Cabaret Metamorphoses
“Stunning….complex, multilayered, and transformational.”
-Judy Finelli, Spectacle: an Online Journal of Circus Arts
photo credit: Gary G. Thompson
A Circus-Theatre-Cabaret Collectively Created with Members of Circus Center San Francisco
Directed by Kathryn Mederos Syssoyeva
Aerial Choreography by Janette Hough
Additional Choreography by Kathryn Mederos Syssoyeva, Lauren Hlubny, Noe Zavala, Ariyana La Fey & The Cast
Music Composed by Sheng Ge
Adapted from Ovid’s Metamorphoses by James Weisbach and Kathryn Mederos Syssoyeva from translations by Ted Hughes, Jane Alison, A.D. Melville, Charles Martin, and David Raeburn
Additional text by Felicity Hesed and Nikolas Strubbe
Executive Producer: Barry Kendall
Assistant Director: Lauren Hlubny
Dramaturg: James Weisbach
Production Assistant: Phoenix Paz
Director’s Statement
The universe of Ovid’s Metamorphoses is fundamentally amoral. The Greco-Roman divinities careened between benevolence and violence, lavishing gifts upon favorites, punishing enemies with breathtaking cruelty, and amusing themselves at the expense of the human world. Theirs is a passionate cosmos – alive with longing, vengeance, hunger, repulsion, desperate love, violent lust. Where is redemption to be found in such a universe? As James Weisbach discusses in his dramaturgical statement, Ovid suggests that it lies in part in the play and flux of matter and spirit, which connect us all: we are all of a piece, a pulsating cosmic fabric turning itself inside out again and again.
But it lies too, in the art of storytelling. The telling of tales – by whom, to whom, and at what cost – is central to the Metamorphoses, which introduces a new vision of the artist: as autonomous creative human force. In the Greco-Roman tradition, the bard-poet begins with an evocation of the Muses; he is a vessel through which divine thought speaks. Not so Ovid: “Changes of shape, new forms are the theme which my spirit impels me now to recite,” he begins. And if Ovid follows with a nod in the general direction of divine inspiration, he concludes by establishing his voice not merely as his own, but as a cry against the forces of divinity, time, and death:
Now I have finished my work which nothing can ever destroy –
Not Jupiter’s wrath, nor fire or sword, nor devouring time.
The day which has power over nothing except this body of mine
May come when it will and end the uncertain span of my life.
But the finer part of myself shall sweep me into eternity,
Higher than all the stars. My name shall never be forgotten.
Wherever the might of Rome extends …
The people shall read and recite my words. Throughout all ages,
If poets have vision to prophecy truth I shall live in my fame.
In the midst of the Metamorphoses we find the tale of Arachne. As Ovid tells it – departing from tradition – the mortal Arachne is punished for two things: for her belief that her talent is entirely her own and for speaking truth to power. Ovid’s Arachne weaves a tale that challenges the divine account of reality - challenges, in other words, the foundational ideology of that Roman world from which Ovid had been banished. Through a web of metaphor, Ovid too seems to be challenging the powerful with an alternate truth.
