watertower theatre | 2019–2020...tarzan zerbini circus (canada), circo hnos. atayde (mexico),...

WaterTower Theatre | 2019–2020 1

SHANE PETERMAN, PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTORIN COLLABORATION WITH

ON THE TERRY MARTIN MAIN STAGE

LONE STAR CIRCUS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – Fanny KerwichLONE STAR CIRCUS BOARD PRESIDENT – Mark Doyle

LONE STAR CIRCUS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – Jeff Colangelo

PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Ryan Matthieu SmithLIGHTING DESIGNER – Ryan BurkleSOUND DESIGNER – Jeff Colangelo

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER – Andrew Horn

PRESENTS

2 watertowertheatre.org

CAST

There will be one 15 minute intermission.

CALISTA .............................................................................................................. Jessie Prince, Emma Jewel Rogers*the role of Calista is double cast

CLOWN ....................................................................................................................................Cristhian Videla (“Rulito”)RINGMASTER ............................................................................................................................................ Tyron McFarlanAERIAL LAMP ..........................................................................................................................................Frank ChapmanCONTORTION .......................................................................................................................................Tilda McSpaddenAERIAL HAMMOCK ............................................................................................................................. Joanne VasquezJUGGLER ............................................................................................................................................................Josĕ VazquezHAND BALANCING .................................................................................................................................Ernesto FassioLYRA .........................................................................................................................................................................Emily FassioHULA-HOOPS ........................................................................................................................................... Jesse PattersonQUICK CHANGE ................................................................................................................Vladimir & Olga Smirnov

The Lone Star Circus Theme Song is by Cherish Robinson

Video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

OTHER MAJOR FUNDINGThis project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

THEATRE NAMING BENEFACTORSDon and Barbara Daseke, The Family of Bob Downs, Kathleen A. Messina

and Gary Goodwin, Stan Graner, and Janiece and Jimmy Niemann

SEASON SPONSOR

THANK YOU TOOur 2019-2020 Season Opening Night Sponsor, ANTONIO RISTORANTE


CAST

JESSIE PRINCE | Calista

Jessie is a fifth grader attending Valor Global Online to have more time to pursue her passion for musical theater. She is an elite veteran of The Acting Studio’s Triple Threat Conservatory enjoying her 6th year on stage. She loved spending the last two summers taking workshops and performing in New York City and at Disneyland. Past favorite roles include young Eponine in Les Miserables, and Marta von Trapp in The Sound of Music. She was a 2019 finalist in the Richardson Wildflower festival budding talent vocal competition. In addition to pursuing the theater arts, Jessie has loved teaching herself to play the piano, and is an avid reader and crafter. She wants to thank all of her Studio coaches, especially Mrs. Keeli James and Mrs. Hannah Fisher, for their encouragement and support in her growth. She feels blessed to be part of this magical show and its dynamic cast. Thank you, WaterTower Theatre!

EMMA JEWEL ROGERS | Calista

Emma Jewel Rogers, an eighth-grade student at Coram Deo Academy, is so excited to be a part of Cirque Holidays at WaterTower Theatre. She trains as a fourth-year student in Our Productions Young Artist Training Program, under Stephanie Riggs Kirkham and Mark Mullino. Some of her favorite past roles include Nala in Lion King Jr., Wendy in Peter Pan: A New Musical, Lucinda in Into the Woods, and Skimbleshanks in CATS. In addition to her passion for musical theatre, she also enjoys practicing songwriting, piano, guitar, ukulele, calligraphy, and art. She feels incredibly honored and blessed to be in this show!

