Brice Robert

Saturday, February 22, 2020, 2 pm and 8pm Sunday, February 23, 2020, 3pm Zellerbach Hall Cirque Éloize – Hotel

Alfred Hall Kriegbaum (The Lovers): Hand to Hand, Chinese Pole, Hoola Hoop, Trombone Antonin Wicky (The Chameleon): Clown, Cascade, Chinese Pole, Hula Hoop, Trumpet Augustin Thériault (The Twins): Icarian Games, Chinese Pole, Acrobat, Saxophone Cory Marsh (The Groom): Cyr Wheel, Chinese Pole, Hula Hoop, DJ Éléonore Lagacé (The Bride): Singer Jérémy Vitupier (The Maître d’Hôtel): Clown, Slack Wire, Hula Hoop, Alto Saxophone Philippe Dupuis (The Jack of All Trades): Juggling, Chinese Pole, Hula Hoop, Saxophone Santiago Esviza (The Twins): Icarian Games, Chinese Pole, Acrobat, Triangle Sonia Matos (The Lovers): Hand to Hand (Acroabat), Hoola Hoop, Trumpet Una Bennett (The Maid): Aerial Rope, Hula Hoop, Chinese Pole, Trumpet, Sousaphone Vanessa Aviles (The Star): Tissu Tension, Hula Hoop

Cirque Éloize’s production of Hotel is made possible through the generous support of Les nuits de Fourvière, Foxwoods’ Resort + Casino, Place des Arts de Montréal, Gouvernement du Québec, Conseil des arts de Montréal, Conseil des arts du Canada, Le Volcan – Scène nationale du Havre, PennState – Center for the Performing Arts, Hancher Auditorium, La Louvière Central, Denver Center for Performing Arts, Festspielhaus St. Pölten, and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Hotel will be performed without intermission and last approximately 85 minutes.

Cal Performances’ 2019–20 season is sponsored by Wells Fargo.

19 PROGRAM NOTES

irque Éloize welcomes you into a time- From the President and Chief Creative Offi cer less Art Deco hotel, a place where strang- of Cirque Éloize ers of all walks of life meet. Hotel is the Among the thousands of images that fi ll my Cstory of a place… but it is mainly a place full of memories of these last 25 years, crisscrossing stories. Th is is the place where we mingle with the globe, many involve all those looks ex- strangers for a moment. changed in hundreds of hotels in hundreds From the Maître d’hôtel, overwhelmed by of towns. events, to the mischievous maid, to the devoted How many stories do our minds create each handyman and his inseparable dog, Carpette, time we imagine where the man in front of us in the hotel’s staff is like all of us, the privileged wit- line in the lobby comes from? Or when we imag- nesses to the lives of colorful individuals. ine where the woman checking out is going, and, Carried by the voice of a client on the top intrigued by so much tenderness, we desire to fl oor who comments, testifi es, and tells the story, follow. you will meet the lovers who still do not know So many real or invented encounters can hap- they are meant to be, improbable travelers, and pen in the lobbies of extraordinary hotels that a celebrity who goes out of her way to win her we imagine them peopled with characters from place in the fi rmament, all the while revealing another era. the depths of her being. Allowing ourselves to fall deeply into this Enter the lobby doors of this grandiose place reverie, we can now invite you to discover the and discover with us the intricately woven story relationships that unite this strange family that of Hotel! welcomes you each night to their Hotel. Enjoy the show! From the Director —Jeannot Painchaud Th ere are places where everyone is a stranger to one another and a foreigner to the environs and their customs. driving force in Quebec culture and a Places that bring people in transition together, leader in the contemporary circus world, from tourists, businesswomen, and celebrities, for 25 years, Cirque Éloize has brought to the anonymous, the denizens of the night, Atogether the circus arts with other art forms and and life’s adventurers. cutting-edge technology to thrill audiences seek- Places that inspire encounters with other sol- ing sensually rich entertainment. itary people, sitting in the lobby just a few feet Its creations, including iD, Cirkopolis, and away, or with yourself in the privacy of your own Saloon, have been enjoyed by over 3.5 million room. Impromptu encounters that upset the spectators and performed over 5,000 times in everyday balance of things, draw you into the some 550 cities all over the world. unexpected, into extravagance, and into a new lightness of being. Alfred Hall Kriegbaum (Th e Lovers): Our hotel presents this playground and Hand to Hand, Chinese Pole, Hoola Hoop, brings alive the circus maxim that “anything is Trombone possible.” Being on stage has always played a large role in Th rough the language of acrobatics, our art- Alfred Hall Kriegbaum’s life. He began perform- ists portray these characters and tell a story of ing at the age of two, and discovered a circus their encounters—our encounters. discipline he enjoyed when he began studying Hotel takes place in a glamorous Art Deco magic at age 11. At 13, he learned to juggle, but world where circus, dance, music, and song it was not until 2013, in a social circus project in come together around these human stories— Kenya, that Kriegbaum discovered his true pas- just as in life, but even more colorful and vivid. sion—hand-to-hand acrobatics. When he was —Emmanuel Guillaume 15, Kriegbaum moved away from his comfort-

