PHYSICAL THEATER

TRACES A 7 Fingers Production

College of Charleston Sottile Theatre June 6 at 7:00pm; June 7, 8, and 9 at 8:00pm; June 9 and 10 at 2:00pm

Creative Direction Les 7 Doigts de la Main/7 Fingers Direction and Choreography Shana Carroll, Gypsy Snider Acrobatic Designer Sébastien Soldevila Lights Nol van Genuchten Costumes Manon Desmarais Set & Props Original Design Flavia Hevia Set & Props Adaptation/Music & Soundscape/Video Les 7 Doigts de la Main/7 Fingers Prop Adaptation Bruno Tassé Head Coach (Acrobatics) Jerôme Le Baut Aerial Strap Isabelle Chassé Hand Balancing Samuel Tétreault Skateboards Yann Fily-Paré Single Wheel Ethan Law Piano Sophie Houle

Cast Mason Ames Valérie Benôit-Charbonneau Mathieu Cloutier Bradley Henderson Philippe Normand-Jenny Tarek Rammo Xia Zhengqi

Due to the physical demands of circus arts performances, the artists in each performance are subject to change.

Presented by Fox Theatricals Tom Gabbard Amanda Dubois The Denver Center for the Performing Arts Nassib El-Husseini and Tom Lightburn

Produced for Fox Theatricals by Kristin Caskey Mike Isaacson

Advertising and Marketing aka Tour Marketing and Publicity Allied Live, LLC NYC Press Representation The Hartman Group General Management DR Theatrical Management

PERFORMED WITHOUT AN INTERMISSION. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A STROBE LIGHT IS USED IN THIS PRODUCTION.

Support provided by the Albert Sottile Foundation and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Traces was originally co-produced by Centre National des Arts – Ottawa with the support of partners Conseil des Arts du Canada and Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec.

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ABOUT 7 FINGERS THE COMPANY What do you think of when you hear the word “circus”? For most people it’s a blur of high-wire stunts, dancing animals, and MASON AMES (Artist) moved to Montreal from New peanuts. Tents and elaborate costumes are nearly mandatory. Hampshire to train at the National Circus School, specializing in And who could forget the clowns? But what would circus hand to hand. Previous credits include Cirque Éloize’s iD, Cirque performers do if they had it their way? What kind of circus troupe du Soleil’s Viva Elvis, Circus Smirkus, and other productions of would they create if they were allowed to do more than just their 7 Fingers, notably joining them for their participation in the specialty act and push themselves to the furthest limits of their Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. abilities? Enter 7 Fingers. Founded in Montreal in 2002, 7 Fingers’ initial goal was to bring circus to a human scale. Les 7 Doigts de la VALÉRIE BENÔIT-CHARBONNEAU (Artist) trained for Main translates literally as “the 7 fingers of the hand.” It is a twist seven years at Montreal’s National Circus School, specializing in on a French idiom (“the five fingers of the hand”) used to describe hand to hand and banquine. Previous credits include Eclipse in distinct parts united tightly, moving in coordination towards one Shawinigan, Quebec, during two summers while training at the common goal. Here it refers to the seven founding directors of the National Circus School; Cirque Éloize’s iD (Korean production); and company (Shana Carroll, Isabelle Chassé, Patrick Léonard, Faon Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis. Benôit-Charbonneau also performed Shane, Gypsy Snider, Sébastien Soldevila, and Samuel Tétreault) in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. who, by combining their distinct talents and experiences, work towards their common artistic goals with the beautifully awkward MATHIEU CLOUTIER (Artist), originally from Gaspe, Quebec, dexterity of a 7-fingered hand. Their first show, Loft, rejected the spent three years at