TYRON McFARLAN | Ringmaster

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, “Ty” McFarlan Jr., was raised in an atmosphere of discipline: his father was a U.S. Army warrant officer who became a South Carolina State Trooper, and his mother was a schoolteacher. He enlisted in the National Guard at sixteen and enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) during his college years at the University of South Carolina (he rose to the rank of Captain), and he graduated from that institution in 1996 with a degree in criminal justice. In high school, though, Ty played the trumpet in honors bands and took to the stage as a vocalist. He also formed an R&B group that gained some regional fame, and landed roles in musicals at Columbia’s Workshop Theater. Finally, Ty gave in to his artistic impulses; in 2004, he auditioned for a production of the musical Show Boat in Rock Island, Illinois, and got the job. Then, his company’s manager mentioned an ad for a new Ringmaster for the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus: he thought Ty was right for the job. Thus, in 2005, Ty McFarlan became the 34th Ringmaster of “The Greatest Show on Earth.” After the closure of the 143-years-old institution in 2017, Ty McFarlan went on to work as Ringmaster for New York’s Big Apple Circus, before joining the Lone Star Circus family in 2018 for its production of Forever.


CAST

CRISTHIAN VIDELA | Rulito (Clown)

Cristhian knows something about clowning: he is fifth generation of an Argentinian clown family! He made his performing debut in the circus ring at age two, alongside his father. Cristhian has since grown into his big clown shoes and has performed all over South America, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. He has been featured at Circus Hollywood (USA), Tarzan Zerbini Circus (Canada), Circo Hnos. Atayde (Mexico), Circo Rodas (Argentina) and many more, doing what he does best: making people laugh. Cirque Holidays, marks his first appearance with Lone Star Circus.

FRANK CHAPMAN | Aerial Lamp

After time spent with the United States Marine Corps, Frank Chapman moved from Los Angeles to Texas, where he began to train in circus arts, trying a wide variety of disciplines from Cyr Wheel and hand-balancing to aerial hoop and Roman Rings. In 2017, he competed in the San Antonio qualifiers for NBC’s television series, “American Ninja Warrior.” Frank finally made his circus performing debut in 2019, on the Aerial Lamp, in Lone Star Circus’ production of Cirque Kerwich in downtown Dallas.

TILDA McSPADDEN | Contortion

A former USAG rhythmic gymnastics competitor, Tilda has been involved in the circus arts for nearly three years. She has been selected for the advanced summer intensive program at the world-famous École Nationale de Cirque in Montreal, Canada, for the past two years, and she is currently a member of the Youth Elite Program at Lone Star Circus School. Tilda also trains in the Conservatory Program at Dallas Academy of Music and Performing Arts and has experience in musical theatre as a vocalist, actress, and dancer. (She is represented by the Linda McAlister Talent Agency.) She recently made her circus debut in Lone Star Circus’ Cirque Kerwich.

JOANNE VASQUEZ | Aerial Hammock

Born in Germany, Joanne was raised in England, where she trained in dance and musical theatre at the prestigious Performer College in Essex. She has worked in television, and in theatre, and toured all over the world before being hired as a showgirl by Circo Hnos. Vazquez in the United States. There, she fell in love with aerial arts and… her husband, the juggler José Vazquez! Training herself in the aerial hammock, she has performed her dynamic and beautiful act at Circo Hnos. Atayde, Circus Carden, Circo Hnos. Vazquez, Circus España and with Lone Star Circus in Cirque Joyeux in Galveston.


CAST

JESSE PATTERSON | Hula-Hoops

A Dallas native, Jesse Patterson got involved in circus at the Lone Star Circus School, where she began training in 2007 at age ten. She studied trapeze for two years before falling in love with the hula-hoops. She spent several years training with Fanny Kerwich, Nastia Kartseva of the Texas Rhythmic Academy, and Russian coach Pavel Karima. Jesse is a veteran of Lone Star Circus’ productions: she was featured in Banquiste, Charivari, Oh Là Là!, Zingari, and Cirque Joyeux Noël. She has also performed all over the country, where her appearances include the Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival, Bindlestiff Family Circus, Worldwide Circus Summit, Six Flags Great Adventure, and the Vegas International Variety Acts. She has also been featured at the European Juggling Convention. In 2017, she moved to London to further her training at the National Centre for Circus Arts, where she graduated this year with First Class BA Honors.

