WELCOME TO

CIRQUE DE LA LUNE

an all-original work of dance theater by

ballet fantastique

CHOREOGRAPHER-PRODUCERS DONNA MARISA + HANNAH BONTRAGER

Presented by

A NOTE FROM THE CHOREOGRAPHER-PRODUCERS

We chose this era because it’s such a vibrant, evocative, fascinating one in the life of the American circus. We wanted to delve into the aesthetics, romance, and grit of the circus in 1933, several years into the Great Depression. Although circuses were struggling, it was also a time when people needed this escape of art and fantasy more than ever—and could get it for just 50 cents (the average cost of a circus ticket in the 30s). On circus day, time stood still. Banks and schoolhouses shut their doors, and Main Streets were clogged with folks from down the block and across the county. It was also the golden age of the “Stongman.” This all-original ballet production we’ve dreamed up follows the dancers and performers of our imaginary Depression-era touring circus and dance company, “Cirque de la Lune,” in their interactions throughout the day before their circus show begins.

MUSICAL GUESTS

MOOD AREA 52

All songs by Michael Roderick — except Plegaria (traditional) and Abba ba Hahaita (amy danzinger)

Michael Roderick: Musical calendar
Don Elkington: Drums/percussion
Kee Zublin: Tenor sax
Corwin Bolt: bass
Billy Barnett: Guitar, toy piano
Amy Danziger: Cello

BAROQUE BETTY

All songs by Betreena Jaeger

Betreena Jaeger: Guitar/vocals

BLUE CARNIVALE

All songs by Jackie Cowsill + Jason Cowsill

Jackie Cowsill: Vocals, keyboard, misc percussion 
Jason Cowsill: Vocals, guitars, ukelele

cast of characters

in order of appearance

Simone, the Adventurous Dreamer: Hannah Bontrager
Noemie, the Bewitching Fortune Teller: Carolin Koepplin
Ansel, The Amazing: Raymond Silos (international guest circus artist)
Aspiring Circus Extras: Ellie Abbick, Emilia Montero, Jenavieve Hernandez
Estrella, the Lonesome Diva: Isabelle Overstreet
Bernardo, the Sublime Clown: Alberto Andrade
Ruby, the Inscrutable Wire Walker: Esperanza Montero
Romeo, the Charming Trickster: Adam Bloodgood
Arielle, the Exquisite Hoop Dancer: Emilia Montero
Chiara, the Alluring Lion Tamer: Ashley Bontrager
Gaspard, the Inscrutable Ringmaster: Gustavo Ramirez
Evelyn, the Magician’s Assistant: Olivia Thornton
Valentino & Katya, the Mesmerizing Flyers: Ernesto Lea Place & Caitlin Quinn (international guest circus artists)
La Paloma Beauties: Jenavieve Hernandez with Ellie Abbick, Phoebe Green, Emilia Montero, Isabelle Overstreet

MEET THE DANCERS

STORY GUIDE

ACT I—Scene 1

1939, a crossroads—Our ballet opens with the young Simone trying to decide whether or not to venture from home in search of fortune and adventure. After she decides to make a run for it, she briefly encounters Noemi, the bewitching fortune teller. Then, as the Cirque de la Lune touring circus and dance company sets up and raises its tents around her, she serendipitously meets the gregarious Ansel, who’s practicing to take over the magic act in the show later that night. Feeling an inexplicable connection to him and doubting her daring just a bit, she begs advice on which road to take next. But his advice is to take neither—that Simone has already found her destiny right where she is—with him and his touring circus. She takes his gift in lieu of his advice and goes on her way.

Scene 2

It’s payday, and Gaspard’s Cirque de la Lune band of performers toys and jokes as they get ready to rehearse for the night’s performance. Simone has had second thoughts, so she decides to come back and audition for an open part as a Cirque de la Lune dancer, bringing Gaspard the notice he posted advertising the position. The rough Gaspard and his carnival troupe decide to give her a chance; they tell her to hurry to change for rehearsal. 

Scene 3

Following the subsequent “Plegaria” run (Simone’s first circus rehearsal), Evelyn (the Magician’s Assistant) takes the stage to practice her magic tricks, and Valentino & Katya practice their straps tango. Ruby seizes the empty stage to practice her own dreamed-of solo act—she can’t believe she’s really living her dream. Bernardo dreams of another role in the circus. Romeo & Estrella, the star of the circus and his regular dance partner, dance their emotions about their relationship.

Scene 4

Ansel takes the stage for his daring trapeze solo. The rehearsals for the evening’s Big Top show continue, and another love is revealed—secretly, Gaspard has fallen for Chiara, the lion tamer.

INTERMISSION—20 MINUTES

ACT II—Scene 1

Rehearsals for the ring act ensue. Ansel rehearses while thinking of Simone. Romeo flirts with Arielle and she blindfolds him for Estrella’s game.

Scene 2

Ansel has just finished his wheel rehearsal, and Simone enters the ring to review some of her new choreography. With no one else around, Ansel can’t help but ask Simone to dance and they share their sweet attraction, paralleled in Valentino & Katya’s established love. The audience begins to gather for the evening’s fêtes.

It’s time to rehearse the tango, and the imperious Gaspard has decided to challenge the performers by forcing them to change partners just before the show. The tango concludes just as the audience is about to take their seats—love is new (Simone/Ansel), renewed (Estrella/Romeo), revealed (Gaspard/Chiara), invited (Ruby/Bernardo).

Scene 3

It’s time for the circus show to begin. It’s been a night in the life of Cirque de la Lune...

PRODUCTION TEAM

COSTUME DESIGN VISION
Donna Marisa Bontrager

COSTUME DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Allison Ditson/Allihalla, Donna Marisa Bontrager, Mitra Gruwell, Katie Liane, Primadonna Tutus (LA), Rita Perini-Vance, Andréa Taggart

BALLET FANTASTIQUE WARDROBE MISTRESS
Andréa Taggart

PROJECTION DESIGNS
Gustavo Ramirez, Gabriel Ritzmann

LIGHT DESIGN
Michael Petersen

STAGE MANAGER
Rhodec Erickson

CIRCUS LOGISTICS COORDINATOR

Raymond Silos

HEADPIECES/VINTAGE PIECES/ACCESSORIES
Mitra Gruwell

JEWELRY DESIGN
Andréa Taggart

SETS SUPPORT
Joshua Whitley, Katey Finley, Carley Irwin, Ken & Ida Pfeiffer, Mike Ricker

MARKETING TEAM
Hannah Bontrager, Bell + Funk, Gabriel Ritzmann (design), Isabelle Overstreet (social media)

PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
Jeremy Bronson, Gustavo Ramirez, Adam Bloodgood

PRODUCTION VIDEO & LIVESTREAM
Jeremy Bronson/Bronson Studios

gratitude

Dianna Pounder, BFan Angel
Official Hotel Sponsor: THE GRADUATE HOTEL
Official Florist: RHYTHM & BLOOMS
Guest Host: Deborah Basler
Guest Artist Travel Support: Estate of Wendlyn Rempel

behind the curtain : ARTIST INTERVIEWS

MEET THE CHARACTERS

ARTISTS OF BALLET FANTASTIQUE BY BOB WILLIAMS (COURTESY OF THE ALBANY HISTORIC CAROUSEL)