the Circus School of Quebec, specializing fanciful production qualities of standard circuses for the intimate in acrobatics, rollerblade, and diabolo. Previous credits include environment of an artist’s loft, all the while blending such diverse GOP (Munich, Münster), Cirque du Soleil (special events), Les forms as acrobatics, avant-garde dance, physical comedy, music, Grands Opéras de Québec, and more than 275 acrobatic shows at song, spoken word, interactive video projections, and live DJ-ing. Seabreeze Amusement Park in Rochester, New York. Cloutier also The result was a brand-new type of show. Since Loft, 7 Fingers has enjoys playing guitar and writing music. created five shows—Traces, La Vie, Psy, Fibonnaci Project, and Patinoire—each show offering a distinct setting and yet carrying BRADLEY HENDERSON (Artist) was one of the original Traces the same 7-Finger-print. In addition, the 7 Fingers have developed cast members and has been touring the world with 7 Fingers a special events department through which they deliver a diverse since 2005. A San Francisco native, Henderson trained at the San range of custom projects. The 7 Fingers have performed for Francisco Circus Center, learning Chinese acrobatics with Master the Queen of England during The Royal Variety Performance, Trainer Lu Yi. In 2002 he moved to Montreal to attend the National performed during ceremonies for both the Turin and Vancouver Circus School and upon graduation was hired by 7 Fingers. Olympics, created performances for large corporate events, and much more. Each project is custom-made and approached with PHILIPPE NORMAND-JENNY (Artist) was born and the same hands-on creativity. raised in Montreal. He trained at the Circus School of Quebec, specializing in hand to hand, teeterboard, and trampoline. Other performances include GOP (Munich, Münster), Cirque du Soleil ABOUT TRACES (special events), Les Grands Opéras de Québec, and more than With Traces, 7 Fingers worked to take their trademark human 275 shows at Seabreeze Amusement Park in Rochester, New York. and multi-disciplinary approach one step further by fusing classic acrobatics with such street forms as skateboard, TAREK RAMMO (Artist) is an acrobat, dancer, and former Dutch basketball, and parcours. Traces is a new circus experience— National Junior Team gymnast. He trained in circus, specialized one with an urban flavor, as young artists explode onto the in aerial straps, and discovered that he loved dancing while a stage with a renewed dynamic energy. Unlike classic circus student at the Codarts Circus Arts Academy in Rotterdam. Rammo where an artist specializes in one talent, the artists in Traces has performed with the Ulrike Quade Company in a visual theater have mastered a multitude of specialties. What results is production, Danceworks Rotterdam/André Gingras in Anatomica, a fluid narrative from beginning to end that highlights the and as a soloist in numerous shows across Europe. individual artist as much as it honors the ensemble effect. The people seen on stage are not nameless and faceless nor are XIA ZHENGQI (Artist), a.k.a. Daqi, was born in Anshan, China. they hidden by costume and makeup. The men and woman on At age six he joined the Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe. Daqi won stage are real, living and breathing artists with stories to tell the gold medal at the fourth National Acrobatic Competition in and astonishing talents to share. What results is a breathtaking China, toured the U.S. and Mexico with Ringling Bros. and Barnum array of human daring mixed with the personal charm of the & Bailey, and was the 2001/2005 gold medalist at the Festival individual artist. What are the Traces you’ll leave behind? Cirque de Demain. From 2006 to 2010 Daqi performed in Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion.

