocals
Columnist, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2004 – 2010
Contributed a weekly humor-based column pertaining to current and local news topics that ran
Saturdays in the Opinion page. Also contributed 30-second video blogs for the online edition.
Editor: Kimberly Mills
MTV Networks, New York
One year contract with MTV – Produced an animated pilot using real-time animation technology.
Rat City Roller Girls Roller Derby League, Seasons 2 -10
Sideline announcer for roller derby.
The Sympathy Cards, since 1983
Composer, lyricist, vocalist in a-cappella duo
Honkworm International, Seattle
Wrote and performed several interstitial spots as part of their “Talking Heads” series.
National Public Radio
Panel guest: Rewind, The Beat.
Minnesota Public Radio
Panel guest: Weekend America.
TV / Film / Video
Seattle Post Intelligencer Video blogs for online edition
Comedy Central Comedy Product
HBO Young Comedians Special
Showtime Full Frontal Comedy
MTV animated pilot, Cathy Sorbet’s Spectaculon
Salad Time regional on-camera
Honkworm Intl. on-camera monologues
Mike Sennick Intro Video Maverick Productions
MGB-EVAL Microsoft Studios
Partners in Rhapsody Maverick Productions
Gris (Grey) Musique Plus, Quebec
Amazing Product on-camera internal video, Intel Corp.
Voice Over / Radio
United Way regional
Tampax, British Isles
Rosarita Refried Beans national
Sierra On-Line Inc. cd rom game, multiple characters
MTV various interstitial spots
Dep Hair Products national voiceover, TV
Rewind (NPR) regular panel guest
Walkthrough Media voice-over talent for online video home tours (exclusive talent)
Live Appearances
Bumbershoot Arts Festival, Seattle
The Green Faire London, England
The Hackney Empire Theatre London, England
HBO/Comedy Arts Festival Aspen, Colorado
Just For Laughs Comedy Festival Montreal, Canada
Smirnoff/Mule Comedy Festival Cape Town, South Africa
Seattle Bash New Year’s Eve show, Experience Music Project (producer/performer)
Clean and Free convention
Partners in Emergency Preparedness conference
Narcotics Anonymous of Victoria, B.C. convention
Chocolate for Choice, NARAL Benefit event host and auctioneer
Bras for a Cause event host and auctioneer
The Elvis Invitational, Experience Music Project event host
MC for Critical Art Ensemble ConWorks, Seattle
MC for The Seattle Weekly 2005 Music Awards
Host and MC of The Elvis Invitational Experience Music Project
The Comedy Central Road Show with Dave Attel, Louis Black and Mitch Hedberg, The Paramount Theater
Opening act for Puppetry Of The Penis The Moore Theater, ACT Theater
Live panel guest for Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher The Paramount Theater
Unitarian Church Retreat humor clinic creator and host
Host and MC for The Lover’s Package Ladies Night Seattle
Depression After Delivery conference
Home Care Association of Washington conference
MC for The Bartender’s Ball Seattle