20 PLAYBILL ABOUT THE ARTISTS able home in Aarhus, Denmark, to pursue circus Cory Marsh (Th e Groom): studies at the AFUK School (“Th e Academy of Cyr Wheel, Chinese Pole, Hula Hoop, DJ Untamed Creativity”) in Copenhagen. One year Cory Marsh began his career in competitive na- later, he was accepted into a new trial program tional gymnastics, particularly in fl oor acrobat- at Copenhagen’s Academy for Modern Circus, ics. He made the transition to the circus world where he completed his studies in circus arts, at age 18, registering at the National Circus specializing in hand to hand. School in Montreal, where he specialized in the Cyr wheel. Always interested in new challenges, Antonin Wicky (Th e Chameleon): Marsh also joined the world of DJ-ing and Clown, Cascade, Chinese Pole, Hula Hoop, began mixing and producing music. Since then, Trumpet he has been on the lookout for original ways to Antonin Wicky began his training in artistic combine these two worlds. With his rhythm, gymnastics at the age of fi ve. At 16, he caught technique, and passion, Marsh can get any au- the performance bug and became involved with dience moving. theatrical improvisation, which, in turn, inspired his interest in the circus arts. Wicky continued Éléonore Lagacé (Th e Bride): developing his skills and then decided to attend Singer LeZartiCirque, a circus school in Sainte-Croix, Born into a family of musicians, Éléonore Switzerland. Training there confi rmed his pas- Lagacé grew up hanging out backstage at her sion for the circus arts and the incomparable parents’ concerts. Her mother would oft en in- adrenalin rush they provide. To further his train- vite her on stage to act or sing, so performing ing, Wicky entered the National Circus School in has been deeply engrained in her DNA from her Montreal. His talent was recognized at the 2016 earliest years. Lagacé’s artistic work spans tele- Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, where vision, cinema, theater, and singing. Aft er per- he won the bronze medal for his clown duo act forming on the talent show Th e Voice in 2014, with Jérémy Vitupier. Wicky has been part of she went on to appear in musicals including Cirque Éloize’s Cirkopolis cast since 2015. Grease and Footloose, in which she played the lead female role. Augustin Th ériault (Th e T w ns i ): Icarian Games, Chinese Pole, Acrobat, Jérémy Vitupier (Th e Maître d’Hôtel): Saxophone Clown, Slack Wire, Hula Hoop, Alto As a student of civil engineering and anthropol- Saxophone ogy, a national-level athlete, a visual artist, and Jérémy Vitupier developed an appreciation for a climber, Augustin Th ériault long dreamed of the performing arts as a child, thanks to his combining his eclectic areas of interest. His an- parents, who exposed him to performances of swer came late but marked a huge turning point various kinds. At fi rst, he focused on his studies, in his life. In 2015, Th ériault decided to take a obtaining a university degree in social studies, break from his studies to pursue a career that but his work soon led him to teach circus arts, would allow him to combine his physicality, cre- clowning, and performance. Vitupier then en- ativity, and intellect: the circus. Since then, he has tered the National Circus School in Montreal. dedicated his time to mastering the Chinese pole His talent was recognized at the 2016 Festival and discovering movement in general. With his Mondial du Cirque de Demain, where he won past experience (as well as exactly the right the the bronze medal for his clown duo act with amount of madness!), Th ériault loves to create Antonin Wicky. Vitupier has been part of Cirque colorful and curious characters on stage. Since Éloize’s Cirkopolis cast since 2015. graduating from l’École de Cirque de Québec in 2019, he has been perfecting his Chinese pole skills and developing his gift s in Icarian Games and Chinese rings.