ERNESTO FASSIO | Hand-Balancing

Ernesto hails from Argentina, where his parents, who were competitive gymnasts, became circus acrobats when their competition days were over. In 1989, he came to the United States where his parents had an engagement with the Carson & Barnes Circus, then the largest tenting show in the country. Ernesto, who was trained in hand-balancing by his father, made his debut in 1993 at Carson & Barnes Circus; he was twelve years old. He has since been featured in many shows in the United States and Mexico, including Circo Atayde, Cole Bros. Circus and Circo Hnos. Vazquez. He and his wife, Angelica (née González, in an old Mexican circus family), have two daughters, Emily and Sofia. Emily appears in this show in her beautiful lyra act.

EMILY FASSIO | Lyra

A third-generation circus performer of Argentinian and Mexican descent, Emily is the daughter of Ernesto and Angelica Fassio. Her father, Ernesto, is featured in this show with his spectacular hand-balancing act. As all circus kids, she has been trained in a vast range of circus disciplines by her parents, including in the lyra act she performs in this new production.


CAST

JOSÉ VAZQUEZ | Juggler

Born in Mexico City, José Vazquez belong to two famous Mexican circus dynasties: he is the fifth generation of the Atayde family, whose Circo Hnos. Atayde is Mexico’s oldest and more prominent circus, and fourth generation of the Vazquez family, whose Circo Hnos. Vazquez has become, in recent years, one of the United States’ most successful circuses. As a kid, José showed an early interest in juggling and began practicing on his own with lemons and oranges. This quickly led to more serious practice, and to his debut in the ring at age thirteen. Three years later, he received a Silver Medal from the Princess Stéphanie of Monaco at Monte Carlo’s Festival Première Rampe, which showcases young circus talents. He also won awards at Youth Circus festivals in Italy, Moscow and China. In addition, José went on to present Circo Vazquez’s horses, zebras and camels, but his passion remains juggling, and today, his spectacular act is in high demand all over the world.

VLADIMIR & OLGA SMIRNOV | Quick Change

A native of Kharkov, Ukraine, Vladimir Smirnov is a second-generation performer. His father was an actor, comedian, and circus producer, and his mother was a magician. Vladimir began training at age six in Dance school, then went to Sports School where he trained in acrobatics, tumbling and trampoline. At age fifteen, he debuted in his parents’ show with a juggling and rola-bola act. After graduating with a First Prize from Moscow’s State College for Circus and Variety Arts, he went on to perform with the Russian State Circus in a perch-pole balancing act and a magic act. Olga and Vladimir met in the circus. She, too, was born to a circus family, in Barnaul, Russia. Her father was an acrobat, foot-juggler, and comedian. At age ten, she started practicing aerial arts, low-wire, and acrobatics. In 1992, Olga and Vladimir were awarded a Special Prize at the prestigious Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris for their amazing perch-pole balancing act on a slack wire. They began to work on their mind-boggling magic act in 1993 and debuted it the same year. They came to the U.S. in 1996, where they have been featured in major circus and variety shows. The Russian-style tradition of their act defies mere magic, combining instead color, choreography and music in an elegant presentation that is altogether fun, beautiful and mystifying. Don’t blink — you may just miss something!


CREATIVE TEAM

LONE STAR CIRCUS

Lone Star Circus is the performing arm of Lone Star Circus Arts Center, a Dallas-based non-profit organization, created in 2006 by Fanny Kerwich, an 8th generation circus artist of French descent. Its purpose is to promote circus arts through performance, education and community outreach. It includes Lone Star Circus School, which provides recreational and professional circus training to children and adults; and Lone Star Circus, which produces high-quality circus-centered entertainment, either in the form of shows, or for special, civic and corporate events, in Texas and beyond.