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SHANA CARROLL (Direction, Choreography) began her circus Modern Millie; Death of a Salesman; and Jekyll & Hyde. Fox career in 1988 when, at the age of 18, she touched a trapeze bar Theatricals is a member of the Independent Presenters Network, for the first time. A theater student from California, she decided to Broadway producer on Spamalot, The Color Purple, and Edward devote her life to this newfound art form. After apprenticing with Scissorhands, and operator of Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre. Fox the original Pickle Family Circus, Carroll furthered her training at Theatricals is a division of Fox Associates, owner and operator the National Circus School of Montreal and the Circus School of of The Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, and is led by President Rosny-sous-Bois. As a trapeze artist, she performed with Cirque Richard Baker and owners Robert Baudendistel and Mary Strauss. du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, in the IMAX movie Journey of Man, and many others. As a choreographer and director, she has created KRISTIN CASKEY (Producer) is President of Fox Theatricals. hundreds of circus acts and shows, among them three gold medal– With producing partner Mike Isaacson, current productions winning acts at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain de Paris; also include the national tour of Bring It On: The Musical. On an act with 30 trapeze artists for the Quebec 400th Anniversary Broadway, she has produced Red (Tony Award); Legally Blonde Show; the choreography for New Pickle Circus’s Circumstance The Musical (also national tour and West End; Olivier Award for (nominated for Best Choreography, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Best New Musical); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tony Award; also Awards); and, with the National Circus School of Montreal, Il fait national tour and West End); One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest dimanche. After founding 7 Fingers in 2002, Carroll co-created (Tony Award); Death of a Salesman (Tony Award); The Seagull; and performed in Loft and La Vie; co-directed and choreographed ’night, Mother; Caroline, or Change; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Traces (nominated for Outstanding Choreography, Drama Desk Brown; and Everyday Rapture. Other producing credits include Awards); wrote and directed Psy; and created the Cabaret des 7 An Evening with Sutton Foster (Chicago) and the upcoming Mad Doigts de la Main. Beyond all of her circus projects, Carroll is a Hot Ballroom. Caskey also programs the US Bank Broadway Series mother of a young daughter in Montreal. at The Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis. She is a member of the Independent Presenters Network and on the Board of Governors GYPSY SNIDER (Direction, Choreography) was born into the at the Broadway League. circus ring as daughter of the founders of San Francisco’s Pickle Family Circus, where she began her artistic career at age four. She MIKE ISAACSON (Producer) heads Fox Theatricals with partner has been performing ever since. A graduate of Switzerland’s Scuola Kristin Caskey. He is currently producing Bring It On: The Musical Teatro Dimitri, Snider performed three seasons with La Compagnia (national tour). His Broadway productions include Red (2010 Dimitri. Consistently developing her own amalgam of theater and Tony Award); Everyday Rapture; The Seagull starring Kristin Scott circus, she went on to perform internationally (Cirque du Soleil; Thomas; Legally Blonde The Musical; ’night, Mother; Caroline, Cirque Knie; Pomp Duck and Circumstance; Teatro Zinzanni). or Change; Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony Award, Best Impassioned since adolescence by directing and teaching, Snider Musical); One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (2001 Tony Award); is an invited teacher (San Francisco Circus Center, National Circus You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Death of a Salesman (1999 School of Montreal) and director (New Pickle Circus, Jamie Adkins/ Tony Award); and Jekyll & Hyde. For the Independent Presenters Cirque Éloize, National Circus School’s Crime, special projects Network, he produced Spamalot (Tony Award, Best Musical) and with Cirque du Soleil). She co-founded 7 Fingers in 2002 and The Color Purple. Other credits include the London productions was an original performer in and co-creator of Loft, Mistress of of Legally Blonde The Musical and Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ceremonies in Cabaret des 7 Doigts de la Main, and co-director and the upcoming Mad Hot Ballroom. Isaacson was the 2010 of Traces (nominated for Outstanding Choreography, New York recipient of the Broadway League’s Samuel J. L’Hommedieu Award Drama Desk Awards). The proud mother of two young girls, Snider for Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management. He also is also fluent in six languages. serves as Executive Producer of the world-famous Muny Opera in St. Louis, the world’s oldest and largest outdoor theater. NASSIB EL-HUSSEINI (Chief Executive Officer) is a political scientist, author (L’Occident Imaginaire, PUQ Editions), advisor, and TOM GABBARD (Producer) is president and CEO of Blumenthal volunteer for dozens of national and international organizations, Performing Arts, which operates six theaters in Charlotte, North who fell under the charm of a modern day tribe: Les 7 Doigts de la Carolina. The Blumenthal offers a highly diverse arts and education Main. He ran away with the circus, as the saying goes, and took on program that ranges from blockbuster musicals to dance, music, the management of this jewel of the Montreal stage, serving as CEO. and family attractions. Broadway, national tours, and London productions in which the Center has served as a co-producer FOX THEATRICALS (Producer) is headed by Kristin Caskey or investor include Monty Python’s Spamalot; The Color Purple; and Mike Isaacson. Broadway credits include Red (six 2010 Tony Legally Blonde The Musical; Frost/Nixon; Red; Thoroughly Modern Awards); Everyday Rapture; The Seagull; Legally Blonde The Millie; Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands and The Car Man; Musical (also London, Olivier Award); ’night, Mother; Caroline, or Little Women; Basic Training; West Side Story; La Cage aux Folles; Change; Thoroughly Modern Millie (six Tony Awards); One Flew Ragtime; and 9 to 5. Gabbard is an executive committee member Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Tony Award); Death of a Salesman (Tony of the Independent Presenters Network and former board Award); You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (two Tony Awards); member of the Broadway League. He is a former director of the and Jekyll & Hyde. Off-Broadway productions include Trying, Lobby Pepperdine University Center for the Arts, Arvada Center for the Hero, Three Tall Women, and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. National Arts and Humanities, and the Weidner Center for the Performing tours include 9 to 5; Legally Blonde The Musical; Thoroughly Arts. Gabbard lectures in arts management at Davidson College.