21 ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Philippe Dupuis (Th e Jack of All Trades): California before joining the National Circus Juggling, Chinese Pole, Hula Hoop, Saxophone School of Montreal. She graduated in 2017 and Philippe Dupuis was born and grew up in has been developing her performance skills ever Quebec. Before high school and college studies since. Specializing in aerial silks, Aviles’ passion at the National Circus School in Montreal, he extends to other disciplines as well, including was already training in diving and trampoline. aerial hoops, aerial straps, handstands, and the Always seeking new challenges, Dupuis also Cyr wheel. One of her greatest achievements is studied acrobatics and juggling before gradu- her invention, with the help of her coaches, of ating. He is crazy about the circus, and he also an original apparatus called the ‘Tension Tissu.” loves music, design, and cuisine. Today, she continues to share this invention with the circus community and the world, perform- Santiago Esviza (Th e T w ns i ): ing with the Tension Tissu in Cirque Éloize pro- Icarian Games, Chinese Pole, Acrobat, Triangle ductions like Nezah, Th e Pirate Child, and Hotel. Born in Argentina, Santiago Esviza dreamed of becoming a soccer player. But because of his small stature, he soon realized that competitive CREATIVE TEAM sports weren’t for him. In 2004, he fi nally found a place where his size would work to his advantage: Jeannot Painchaud, president and creative the circus. Esviza has since become an expert in director the Chinese pole, and an accomplished acrobat. Th e creative director all Cirque Éloize creations, With his own unique style of body language, Jeannot Painchaud brings together people from Esviza enjoys creating unusual and aspirational diff erent backgrounds and combines various art universes on stage, always with an ironic twist. forms with acrobatics.

Una Bennett (Th e Maid): Emmanuel Guillaume, director Aerial Rope, Hula Hoop, Chinese Pole, A close collaborator of Cirque Éloize, Trumpet, Sousaphone Emmanuel Guillaume shares his 20 years of Una Bennett has been practicing the circus arts experience and skills in the theatrical industry. since she was a young girl. Soon aft er learning An artist and craft sman at heart, he studied to tie her shoes, she was on her way, touring music and loves to combine singing and danc- street festivals with her brother, ball-walking, ing in his creations. hula-hooping, and playing the violin. Before joining the National Circus School in Montreal, Frédéric Bélanger, associate director Bennett trained at Versatile Arts in Seattle and Actor, author, director, and scriptwriter Frédéric Circus Smirkus, a traveling youth circus. She Bélanger studied acting at the National Th eatre loves to create, whether it’s on her aerial rope, School of Canada. In 2005, he founded the knitting socks, or even doing her hair, by always award-winning and highly praised Théâtre asking herself, “What would happen if …?” Advienne que pourra with Sarah Balleux, with whom he has shared artistic direction since the Vanessa Aviles (Th e S ar t ): company’s creation. Bélanger has also taken Tissu Tension, Hula Hoop part in Quebec television productions such Aft er discovering acrobatics at the age of four, as Watatatow, Ramdam, La grande expédi- Vanessa Aviles went on to compete in artistic tion, Fortier, Il était une fois dans le trouble, O, gymnastics at a high level until she was 18. Th at’s Yamaska, and Mirador. He joined Cirque Éloize’s when she discovered the circus world, falling artistic team in 2017 and wrote and directed the instantly in love with aerial silks. For two years, Nezha, l’enfant pirate, presented at the Cité de Aviles performed in shows in Las Vegas and l’énergie in Shawinigan.

