Hilary Chaplain tours internationally with her solo show A LIFE IN HER DAY, directed by Avner Eisenberg. Awards include Arlekin Solo Puppet Festival (Grand Prize), the XXI International Festival “Valise” (Acting Award) both in Poland, and in Havana, Cuba at Aquelarre 2006 (three Awards including the Grand Prize). Hilary has performed in variety shows worldwide with her short comic numbers, most recently at the Palazzo Colombino Freiburg and the Kristallpalast Varieté, both in Germany. Hilary was an original cast member in Bill Irwin’s Largely/New York and appeared on Broadway and at the Delacorte Theatre in the Public Theatre production of The Tempest directed by George C. Wolfe. She played a featured role in Forrest Gump, and a lawyer on Law and Order Criminal Intent. Hilary has been entertaining children in NYC hospitals as “Nurse Nice” of the renowned Big Apple Circus Hospital Clown Program® (since 1987) and is a founding member of the New York Goofs, a clown ensemble. www.hilarychaplain.com
Jacob Sharpe
One of the world’s premiere juggling artists, Jacob has been training like a maniac for 15 years now. Juggling up to 8 balls, spinning as many 4 diabolos, flipping as many as 1 times over as much as 1 small child, Jacob keeps audiences spellbound with his intricate tricks and easygoing charm. After graduating from MIT in 2011 with a physics degree, he’s traveled around the world forgetting his education, performing for a year in Berlin, touring with a circus in Switzerland for 10 months, and learning and collaborating with the world’s greatest jugglers. As a Smirkus alum, he’s excited to bring something special back to Vermont!
https://www.youtube.com/user/jacobsharpe
Eric Bates
Eric specializes in Russian Bar and Cigar Box Juggling, a discipline in which he is considered to be one of the best in the world. He has worked on numerous shows with les 7 doigts de la main including their new touring show, Sequence 8. Eric graduated in 2011 from the prestigious National Circus School of Quebec. Eric Bates grew up in Fayston, Vermont and toured with Vermont’s Circus Smirkus in his youth. www.ericbates.com
Jonathan Burns
Jonathan Burns always thought he was special. He was the kind of kid who would put his leg over his head at the family reunion or perform musical armpit farts to impress the girls. In 2004, contorting his body and impressing people with his unusual talents became his full-time job. Since then he has performed at over 300 colleges & universities, at festivals and theaters in 9 countries, and was recently featured on the Jay Leno Show & the Late Show with David Letterman. When he’s not performing he can usually be found in an airport terminal or spending time with his lovely wife & daughter (I guess the armpit farts worked!). http://www.flexiblecomedy.com
Nigel Blackstorm
The Heavy Metal Magician, born Gareth Blackthunder, was raised in a small town in the south of England. As a youth he focused on his two passions: heavy metal and magic. When he turned 16 he changed his name to Nigel Blackstorm because he argued that his given name didn’t sound “heavy” enough.
As is the case with us all, Nigel grew to adulthood and was confronted with choosing his career path. As his love for metal and magic had only grown over time, and since he had no desire to wear a suit, Nigel decided to devote his life to both his arts, founding the magical heavy metal cover band, Lordz of Illuzzion, in 1991. The band toured the world with their unique approach to music and released three albums that garnered minor attention.
In 1998, following a sold out performance at the world famous Orange County Fair, the other three Lordz abruptly quit the band. Nigel was devastated by this surprising and untimely break-up. Driven by rage and passion and channeling the spirits of Houdini and Ozzy Osbourne, he put the pieces of his life back together and thus emerged The Heavy Metal Magician. With the skills of an alchemist, Nigel blended heavy metal music and the world of magic, creating the unique genre: “heavy magic.” Be prepared to have your mind blown, and ladies: please control yourselves. theconjurorofcomedy.com
The Fourth Wall
A hybrid arts ensemble made up of Hilary Abigana, C. Neil Parsons, and Greg Jukes. Founded in 2010, The Fourth Wall has inspired and delighted audiences all over the country. In 2014 they won the 2014 Savvy Musician in Action chamber music competition, in 2013, they traveled to Alaska to be ensemble in residence for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks New Music Festival. The trio has been featured on the National Flute Association’s annual conventions in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014 with gala performances, recitals, and their audience interactive project, “Mixer.” Outside the realm of classical music venues, they have performed at Fringe Theatre Festivals in Indianapolis, Rochester, and Houston. thefourthwallensemble.com
Magic Brian
Thousands of audiences around the world have been entertained with Magic Brian’s
outrageous and unique comedy-magic and sideshow act. He has performed in 16
countries, worked the sideshow stage of New York’s famous Coney Island Sideshow,
and was featured on The Late Show with David Letterman. He has appeared at the
Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe festivals, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Street Performers World Championships as well as a variety of festivals throughout Canada and Europe. theconjurorofcomedy.com
Roderick Russell
Roderick Russell is a professional sword swallower, mind reader, stage hypnotist and speaker. He performs nationally and internationally and his work has been featured by many media, including such notables as the Discovery Channel, the Travel Channel, CNN, NPR, and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. When not on the road, he resides in beautiful Burlington, VT. roderickrussell.com
Brin Schoellkopf
Brin lives in Warren Vermont and is 16 years old. He is a junior at Harwood Union High School. This coming summer will be his 4th season touring with Circus Smirkus. Brin has been doing circus for many years. He starting as an acrobat taking gymnastics classes since he was very young. He then attended the Circus Smirkus summer camp for 4 years before being accepted into the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour in 2011. For the past 4 years, he has been performing in trampoline, acrobatics, juggling, hoop diving and slack line, but tight wire is his area of expertise. Brin’s plans are to audition for the National Circus School in Montreal as well as the Quebec Circus School where he will hopefully be able to pursue his dreams of becoming a circus performer.
Michael Trautman
Variously identified as a visual comic, performance artist, new vaudevillian, mime (gasp), physical comedian, storyteller, magician, and fool, Michael claims only to be a clown…and not a very traditional clown at that. He has appeared in such prestigious venues as the New York International Festival of Clown Theater, Festival D’Ete in Quebec, the General Jackson Showboat at Opryland USA, the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was featured on WOW! The Most Awesome Acts On Earth, an ABC Television Special, and The Statler Brothers Show on TNN. The list just keeps going! www.michaeltrautman.com