And it is here that our own take on this tale begins
- K.M. Syssoyeva
Cast
Divinities
Diana………...Katie Whitcraft
Juno………….Felicity Hesed
Jupiter……….Nikolas Strubbe
Mars…………Steven Delaney
Minerva……...Erica Saben
Vulcan……….Leo Harris
Venus………..Ariyana La Fey
Mortals
Arachne………..…Jane Wong
Hermaphroditus…Steven Delaney
Ianthe…………….Ariyana La Fey
Iphis………………Erica Saben
Narcissus………....Ron Oppenheimer
Pandeon…………..Noe Zavala
Philomela…............Sylvia Bryant
Procne....................Lyra Levin
Tereus………........Steven Delaney
Tiresias……….…..Noe Zavala
Nymphs
Ensemble…….Or Oppenheimer, Karyn Gladstone, Hilary Heuer, Sylvia Bryant
Callisto…...…..Lyra Levin
Echo……...…..Lauren Hlubny
Salmacis..........Marina Mendoza
Reflections......Or Oppenheimer, Karyn Gladstone, Hilary Heuer, Ariyana La Fey, Jane Wong
Musicians
Cello………….Dan Lesser
Saw…………...Hilary Von Joo
Violin................Jane Wong & Felicity Hesed
Flute..................Ariyana La Fey
Brass….............Erica Saben
Hand Bells........Phoenix Paz
Bios
Sylvie Bryant (Philomela, Nymph) Sylvie discovered movement, dance, and circus later in life. She trained in hip hop and street jazz in Vancouver and Singapore, and in pro wrestling in L.A. She learned ballet as an adult, and even wore her first pair of pointe shoes this year. While studying entrepreneurship and design at Stanford, she found a vibrant aerial community there, and soon became an aerialist herself. At school, she trained in dance with Robert Moses, Muriel Maffre, Diane Frank, and Erik Wagner, who were all infinitely inspirational. She started at the Circus Center this year, and loves everything. In her non-circus life, she is an avid explorer and works at Tesla Motors. www.sylviebryant.com
Steven Delaney (Mars, Hermaphroditus, Tereus) As an ex-gymnast and wrestler, Steven has been a mover since a young age. After discovering circus arts he combined forms of movement he studied such as gymnastics, Capoeira, ballet and modern dance into the style of acrobatic flow. This passion combined with the dynamics of partnership led him to another specialty in partner acrobatics. 'Steven and Marina' have been working together for half a year and enjoy expressing their passion through performances of all types.
Sheng Ge (Composer) Sheng is a composer with a wide range of musical interests across time and geography, incorporating elements from classical, world music, jazz, rock etc. into his compositions. He has recently composed the music for a circus-theatre production of Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron staged in Maine. Sheng also plays the piano and is an active cellist, playing solo, chamber music and in the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra.
Karyn Gladstone (Reflection, Nymph) Karyn swore off circus training nearly a decade ago after her first, grueling aerial class left her sore for a week. Much to the chagrin of her blistered hands, she couldn’t stay away. A techie by day, Karyn can be found perched on a trapeze most evenings. She performs occasionally on the double trapeze with her regular partners, but is delighted by the opportunity to create aerial storytelling work for Cabaret Metamorphoses with her new trapeze partner, Hilary Heuer.
Leo Harris (Vulcan, Pygmalion) Leo’s first career was in the business and legal worlds, where he specialized in overseeing complex operations and facility needs. In his second career, he served the residents of San Francisco for 20 years as a firefighter. Leo is now embarked upon his third career, training full-time at Circus Center and other facilities to realize his dream of becoming a professional acrobatics performer. He holds a B.S. in Communications from the University of Evansville.
Felicity Hesed (Juno) Felicity is passionate about circus-theater and is thrilled to be working on this project. Her performance credits include The Tangerine Family Circus (Chicago), The Pickle Family Circus, Cabaret Lunatique with Teatro ZinZanni, and Bay Area Children's Theater's Circus Adventure. Felicity received her BA in Theatre Arts from Kalamazoo College, her MA in Education from DePaul University, and completed the Clown Conservatory Program. She currently trains static trapeze with Elena Panova. Felicity would like to thank her husband and two small children for supporting her throughout the creation of this show.
Hilary Heuer (Reflection, Nymph) Hilary stumbled upon a beginning trapeze class at Circus Center nearly a decade ago, having promised herself a completely different type of challenge after finishing her dissertation. It was the beginning of a healthy addiction to the aerial arts. When she’s not on a trapeze or an aerial hoop, Hilary is a research scientist and an avid hiker. She finds circus provides a wonderful balance, and has really enjoyed the chance to develop new work and skills for Cabaret Metamorphoses by partnering with Karyn Gladstone.
Lauren Hlubny (Echo, Assistant Director) Lauren is a recent graduate from Florida State University specializing in experimental physical theatre. She’d like to thank to the cast and production team of Cabaret Metamorphoses for creating a show of such proportions and managing to remain beautiful artists.
