The Circus of Vices & Virtues (Spring 2003)

Ruth Juliet Wikler [Project Director] is Cirque Boom’s Founder and Artistic Director. The 2003 Circus is Cirque Boom's third work based on the works of Pieter Bruegel; it was preceded by The Circus of Vices & Virtues 2002 (conceived, produced & directed by Ms. Wikler in collaboration with five director-choreographers) and The Bruegel Triptych (Fall 2001, conceived, produced & directed by Ms. Wikler in collaboration with director and Hunter College theater professor Claudia Orenstein.) Ms. Wikler performed and studied directing, physical theater and aerial technique at Barnard College; with the San Francisco Mime Troupe; at the Circomedia School of Contemporary Circus and Physical Theater in Bristol, England; and at the Instal-Acción aerial performance and training center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ms. Wikler’s writings on such topics as Spanish civil war-era agitational propaganda, contemporary underground cultural spaces in Buenos Aires, gender-bending in new Mexican theater; and butoh dance-theater in Dresden have appeared in such publications as Yale’s Theater Magazine and (ai) performance for the planet magazine.

Leah James Abel [creator/performer] currently teaches dance at HB studio in Manhattan while earning her BA at Hunter College in International Relations, Political Science and Dance. She has been seen from Manhattan to Hawaii acting, dancing, choreographing and directing. She has been trained in Modern, Improvisation, International Folk dancing, Hula, traditional Indonesian, Jazz and Physical Theatre. Leah studied static trapeze under Rachel Kramer over the past year and recently with Tonya Gange. Not to mention other various circus tricks with Ruth Wikler and the Cirque Boom ensemble. In November, Leah James performed an Indonesian narrative dance Gadjah Mada at Lincoln Center. More recently, Leah James can also be found as a model for acting exercises in Mira Felner’s internationally published text, Free to Act, An Integrated Approach to Acting. But, most importantly, Leah James works Cirque Boom circus theatre, loving every moment of it. Leah James would like to thank her many teachers, friends and the trees that have shown her strength, flexibility and inspiration. Keep laughing, learning, moving and healing.

Katy Barkan [props master]

Heatherlynn Christopher [Assistant Stage Manager]

Jamie Comenole [costume designer] is studying at Brooklyn College and hopes to move to Rhode Island. Previous engagements include the bestsellers, Lovebird With A Mirror and Desire:Caught By The Tail both with Curious Noise Theatre. Up and coming is an underground exploration into the stuff of memories and curio boxes, again with CNT. I want to express my deep fascination and highest respect to the members of this troupe. Thank you for showing me how to climb a rope and compromise with harnesses!

Casey Davison [production/stage manager] graduated from Wesleyan University last spring with an honors thesis on technology and the changes it has wrought in theatrical productions. She has done everything from managing a student theater company to hanging a birdie. Since arriving in New York, she has worked at The Underwood Theater, which is dedicated to developing new playwrights; interned in company management on THE PRODUCERS (Richard Frankel Productions), which is
dedicated to making money; and production managed love/sad for Studio 42, which is dedicated to advancing sexy new artists of every sort. She looks forward to her next gig, a lovely, paying job for which she is still searching. Hire her (or just get in touch) at twinkletoes1220@hotmail.com.

DJ fflood [production sound director] aka Richard Malcolm Wright has been a dj for over 15 years, spinning in New York City warehouses, clubs, lounges and bars, as well as in Kingston, Jamaica and across the East Coast. He complements his dj activities with activistic and artistic collaborations, and is pursuing a masters’ degree in expressive arts therapy.

DJ Jimmy Tones [sound co-designer, performance dj] (aka Timmy Jones) was an ordinary boy from the Conecticut suburbs until his accidental exposure to experimental breakbeats at age thirteen. Since then, he's been maniacally fusing hip-hop turntablism, experimental computer software and theatrical sound design into strange new permutations. He recently directed a production of "Titanic" by Christopher Durang, graduated from Wesleyan University's Computer Science department, and created sound for "Love/Sad" with Studio 42. He works in NYC as a freelance sound designer, web developer and technology consultant.

Teresa Kochis [creator/performer] is a graduate of New York University's Gallatin School for Individualized Study, where she designed a major in visual arts & aerial dance. She now works as a social circus instructor for Cirque du Monde. She has performed recently with The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, NuVoLe Dance Theatre, and Fly-By-Night Dance Theatre. This is her first year performing with Cirque Boom.

Olivia Lehrman [creator/performer] began her formal training with eight years in competitive
gymnastics and 14 years of classical piano. While studying Chinese language and economics at Vassar College, she delved into circus arts, focusing on juggling, acrobalancing, tumbling, aerial fabric, and flying trapeze. Olivia joined Cirque Boom in November, 2002 and now can be found
in dance classes throughout New York City, training trapeze in Montreal, Canada, or at rehearsal as an Apprentice to the Elizabeth Streb dance company.

