Circus Contraption (founded in 1998) was the name of a one-ring circus, vaudeville and dark cabaret troupe based in Seattle, Washington. The troupe, which employs about a dozen performers, uses live, original music paired with old-style circus performances, heavily influenced by cabaret and vaudeville acts. The shows are conceived for adults and usually feature some mature content.
The troupe first performed at the Seattle Fringe Theatre Festival, but soon branched out to other venues around the U.S., including a U.S. tour in 2005. Their local and touring shows, with names like "Bracing Curative," "Eat Circus," "The Beer, Bread & Cheese Cabaret," "A Raree Show," and "Gallimaufry: An Evening of Jiggery-Pokery," played to sold-out audiences.
The troupe disbanded in 2009. Joe Albanese (aka Dexter Mantooth), Drew Keriakedes (aka Shmootzi the Clod), and three other victims were killed in the Cafe Racer shooting on May 30, 2012.
Members Principal members Joseph Vito "Dexter Mantooth" Albanese – bassist, leather craftsman Evelyn "Acrophelia" Bittner – acrobat, costumer, stilt walker Sari "Pinky d'Ambrosia" Breznau – costumer, vocalist, trumpeter, dancer Erin Brindley – managing director David "Armitage Shanks" Crellin – co-founder, ringmaster, vocalist, percussionist, songwriter, mask maker, fire-eater Max "Fresco Rose" Davis – acrobat, aerialist, dancer Colin "Ernesto Cellini" Ernst – juggler, trombonist, welder, contraption engineer, composer Kevin "Chameleo" Hinshaw – clarinetist, music director, pianist, composer, webmaster, director of small packages Jenny "Nova Jo Yaco" Iacobucci – dancer, stilt walker, puppeteer, costumer Drew "Shmootzie the Clod" Keriakedes – sousaphonist, ukulelist, accordionist, banjo player, vocalist, songwriter Whitney "Delphinia Spit" Lawless – clown, acrobat, costumer Matt "Bunny LaMonte" Manges – drummer, aerialist, acrobat, songwriter, stuntman Kari "Sally Pepper" Podgorski – aerialist, dancer, acrobat, costumer, stilt walker Terry "The Carnie" Podgorski – production manager, set designer Orycteropus "Ory" Afer – mascot Lara "Darty Kangoo" Paxton – co-founder, artistic director, aerialist, dancer, costumer, acrobat, stilt walker, fortune teller Hugh "Salamity Clam" Sutton – accordionist, pianist Jeff "Buster Speck" Walker – trombonist Annastasia "Esmeralda Diamond" Workman – accordion player, piano player Jason "Dr. Loligo Calamari" Williams – acrobat, rigger, contraption engineer, stilt walker
Occasional guest stars Greg "Harold Smaude" Adair – accordionist, painter and illustrator Pavel Merzo – clown James Jay – juggler Melissa Kerber – aerialist Spencer and Gary "The Twins" Luke – unknown
Discography Our Latest Catalogue CD (2001) Gallimaufry CD (2004) Grand American Traveling Dime Museum CD (2005) The Half Wit's Descent CD (2008) The Show to End All Shows CD (2010)
References
External links So Long