Janette Hough Fertig (Choreographer) Janette directs Apparatus Dance Theater and currently teaches at the University of Southern Maine, the Breakwater School, Circus Atlantic and throughout the U.S. as an independent aerial dance artist and aerial yoga instructor. She started as a company member of Louise Gillette's Trapezius! Aerial Dance in 1993 and went on to study with Terry Sendgraff, Nancy Smith, Serenity Smith-Forchion and Elsie Smith. Janette has also performed with Pig Iron Theatre, Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental, Sebastienne Mundheim, Dr. Meghan Brodie, and Theatre Cirque, among many others. One of her latest performance experiments, "The Weightless Moment", was created and performed recently as part of the TEDx Dirigo event in Brunswick, Maine.
Barry Kendall (Executive Producer) Barry Kendall comes to the leadership of Circus Center with 15 years of experience as non-profit executive and a lifelong dedication to arts and culture. As the organization’s leader, he collaborates with the Board of Directors to set the strategic direction for the Center and marshal the resources needed to realize that vision. Barry arrives at Circus Center having successfully led three non-profit organizations, including 7 Stages Theater in Atlanta. He holds a PhD in Directing and Dramatic Criticism from Stanford University. Barry lives with his family in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. He was a member of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission’s Equity Advisory Committee, and a 2009 recipient of the “40 Under 40″ award from New Leaders Council.
Ariyana La Fey (Venus, Ianthe) A performer since her early days, Ariyana La Fey constantly seeks opportunities to utilize her wide range of training and experience, from acting and dance to acrobatics and aerials. She is eternally grateful for this unique opportunity in Cabaret Metamorphoses to work in "all the modalities", stretching and combining her skills.
Dan Lesser (Musician) Hailing from Orono, Maine, Dan originally began studying cello because he wanted a bigger instrument than his brother’s violin. Now a graduate from Bowdoin College, he has studied cello for fourteen years. A regular with the Bangor Symphony and Maine Pro Musica Orchestras, Dan was Principle cellist for the Bangor Youth Symphony and the Bowdoin Chamber Orchestras, as well as recipient of the 2014 Bay Chamber Young Stars of Maine cello prize. Dan especially enjoys collaborative playing, having been part of a wide variety of chamber ensembles and working with Kathryn Syssoyeva on Harrison Bergeron, a Circus-Theatre-Cabaret last spring.
Lyra Levin (Callisto, Procne) People say Lyra is, 'a well programmed robot,' 'better than a leatherman,' and 'ridiculously bendy.' An aerialist and mechanical engineer, she attempts to maximize her time spent upside down and in the air by making large, climbable art and then playing on it. She has performed aerial hoop and silks, contortion, and dance at venues including the Edwardian Ball, Burning Man, and the Starship.
Marina Mendoza (Salmacis) Marina started gymnastics at age three and has enjoyed being upside down and airborne ever since! In 2010, she ran away with the circus, performing in Japan with an Australian-based flying trapeze troupe. She then returned to the US and expanded her repertoire to include teeterboard and Russian swing with the Gamma Phi Circus in Illinois. In 2012, she moved back to San Francisco to train with Master Lu Yi and is currently performing hand-to-hand acrobatics with Steven Delaney. In her free time, she is a nurse at San Francisco’s Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital.
Or Oppenheimer (Reflection, Nymph) Or started her love of flipping with gymnastics, competing for four years. She then decided that circus offered more freedom and decided to switch. She started as a part of Splash Circus, where she focused on aerial silks, acrobatics, and juggling. She then joined Circus Center’s Youth Circus, which she has been a part of for the last five years. As a part of Youth Circus, Or trains on Chinese pole, hoop-diving, acrobatics and straps, as well as training on aerial rope. Or also does contemporary, ballet and tap dancing.
Ron Oppenheimer (Narcissus) Ron started his acrobatic career in gymnastics at a young age but switched gyms and started training in circus arts at age 8. After training and performing as part of a youth circus troupe for 1.5 years, he moved to Circus Center where he began learning Chinese Acrobatics with Master Lu Yi as a part of Youth Circus. He trains tumbling, hoop-diving, Chinese pole, hand balancing, juggling, and other things at Circus Center, and rope and tissu at another gym. Ron started dancing at age 7 mostly contemporary and tap dance, 3 years later he began taking Ballet classes.