Rie Ono [lighting designer] has designed lighting for various productions both in Tokyo and the United States. Recent credits include:Hanjo, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Another Gay Play, The Waiting Room, Once on this Island, Footloose, and Opera Nightingale. Ms. Ono holds an MFA in Theater Design from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Renee Press [sculptor/set designer]

Melissa Riker [collaborating choreographer & performer] is a freelance dancer, aerialist and choreographer. She performs with aerial modern dance company Torque Dance and with Murray Spalding Movement Arts. As a choreographer, Ms. Riker is co-director of movement theater collaboration The Kinesis Project and dance curator for the Manhattan Theater Source’s women’s work festival Estrogenius.

Cody Schreger [creator/performer]began training in gymnastics at the age of six. At thirteen, she fell in love with the circus while on vacation at Club Med. Cody has since studied circus arts from acrobatics to flying trapeze at summer camps and in Montreal, Canada. She studied improvisational theater at Oberlin College, and will be heading to Bard College in the fall to finish her degree.

Joanna Sherman [collaborating director] is the Artistic Director of the MacArthur award-winning Bond Street Theatre Coalition, an experimental theater ensemble focused on creating new works around political and social themes. With Bond Street Theatre, she has performed, directed, taught and created community-based theater projects from refugee camps in Kosovo and Afghanistan to mime festivals in France.

Mark Simmons [Rigger & Technical Director] served as Head Rigger/Master Electrician/Ring Crew Chief for the Big Apple Circus and as Electrician for Feld Entertainment's Kaleidoscape. Mr. Simmons assisted St. Anne’s Warehouse with their warehouse to theater conversion and has worked free-lance in New York with such companies as Storz Lighting, Celebrate Brooklyn!, and Fringe Festival NYC. He is currently the Facilities Manager at Soho Rep.

Bronwyn Sims [acrobatics advisor] Bronwyn Sims is a professional actor and teacher. A graduate of Circle in the Square in New York City, she is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has appeared in movies (Next Stop Wonderland, Dischord, What I Did While I Was Away) and on television, including a role in the Emmy award winning first season of The Sopranos. Her stage credits include productions with the American Repertory Theatre, The National Black Theatre of Harlem, Raven Theatrical and Obie award winner Sarah East Johnson’s LAVA .She is also an accomplished gymnast acrobat and aerialist performing and working with such groups as Cirque Boom (The Circus of Vices and Virtues) and Gemini Trapeze in Vermont. She has taught Art, Theatre, Movement & Gymnastics for over six years, at such programs as: The Boston Children’s Opera, City Stage.Co. Hoboken Charter School, Sutton Gymnastics, Tobin After School, The Computer/Arts Program at PS 19, The Kitchen , N J PAC ,Grace Church School NY, Children’s Workshop School and Grace Kids After School in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Sonia Werner [creator/performer] is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. She also trained at Michael Howard Studios and Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France. She has worked with Cirque Boom since 2001, performing in its first two Bruegel-based projects, The Bruegel Triptych and the Circus of Vices & Virtues 2002. Sonia's very excited about the formation of her new lipsync cover band THE EDUCATED GUESSES that will soon be singing in their underwear to 80's and early 90's music across the New York City area. To book the band, you can contact her mentor and manager, Fabrice Morvan - formerly of Milli Vanilli or you can buy her a beer after the show. Sonia wishes to thank the entire cast and crew of CB for their talent, support and unfailing committment to wheat, gluten and sugar free foods. Thanks mom and dad also - for the money you lent me last month.

Jeff Wills [fight director/ creator/ performer] has been a New York-based actor for over three years, and has been performing in circus for 2 of them. You may have seen him last Spring in "CV&V 2002", or in the Manhattan Theatre Source's production of "Significant Circus" in 2001. Prior to that, Jeff graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with his BFA in Theatre. Presently, Jeff
continues to collaborate with Cirque Boom and is developing a Commedia dell Arte show, "Zuppa del Giorno," with The Northeast Theatre, which is set to open May 1st. He would like to thank Ruth, Kate, Virginia, Megan and Geoff, for their boldness, understanding, love, excitement and free beer...respectively. Mahcalaneah!

Anna Zastrow [creator/performer] Past roles include a grotesque pimp-butcher in Sweet Ugly; Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet; Frau Bergman in Spring Awakening; Helena in A Midsummernight's Dream; and Holly Daze aka Heavenly Holly at the Penn Ren Faire. She¹s also done a stint as ringmaster at a circus in France. In 2000, she produced Dream/Play, an initial experimental venture for her theater
company Loka Maer based on Strindberg's work. More to come in time. Anna is a graduate of Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, as well as The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She survives daily by balancing clown work at little brat's birthday parties with psychology & anthropology
studies at The New School.