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AMANDA DUBOIS (Producer) has been an independent aka (Marketing and Advertising) is a full-service marketing and producer since 2005. Her credits include the 2007 Tony Award– media agency, dedicated to smart thinking, strategic planning, and winning Broadway production of Spring Awakening and its selling tickets. With offices in the U.S., UK and Australia, aka has a subsequent national tour, as well as the Broadway revival of team of over 150 of the industry’s best minds delivering effective ’night, Mother starring Edie Falco and Brenda Blethyn. Off- and innovative marketing, sales, and advertising solutions to Broadway, she was associate producer on both bare and The the theater and live entertainment industry since 1995. Recent Awesome 80s Prom, now in its sixth year at Webster Hall. She and current clients include Jerusalem, The Motherf**ker with has also produced at the New York International Fringe Festival the Hat, Billy Elliot the Musical, Arcadia, The House of Blue and New York Musical Theatre Festival. Dubois is president of the Leaves, Memphis, Time Stands Still, Private Lives, and The Book board of Early Stages. of Mormon.

THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS ALLIED LIVE (Tour Marketing/Publicity) is a full-service marketing (Producer), under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Daniel L. firm representing numerous Broadway touring shows, venues, Ritchie, offers an exhilarating mix of Broadway shows, professional retail centers, lifestyle brands, and attractions throughout North theater, acting instruction, and breathtaking facilities. Established America. Current touring clients include Billy Elliot the Musical, in 1979, the organization operates out of eight theaters in the Mamma Mia!, West Side Story, Hair, In the Heights, Traces, Blue Denver Performing Arts Complex. It consists of the Tony Award– Man Group, STOMP, Blind Date, and Burn the Floor. Chicago winning Denver Center Theatre Company, which produces classics, clients include Million Dollar Quartet, The Doyle & Debbie Show, revivals, and world premieres; and Denver Center Attractions, Lyric Opera, Lookingglass Theatre, and Hubbard Street Dance. which presents blockbuster musical touring shows and cabaret Los Angeles clients include IRIS and OVO from Cirque du Soleil, productions. The Denver Center’s comprehensive education Hollywood & Highland Center, Westfield, The Strand (Huntington department offers classes in all aspects of the performing arts Beach), the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl and to children and adults, aspiring professionals and amateurs alike. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Center Theatre Group, Reprise Theatre Company, and Broadway by the Bay. Washington, DC, clients NASSIB El-HUSSEINI and TOM LIGHTBURN (Producers): include The Washington Ballet, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Nassib El-Husseini, Ph.D., acting as producer on behalf of Les 7 Strathmore Performing Arts Center, George Washington’s Mount Doigts de la Main/7 Fingers, has used his worldwide business Vernon Estate & Gardens, Signature Theatre, and Washington and financial contacts to propel the 7 Fingers with their current National Opera. lineup of five productions into the forefront of the international circus performance world. He has produced Loft, Traces, La Vie, STAFF FOR TRACES Psy, and the Fibonacci Project, as well as hundreds of custom- made projects such as participation in the closing ceremony of GENERAL MANAGEMENT the Turin Winter Olympic Games. El-Husseini is currently serving DR Theatrical Management on the board of the International Exchange for the Performing Seth A. Goldstein, Adam Hess, Aaron Thompson, Arts (CINARS). Tom Lightburn has been associated with the 7 Heather Schings, Kyle Provost, Danielle Karliner Fingers as producing partner for the past five years. He was involved with the creation of La Vie in New York and presented PRODUCTION SUPERVISION/NEW YORK Traces in Toronto. Active both in film and theater, Lightburn has Production Core produced the Sing-A-Long Sound of Music, Slava’s Snow Show, and Spiegeltent, as well as being active with the 7 Fingers. PRESS REPRESENTATION/NEW YORK DR THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT (General Management) The Hartman Group provides general management services to Off-Broadway Michael Hartman, Matt Ross, Nicole Capatasto commercial productions in New York and their interests on the road. The company, led by Adam Hess and Seth A. Goldstein, TOUR MARKETING DIRECTION represents such properties as Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Allied Live The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Traces, and The Ohmies, as well as Laura Matalon, Marya K. Peters forthcoming productions of Bunnicula, The Velveteen Rabbit, A Christmas Carol, and The Outgoing Tide. General Manager...... Seth A. Goldstein Associate General Manager...... Danielle Karliner PRODUCTION CORE (Production Supervision/New York) Stage Manager/New York...... Valérie Ménard lends support and guidance to theater companies that produce Associate Producer...... Megan Larche high-quality theatrical performances and events, who need Technical Director...... Olivier Rosa direction/support on the collaboration, planning, and execution Sound/Video...... Sébastien Marion of the production process. The Production Core team is James Rigging/Carpentry...... Peter Wellington E. Cleveland, Katy Yonally, Jared Goldstein, Adrian White, Josh Morgan, Dave Upton, Amanda Raymond, and Ron Grimshaw. www.productioncore.net