FANNY KERWICH | Director & Conceiving Creative Concept

Fanny belongs to the eighth generation of a well-known French circus family. Her father, Albert Kerwich, was a distinguished aerialist who became a circus entrepreneur in Canada. A performer since the age of six, Fanny later graduated from Annie Fratellini’s National Circus School in Paris before studying in Moscow, under the legendary circus act director, Valentin Gneushev. A highly versatile artist, she has performed all over the world for forty years. She has been featured at the world-famous Lido and Moulin Rouge cabarets in Paris and Circus Roncalli in Germany. In the U.S., she has performed as a clown in Feld Entertainment’s Barnum Kaleidoscape and with her hula-hoop act at Teatro ZinZanni in San Francisco. She has also been featured with the Dallas Opera in the world-premiere of Great Scott, directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien.

In 2006, she founded Lone Star Circus Arts Center, a Dallas-based non-profit circus organization that encompasses Lone Star Circus School and its performing arm, Lone Star Circus. As Creative Director of Lone Star Circus, Fanny has conceived and directed all its productions since its inception. In 2016, she created and directed Le Petit Lone Star Circus for the Out of the Loop Fringe Festival, which was awarded “Best of Loop.” She also trained and directed Grammy Award-winner Erykah Badu in Bravo!, which marked the music icon’s circus performance debut as an aerialist. Fanny created and directed the four editions of Cirque Joyeux, Lone Star Circus’ Holiday production at Moody Gardens. Most recently, she devised Cirque Kerwich, which performed under an intimate big top in downtown Dallas.

Fanny and her husband, Mark Doyle, are the proud parents of Gitana and Garrett, who are now veteran performers. They live in Dallas.

JEFF COLANGELO | Artistic Producer & Sound Designer

Jeff Colangelo is a fight choreographer, director, writer, and producer with over 10 years of experience working all over the United States. Based in the DFW area, Jeff has worked for theaters like Undermain, Theater Three, WaterTower Theatre, Artstillery, Cara Mia Theater, and Dallas Theater Center. From sword fights to Jackson Pollack paint wars, Jeff Colangelo has choreographed a wide variety of movement sequences for film, live events, and theater, and his choreography has been seen by crowds of 60,000 people. Additionally, Jeff Colangelo has worked with Lone Star Circus to create shows and events at Dallas Children’s Theater, Moody Gardens Hotel, and various other Texas venues. Jeff is currently the Artistic Director of Prism Movement Theater and ensemble member of Cara Mia Theater. He graduated from SMU in 2013 with a BFA in Theater Arts.


CREATIVE TEAM

RYAN MATTHIEU SMITH | Production Designer

Ryan is an award-winning Director and Designer working in film, television, and theatre in New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Regional theatre credits include work for Theatre Three, The Dallas Theatre Center, Lyric Stage, Circle Theatre , Echo, Wingspan, Ochre House, Amphibian Stages, Lone Star Circus, and WaterTowerTheatre. Past WTT shows designed by Ryan include the Out of the Loop Festival, Hit The Wall, The Ballad of Little Jo, Godspell, and Sister Act. Being a native of Oak Cliff, Ryan has created for movies, theaters, television, commercials, print, and celebrities all over the country but is very excited to bring his passion home to Dallas. Check out upcoming and exciting work by Ryan at www.giantentertainment.org.

RYAN BURKLE | Lighting Designer

Ryan is a Dallas-based Lighting Designer and Technician, and he’s very excited to be joining Lone Star Circus for the first time. He has had the pleasure of working in the DFW area with companies like DTC, WaterTower Theatre, Kitchen Dog Theatre, Imprint Theatre, Echo Theatre, and Shakespeare Dallas. He’s also worked for Trinity Repertory Theatre, Opera Saratoga, and Zachary Scott Theatre around the U.S. Now he is the Production Electrician for SMU while freelancing on the side.

