The Countess Katya Smirnoff-Skyy (J. Conrad Frank) has enthralled Bay Area audiences for over 17 years with her unique blend of opera, pop and booze. With a career spanning a very … very long time … Katya claims to have invented Popera, romanced William Shatner, and lived across the hall from John Lennon at the Dakota during her infamous 1970’s stint in NYC. Once Eastern Europe’s most sought after Mezzo Soprano - understudy, the countess now spends her evenings crooning and drinking her way through the finer theaters, bars, and bathhouses of America. Named “Best Drag Act 2008” By the San Francisco Bay Guardian and winner of the 2019 Bestie for Cabaret Performer. She has sold out runs at the Razz room, Feinstein’s, The New Conservatory Theater, Oasis, Don’t Tell Mama’s and Fifteen years of monthly shows at Martuni’s. Katy’s Award winning “Holiday Spectacular” has been a San Francisco Tradition for the bast 14 years. Katya played Blanch Hudson in Billy Cliff’s film Baby Jane and Mildred in Hush Up Sweet Charlotte. @katyasmirnoff on TikTok, katyasmirnoffskyy on Instagram. Katya is the creation of J.Conrad Frank who resides in San Fransisco.
J. Conrad Frank received a degree in vocal performance from the University of Oregon, and has been a staple in Bay Area theater for nearly 20 years. Favorite roles include: Alex More (Buyer and Cellar, NCTC), Angela Arden (Die Mommy Die NCTC,) Mary Dale (Red Scare on Sunset, NCTC), Narrator (Rocky Horror Show, ROLT), The Beadle Bamford (Sweeney Todd, ROLT), Rudi Gernreich (The Tempermentals, NCTC), Mrs. Peacock (CLUE, Boxcar Theatre) and Sylvia Fowler (Jungle Red, Artful Circle). Conrad has won several Bay Area Theater awards for his work.
Photographer: Jose Guzman Colon