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ADVERTISING/MARKETING SPECIAL THANKS aka National Circus School of Montreal, TOHU Scott A. Moore, Liz Furze, Elizabeth Findlay, Adam Jay, Janette Roush, Cirque School L.A./Rex Camphuis Erik Alden, Meghan Bartley Ben Philipi, Michael Meseke Broadway In Chicago, Broadway/L.A. DIGITAL & INTERACTIVE The Denver Center for the Performing Arts aka Skateboards provided by Karma Skateboards Erin Rech, Caleb Custer MUSIC CREDITS Social Media Coordinator...... Owen Spruill “Touched” by Jon Crosby; performed by VAST, published by Vast Music; Legal Counsel...... Nan Bases, Esq. courtesy of Rhino Entertainment (Warner Music Group Company) c/o Music Clearance...... Janet Billig Rich Vast Music o/b/o Rhino Entertainment (Warner Music Group Company). Accountant...... FK Partners CPAs LLP/Robert Fried “Marigold” by Francisco Cruz. Banking...... City National Bank/Erik Piecuch, Anne McSweeny, Michael Tynan “Una Pondera” written and performed by Seth Stachowski; published by Assistant to Kristin Caskey...... Kate Cofran Seth Stachowski Music. Assistant to Tom Gabbard...... Elizabeth Grippo Assistant to Amanda Dubois...... Owen Spruill “Polaroids” by Francisco Cruz.

LES 7 DOIGTS DE LA MAIN/7 FINGERS “La Rue de St. Paul” performed by Le Peuple de l’herbe; courtesy of Play It Again Sam Records under the license of SONY/ATV Music Publishing. Chief Executive Officer...... Nassib El-Husseini Founding Members & Artistic Directors...... Shana Carroll “Tides” performed by Nitin Sawhney; courtesy of Outcaste Records Isabelle Chassé Limited under the license of Universal Music Publishing. Patrick Léonard Sébastien Soldevila “Burn My Shadow” written by Ian Astbury, James Lavelle, Richard File, Gyspy Snider Christopher Goss; performed by Unkle; published by Ian Astbury, Baby Samuel Tétreault Cole Music c/o Wixen Music Publishing, James Lavelle, Richard File. Touring and Development Director...... Tina Diab “Talk Show Host” performed by Radiohead; ©WB Music Corp. All rights Administrative Director...... Richard Gagnon reserved. Used by Permission. Director – Accounting Services...... Céline Boucher Production Director...... Luc Paradis “Mashav” composed by John Zorn; courtesy of Hips Road. Technical Director...... Yves Touchette Operations Director...... Sophie Picard “It’s Only a Paper Moon” by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, Harold Arlen, and Billy Communication...... Marion Bellin Rose; performed by Stephane Grappelli; courtesy of Concord Music Touring Coordinator...... Anna Cassel Group; published by SA Music LLC c/o Stockpile Holdings, Warner Assistant to the Artistic Directors...... Sabrina Gilbert Chappell Music Inc., Glocca Morra Music (ASCAP); administered by Next Decade Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Touring Development & Public Funding...... Joanie Leroux-Côté Private Financing & Assistant to the CEO...... Fanny Perret “Make You Feel That Way” performed by Blackalicious; courtesy of Geffen Production...... Vincent Houle Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises. www.tracesusa.com “Jumping in Havana” performed by Chinese Man; published by Chinese www.7fingers.com Man Records.

DR THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT STAFF “Ni Ten Ichi Ryu” performed by Photek Productions; courtesy of Geffen Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises. Marketing Associate...... Scott Lupi Office Manager...... Sean M. Daniels “Mitis Traho” written and performed by Seth Stachowski; published by Executive Assistant...... Samara Ungar Seth Stachowski Music. Management Assistants...... Josh Blackburn, Emily Havlik, Mickey McGuire “Spiegelbeeld” performed by Ferenc E. Van der Sluijs, aka I-F Fucking Marketing Intern...... Amelia Bienstock Consumer.

TOUR DIRECTION AWA Touring Alison Spiriti, Robin Mishik-Jett, Sean Mackey www.awatouring.com

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