Accordionist Jamie Maschler recently appeared at the University of Puget Sound in “Indecent” a play written by Paula Vogel and scored by Lisa Gutkin and accordionist Aaron Halva about another play called “The God of Vengence” written by the Yiddish playwright Sholem Asch.  

The story recounts the controversy surrounding the play when the show was on Broadway in 1923. The producer and cast were arrested and convicted on the grounds of obscenity.  Jamie shares, “This was my second time performing as Nelly Friedman in this production.  (The musicians names can be changed according to gender).  My first time with the show was in 2018 at Seattle Repertoiry Theater and this run was a student production through the University of Puget Sound. I was also the music director this time around.  Although it’s not considered a musical there is a lot of music and the musicians are integrated into the cast and are on stage the entire performance. It was a really fullfilling experience. The more I run the show the more I fall in love with it. ”.  

In her review for Newsday, Linda Winer asked “Has there ever been anything quite like Indecent, a play that touches — I mean deeply touches — so much rich emotion about history and the theater, anti-Semitism, homophobia, censorship, world wars, red-baiting and, oh, yes, joyful human passion?… It’s a gripping and entertaining show with laughter and tears and a real rainstorm in which two women from the marvelous 10-member cast re-enact what, in 1921, had been the first lesbian kiss on an American stage.”

“Jamie Maschler knows the versatility of the accordion better than most. She has played the instrument since she was four and spent years perfecting and competing…. Talents like her seem to be increasingly valuable.“  -The Atlantic

Jamie is based in Seattle, WA where she studied accordion under three-time Latin Grammy Nominee, Jovino Santos Neto at Cornish College of the Arts. Her main projects are Seattle’s only Brazilian forró band- En Canto and Accordion duo- Creosote with Gabe Hall-Rodrigues. Jamie began to play the accordion at age four, thanks to a door to door salesman.

Jamie happily says, “The accordion chose me!” Although this may be true, she was instantly enamored with her new instrument and began to study privately with the renowned accordionists and teachers, Dan and Kim Christian, in Colorado Springs. She studied with them throughout her youth. Kim Christian said: “As young as she was, Jamie took to the music right away. She pretty much grew up with our daughters competing and playing together in bands. Jamie always loved music and always loved performing. She won many, many trophies over the 12 years she took lessons with us!”

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) featured Jamie in their Museum of Making Music exhibit titled  “Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA”. She also accompanied the Seattle Symphony’s live scoring of “Lord of the Rings”, and played the accordion part in “Tchaikovsky’s Suite No.2” with the Seattle Philharmonic. In October 2019, Jamie was “Nellie Friedman” in Seattle Repertory Theater’s run of Paula Vogel’s Tony award winning play, Indecent.

Jamie is a frequent guest performer and presenter of stylized Brazilian and Tango music at numerous festivals. She works for accordion manufacturer Petosa Accordions, where she is able to share her passion and actively participate in the reinvention and face of the traditional Instrument. Jamie’s original music has been aired on the Radio in Seattle, Austin, Salvador BR, and Canada. Jamie has been featured performer and presented workshops on stylized Brazilian and Tango music for the Leavenworth Accordion Convention, National Accordion Association (NAA), Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG), American Accordionists’ Association (AAA), Port Townsend Accordion Festival, Seattle Flute Society and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in AK.

For further information: Email: jamie.maschler@gmail.com

Photo: Jamie Maschler, Kate Olson, and Alexander Sovronsky in “Indecent” at Seattle Rep. Photo by Bronwen Houck.