22 PLAYBILL ABOUT THE ARTISTS Brice Robert

Julie LaChance, assistant to the director Habib Zekri, additionnal musical arranger and to the creative director, choreographer As an experienced pianist and singer, Habib Julie LaChance started out in the dance world, Zekri has appeared with several ensembles and and has been moving in circus circles for 30 choirs. With his many musical talents, he has years now, as a choreographer, artistic director, oft en been called on to collaborate on major proj- director, and teacher at Montreal’s National Cir- ects as a composer of music, including several cus School. She tackles her creative work with a youth musicals, circus shows, and video games. complete approach that encourages the fusion of forms and genres. Nicolas Boivin-Gravel, acrobatic designer and head coach Caroline Torti, associate choreographer Nicolas Boivin-Gravel is a juggling specialist Passion and perseverance have always informed and has been collaborating with Cirque Éloize and inspired every step Caroline Torti has taken for many years as an artist, coach, and designer. in her professional dance career. She has per- He is also a teacher at the National Circus formed on international stages and is sought out School of Montreal and has passion for acro- as a choreographer by some of the most presti- batic research. gious dance organizations worldwide. Nadia Richer, assistant to the acrobatic Éloi Painchaud, composer, music director, designer and coach arranger, and soundtrack director Inspired by the movement of body and soul, A multi-instrumentalist, producer, and song- Nadia Richer has loved the circus arts and writer, Éloi Painchaud has been working in the dance since a young age. Following a career in music industry since 1995. He is renowned for gymnastics and circus work with Cavalia and being cofounding Okoumé, a band he played Cirque de Soleil, she has now turned to teaching with for more than eight years. and design.

23 ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Francis Farley-Lemieux, set and props designer Colin Gagné, sound designer An engineer and a graduate of the National A graduate in composition at the University of Theatre School of Canada, Francis Farley- Montreal, Colin Gagné now works in sound Lemieux fell early for the craft of set and prop design and composition with Cirque Éloize, the design. Th éâtre du Nouveau Monde, and the 7 Fingers.

Mathieu Poirier, lighting designer Annie St. Pierre, choreographer With 15 years under his belt as a lighting de- A choreographer, artistic director, and stage di- signer and photographer, two media that he has rector, Annie St. Pierre has worked with a wide always explored together, Mathieu Poirier has range of performance troupes, including Cirque worked with dance, opera, and circus companies du Soleil, Just for Laughs Productions, and vari- around the world. ous theatrical companies.

Lucien Bernèche, costume designer Émilie Grenon-Émiroglou, artistic director Following studies at Montreal’s Institut Su–périeur Aft er traveling the world at a young age with de Design de Mode in 1996, Lucien Bernèche Cirque du Soleil, Émilie Grenon-Émiroglou went on to be a two-time fi nalist in Paris at the continued her training in acting and voice. She Concours des jeunes créateurs de mode, where enjoyed a rich, multidisciplinary career, and he made a splash with his style and creativity. then moved onto creation. Aft er years of collab- His calling as a designer was soon confi rmed, as orating closely with Cirque Éloize, she is now an the quality of his creations was admired in cit- artistic director. ies around the world. Next, Bernèche put his art to work principally on Cirque du Soleil touring Pascal Auger, producer shows and special events. He has also dressed A graduate of HEC Montreal in management dancers for pop stars Beyoncé and Shakira and and of the National Th eatre School of Canada in for circus shows for the 7 Fingers and Cirque production, Pascal Auger has worked with var- Éloize. ious companies in the Montreal theater scene.

Camille Sabbagh-Bourret, makeup designer A makeup artist and hair stylist on fi lm and pho- Touring Crew tography sets and in theater since 2014, Camille Christelle Vitupier, tour manager Sabbagh-Bourret studied artistic makeup at Judith Rémillard, technical manager and Montreal’s Inter-Dec College and professional head of lighting haircare with Alexandra Munoz and Kevin Alexis Faribault, head rigger Murphy. Resourceful and effi cient, she draws Sébastien Savoie, head rigger upon the variety of techniques she has mastered Jean-Félix LaMarche, sound to always be inventive. Stéphanie Chaumette, stage manager

24 PLAYBILL