RUN AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS AND LEARN TO FLY IN THE NEW PICKLE CIRCUS’ HOLIDAY PRODUCTION, "CIRCUMSTANCE"

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October 28, 2002 -- Ever dream about quitting your day job to join the circus? In the New Pickle Circus' holiday show, "Circumstance," a young woman who is struggling to survive in the big city is swept away by a small tribe of impoverished, underground circus performers to help save their circus. The New Pickle Circus will perform "Circumstance" at Fort Mason Center's Cowell Theater from December 18 to January 1. The tickets, ranging from $18 to $26, go on sale in November at the Cowell Theater Box Office, 415-345-7575. In January, the Pickles will take the show on tour to Mountain View (January 3, 4, 5) and Rohnert Park (January 10, 11, 12). For more information about dates and locations call 415-759-8123.

Director Gypsy Snider and choreographer Shana Carroll created "Circumstance" as a whimsical homage to early 20th century circuses, before the arrival of such modern circuses as the Pickle Family Circus and the Cirque du Soleil. The central character, Susan (aerialist and vocalist Susan Voyticky) joins a troupe of run-down and eccentric circus artists living on the outskirts of society. The Ringmaster (dancer and percussionist Mina Liccione); The Clown (clown and chair balancer Joel David Baker); The Twins (duo-trapeze artists Ena and Danny Starling); The Pickpocket (German wheel artist and accordionist Jonas Woolverton); The Bald Ballerina (aerial fabric artist and dancer Krin Haglund); The Fallen Diva (aerial fabric artist and stilt dancer Chris Weiland); The Bambino (hand balancer Cory Tabino); The Russian Call-Girl (aerialist, rhythmic gymnast and acrobat Olga Kosova); and The Idiot (acrobat and juggler Josh Routh). As the plot unfolds, the troupe shows Susan the ropes, literally and the figuratively. She is drawn into a world where nothing is what it seems to be. These circus performers are emancipated beings who live fully in the moment, performing perilous stunts with gusto and joy. At finale, Susan chooses risk over every-day comforts and takes her turn in the air. Susan's beauty and passion breathes fresh life into the troupe, which ultimately ensures their survival.

"Circumstance" is the creation of two young women who ran away with the circus. Gypsy Snider is the daughter of Pickle Family Circus founders Peggy Snider and Larry Pisoni. She was three when she began her circus career with the Pickles. Shana Carroll, who grew up in Berkeley, got her start as a trapeze artist with the Pickles. Both went on to perform with internationally renowned circuses, including the spectacular Cirque du Soleil. Snider and Carroll currently live in Montreal, where they've formed their own company to create circus on a more intimate and human scale. They use this same approach on this year's New Pickle Circus show. "From the beginning, the Pickle Family Circus turned circus into something very human yet very new. We wanted to pay tribute to that by doing something equally human, equally new." said Snider. "Just as the original Pickles was a dramatic departure from circuses of the then-past, this show's look, style and approach to circus techniques are a dramatic departure from Pickle circuses of the past."

Bay Area composer and performer Ara Anderson (Brass Monkey Brass Band, Killing My Lobster, Transmission and Boostamonte; can also be heard on Tom Waits’ latest CDs "Blood Money" and "Alice") is collaborating on the production. He’s written a score for "Circumstance" that recalls the traditional organ and accordion music of European circuses, while borrowing from such diverse styles as ballroom, blues, hip hop, and even heavy metal. Anderson will lead the New Pickle Circus Band, playing keyboard and trumpet, with cellist Alex Kelly, drummer Shyam, and bassist and keyboardist Sam Bevan.

The New Pickle Circus will offer preview performances of "Circumstance" December 14, 17, 7:30 p.m and December 15 at 2:00pm. The opening night is December 18 at 7:30 p.m. and will benefit the Circus Center's community programs. Evening performances are also scheduled on December 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 and 30. Matinee shows will be held at 2 p.m. on December 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and New Year’s Day. Tickets for the San Francisco performances are priced at $26 for adults, $20 for students and seniors and $18 for children 12 and under. Preview performances are $16. To order tickets, call the Fort Mason Box Office at 415-345-7575. For group sales call 415-346-7805.

The New Pickle Circus is the professional performing company of Circus Center, a non-profit circus arts organization located at 755 Frederick Street in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury. The Circus Center also operates the San Francisco School of Circus Arts, a full-time training school; the Clown Conservatory; and the San Francisco Circus, a student-performing troupe.

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