Phoenix Pax (Mercury) Phoenix graduated from University of Oxford in July 2013, with her master's in Migration Studies. She then moved to Israel to intern with ConnecTLV, the young migrants' program sponsored by the Jewish Agency. While in Tel Aviv, Phoenix began training circus at Sandciel Center for Circus and Contemporary Dance and started pole dance at Israel Pole Dance and Fitness Academy. In March, she returned to the Bay Area, and began training in earnest at Circus Center. This is her debut production with Circus Center and she thanks everyone who has supported her in the endeavor.
Erica Saben (Minerva, Iphis) is a TED (technology, entertainment, and design) presenter and the founding director of Charm City Movement Arts, in Baltimore, MD. She has over 15 years of teaching experience and 18 years of performing experience. Erica holds a BS in Modern Dance and Political Science from SUNY Brockport, and A Certificate of Graduate Study in Caribbean Dance and Culture from Edna Manley College in Kingston Jamaica. Erica owes her juggling and object manipulation skills to 6 years on the road Give and Take. She has taught wire walking to people of all movement backgrounds and skill levels.
Nikolas Strubbe (Jupiter) Nikolas is a creator, performer, and instructor of physical theatre and circus arts. He is a graduate of The Flying Actor Studio's Physical Theatre Conservatory, and has studied clown and mime with masters from around the world (Giovanni Fusetti, James Donlon, Giovanni Zoppe, Leonard Pitt, Patty Gallagher, Noe Zavala, John Gilkey and more). Nikolas is a co-Founder of Main Street Theatre, and has been an instructor at Circus Center since 2012. Nikolas was recently featured in Boxcar Theatre's The Speakeasy, and can also be seen performing storytelling and carny-satire as The Incredible Feelzo: Man of Moderate Talent.
Hilary Von Joo (Musician) Hilary has been playing the singing saw for almost half of her time on this planet. She aids in the construction and dismantling of many projects…also has some of her own...and hopes for many more. She started learning and training at Circus Center a little over a year ago, it was her family and loved ones who first made it possible—and the Circus Center instructors who got her hooked and helped her see that if you practice enough—you can accomplish just about anything.
James Weisbach (Dramaturg) James is a Chicago native and a rising junior at Bowdoin College, interested in dramaturgy and directing and with a passion for classical texts. Previously, he has worked at the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, Chicago Court Theater, and About Face Theater, and he’s thrilled to be joining the Metamorphoses creative team on this wild ride.
Katie Whitcraft (Diana, Telethusa) At the age of 18 she moved to New York to study theatre at New York University. After leaving New York, she moved to Colorado and continued her career with notable theatres such as the Wheeler Opera House, Theatre Aspen, and Equinox Theatre. At the same time, she earned a Masters degree in nonprofit management from the University of Denver. In 2010, Katie moved to San Francisco and joined Circus Center as its General Manager. She works closely with the rest of the administrative team to create a wonderful community space for circus arts training in the Bay Area.
Jane Wong (Arachne) Jane Wong loves creating performances that surprise and captivate audiences. She began playing violin at age 2 after seeing Itzhak Perlman on Sesame Street, and holds a B.A. in Music from Stanford University. She also grew up on the monkey bars in her backyard and dancing to Wham! in her living room. She’s trained at San Francisco Circus Center with Elena Panova, Catie Brier and Marina Luna, performed at 1015 Folsom, Supperclub SF, and in productions directed by Alayna Stroud of Cirque du Soleil and Chelsea O’Brian. She is especially excited to bring her music and circus sides together tonight.
Noe Zavala (Tiresius, Pierrot, Pandeon) A mime artist for over 40 years, Noe Zavala has toured globally, including Hong Kong, China, Japan and Europe. He’s been performing in the Bay Area for the past 30 years. Noe’s work has been recognized for its unique style and excellence by master coaches and performers including Marcel Marceau, Gregg Goldston, Bari Rolfe, Bert Houle and Stefan Niedzialkowski. It has been said of Noe by Gregg Goldston that, “His eye for economy of movement, play composition and both comic and dramatic line make his teaching skills very rare and invaluable.”