ANDREW HORN | Production Stage Manager

Andrew Horn is a recent college graduate from SMU. He has previously stage-managed multiple productions at SMU and with Jubilee Theater. He is thrilled to be working with Lone Star and is grateful to his friends and family for their support.


http://www.giantentertainment.org/

DONORS

$10,000 and upCIC PartnersDon & Barbara DasekeStan Graner & Jim McBride

Philip & Janeva LongacreJimmy & Janiece NiemannJack & Libby Swindle

Ron & Donna Whitehead

$5,000 - $9,999Mervyn & Rosalind BenjetThe Boxer Family Foundation

Flora & Michael BrewerAndrea & Keith Redmon

Craig & Deborah SuttonNancy Williams

$2,500 - $4,999Amli Residential AddisonIda Jane & Doug BaileyTom & Anita BraunJennifer Martinez

Ken & Cheryl MindellKarol OmlorOncorSteven Pipes

The Rosewood FoundationRalph Weber

$1,000 - $2,499The Civic League FoundationBlake ClemensGrace DanielsJoe & Carol Dingman

Guaranty BankWayne GoldbergJohn & Joanne HareTimothy & Rhonda Horan

Kathleen Messina & Gary GoodwinBill Strathmann

$500 - $999Barbara Elliot InteriorsJoe & Gail BarthDavid & Mary Ellen CassmanKay F. ChampagneBuddy Frazer & Glenda Turner

Ida & Ed HasslerMark JacobsJim & Melinda JohnsonLarry LeMasterStanley & Cara Lockett

Tom MasonRebecca NeefWilliam P. PfeiffCarrie Teller

$250 - $499Maureen BarrettBobbie FlowerGrant & Nancy ForemanJane GoodellJohn JaggersBurdette Katzen

Donna MarinoJudy MathisSam & Barbara McKenneyKipton & Delynda MoravecRichard RussellRandal & Julie Schoenstedt

Lindsey SnellgroveJack TerrillionRuth TrudeauPaul WaldenThe Wellik Charitable Fund

The above listing reflects gifts received between 11.1.2018 and 10.30.2019.

We gratefully acknowledge the 500+ donors who each year, through their contributions, make it possible for WTT to present over 125 performances each year. Although space limits our ability to publicly recognize donors at levels below $250, we deeply and sincerely appreciate every contribution. As ticket sales cover only a portion of our annual costs, these generous gifts of patrons, corporations, foundations and others are critical to WTT’s ability to create quality professional theatre for our audience. Should you wish to be added to this extraordinary list of donors, please visit our website at www.watertowertheatre.org/donations or contact Delynda Moravec at 972-450-6230 or via email at [email protected]. Thank you!

We’d like to say a special thank you to the following donors:


BOARD & STAFF

COMING SOON

HARVEY – February 6-23, 2020

I AM MY OWN WIFE – April 16-May 3, 2020

WATERTOWER THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nancy Williams President Craig Sutton Vice President Ron Whitehead Vice President Ken Mindell Treasurer Nancy Brenner Secretary

WATERTOWER THEATRE STAFF

Bruce ArfstenRosalind BenjetBlake ClemensGrace Daniels

Barbara DasekeTim HoranKita Hobbs

Phil LongacreJennifer Martinez

Rebecca NeefSteven PipesCorky Pledger

Andrea Redmon

Producing Artistic DirectorShane Peterman

Associate Artistic DirectorElizabeth Kensek

Patron Services ManagerPhil Gosselin

Director of Finance & AdministrationDelynda Johnson Moravec

Technical DirectorJustin Voga

Education DirectorHannah Fisher

Assistant Technical DirectorKennedy Styron

RiggersVisan Espana

Ricardo B. Espana

Child Wrangler/ Costume Assistant

Penny Smith

Spot OperatorsKeith GillespieJessica Updike

CarpentersKeith GillespieJustin Kenyon

Scenic PainterCaddo Lindsey

ElectriciansAllie ButemeyerGabe ColemanAndrew DavisAnnie Saum

Front of House AssociatesTatum EckertAverie ElkhayClint Gilbert

Maggie HerrickDylan OwenJohn RawleyAaron Verrill

Megan Wamsley

Graphic DesignerEmily Holt

Marketing ConsultantSarah Close

Photography/Video ServicesJason Anderson

Pendleton PhotographyPaul Armstrong

Cyril Pigot


watertower theatre | 2019–2020...tarzan zerbini circus (canada), circo hnos. atayde (mexico),...

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