The Year I Didn’t Go to School: A Homemade Circus

  The Year I Didn’t Go to School: A Homemade Circus is adapted from the autobiographical children’s book by Giselle Potter. Young Giselle receives a journal from her grandparents just before she embarks on a yearlong adventure with her family to travel Italy as part of a family theater group called the Mystic Paper Beasts….

A Moment of Circus in Chicago

In a couple of weeks, both circus artists and circus fans in Chicago are going to be privvy to a different kind of festival–a circus festival that breaks down the 4th wall and invites participation and collaboration on many levels. A festival that values the process as much as the product and the people as…

Coming to Harris Theater–SEA–an Interview with director Streb

(The following interview is cross-posted with Third Coast Review–Chicago’s Arts & Culture, Curated–where I often write about circus and theater.) I interviewed Elizabeth Streb about her upcoming show SEA at Harris Theater in Chicago. Streb’s work as a choreographer is groundbreaking (sometimes literally). I asked her what distinguishes her dance from circus and to define…

A Call To Artists–Apply for Circus Sessions

  In a couple of weeks, Hupdate will feature an interview with Holly Treddenick, the force behind Femmes du Feu. We will talk to her about her ongoing residency program Circus Sessions and her work as a curator and artistic director. Until then, consider getting a jump start on your residency applications for Circus Sessions….

Virtual 3-D Circus Soon to Come Courtesy of Hideaway

What happens when you put a bunch of creative minds and circus together? Evidence has shown that many interesting projects evolve. This one may top them all. Lyndsay and Josh of Hideaway (who Hupdate interviewed about their circus podcast back in September) have a new venture. It is a 3-D trip around the world with…

Interview with Michael Rice of VIVAfest

America is getting its own international circus festival and competition, and what better location or time for it than Las Vegas in February?  The force behind the idea of VIVAfest is Mike Rice, a former US Gymnastics team member, a gymnastics coach and business owner, an original cast member of Cirque du Soleil’s flagship Vegas…

Looking Up with Circus Artist Vladimir Hrynchenko

Most people know Vladimir Hrynchenko as a circus artist. He was trained at Kiev Circus Academy as a hand balancer and went on to have a career studded with success as an independent artist. He has traveled to so many countries that he finds it easier to say which ones he hasn’t seen. Over the…

Interview with Clown, Director & Teacher Jesse Dryden

Jesse Dryden spoke with Hupdate about his clown leanings (which go back long before his time at Ringling Bros. Clown College) his work as creative director at Circus Smirkus and his experiences with Cirque Du Monde’s social circus projects, which he says were instrumental in his development. He adds “If you’re not giving back, you’re…

Richard Kennison reviews Juggling Trajectories

This month our guest author is Richard Kennison. He reviews the new Gandiniesque publication Juggling Trajectories for us. But first, so you know he is the right guy for the juggling book review, here is what Richard’s bio says about his own work: