Category Archives: Press Releases

CAST OF PERFORMERS AND ACTS ANNOUNCED FOR
A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS

FOLLOWING ITS INAUGURAL HIT TOUR IN 2018, THE
MUST-SEE HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR FOR ALL AGES FEATURING
THE GREATEST ENTERTAINERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

NOVEMBER 19, 2019
ARONOFF CENTER – PROCTER & GAMBLE HALL 

“A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS DAZZLES WITH MUSIC, ILLUSIONS, ACROBATICS.”
-Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“THE MAGIC OF CIRCUS AND CHRISTMAS ROLLED INTO ONE JAW-DROPPING ORNAMENT AFTER ANOTHER.”
-The Cedar Rapids Gazette

“A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS MELDS ARTISTRY, ILLUSIONS, AND MUSIC.”
-Daily Southtown

“MAGIC IS IN THE AIR.”
-The Spokesman-Review

CINCINNATI, OH – Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, and MagicSpace Entertainment, the producers of Broadway’s smash hit The Illusionists, are once again bringing together the world’s greatest entertainers for a spellbinding and incredible holiday production – A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS.  This thrilling, festive, fun-for-the-whole-family world premiere event will play the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30 PM.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. A limited number of on-stage seats are available at $150 each.

“We are thrilled to be bringing A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS back to audiences around the country,” said producer Lee Marshall, MagicSpace Entertainment.  “Our amazingly talented cast has been assembled from all over the world and is looking forward to delighting audiences and spreading holiday magic. The reception for the inaugural tour was fantastic and we hope this show becomes a special holiday tradition that families look forward to experiencing for many years to come.”

In A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS, experience the magic of Christmas with dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists from all corners of the world, accompanied by your favorite holiday music, all sung brilliantly by Therese Curatolo, whose angelic voice will surely get you into the holiday spirit.  Be captivated by the balance and precision of Oleksiy “Alex” Mruz as he bends beyond the nature of human potential while balancing on an always-moving surface; the fast, furious, and precise skill of world-champion diabolo juggler Yusaku-Mochizuki, as seen on this season’s “America’s Got Talent;”  the graceful, elegant and hypnotic acrobatic skill of Cyr wheel dancer Rachel Salzman; the gravity-defying performance of all-female duo trapeze team Virginie Gerbeau and Zoé Sanscartier; and much more! [See below for performer bios.]

A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS will be hosted by magician John Archer, who will leave audiences in hysterics while introducing each act with mesmerizing, magical flair as he weaves and guides them through the unimaginable to the unbelievable.

As one of the UK’s top comedy magicians, John Archer has spent the last seventeen years entertaining audiences all over the world.  Most recently, he reached the semi-final rounds of “Britain’s Got Talent” and won the “Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year.”  In 1998, John was awarded the Ken Dodd Presidents Trophy for “Best New Magical Comedy Entertainer;” in February 2000, he took part in The British Magical Championships and was awarded “British Magical Champion of Comedy;” in November 2002 at The Magic Circle Awards Banquet, John was promoted to “Member of the Inner Magic Circle – with Gold Star” and was awarded “The Carlton Comedy Award” for outstanding use of Comedy and Magic; and in 2003, he was awarded the “Senator Crandall Award for Comedy” at Abbot’s convention in the USA.

A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS is produced by Simon Painter, Tim Lawson, and MagicSpace Entertainment.  Painter and Lawson have created Circus 1903 – The Golden Age of Circus, Le Grand Cirque, Le Noir, Cirque Adrenaline, and The Illusionists in over 250 cities from London to Sydney to Broadway, as well as presenting A Chorus Line, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Fiddler on the Roof through Australia.  MagicSpace Entertainment is headed by Lee D. Marshall, Joe Marsh, John Ballard, and Steve Boulay, and has been producing and presenting national tours, Broadway shows, concerts, and museum exhibits worldwide for over 35 years. www.magicspace.net.

Get into the spirit of the season on November 19 at the Aronoff Center with this merry treat that’s perfect for the entire family.

Follow A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS
on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
http://magicalcirquechristmas.com

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION SPONSORS 

SEASON SPONSORS:  AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), FIFTH THIRD BANK (Lifetime Endowment Partner), CINCINNATI-NORTHERN KENTUCKY HONDA DEALERS, FURNITURE FAIR, LOCAL12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:  21C Museum Hotel, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Courtyard Marriott & Residence Inn-Rookwood, Graphic Village, Heidelberg Distributing, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Cincinnati Downtown, Millennium Cincinnati, Pepsi, Skyline Chili,
TriHealth, Ultimate Air Shuttle

A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS Presenting Partners:  TriHealth, Ultimate Air Shuttle

A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS Media Partner:  WARM 98.5-FM

PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES 

John Archer (Host Magician)
John reached the semi-finals of “Britain’s Got Talent” on ITV in 2019 and has spent the last seventeen years astounding audiences all over the world with regular tours to entertain British troops serving overseas.  John won the “Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year” in 2008, and he is thought by many to be the best Comedy Magician in the UK today.

In 1998, John was awarded the Ken Dodd Presidents Trophy for “Best New Magical Comedy Entertainer.” In February 2000, John took part in The British Magical Championships and was awarded “British Magical Champion of Comedy.” In November 2002 at The Magic Circle Awards Banquet, John was promoted to “Member of the Inner Magic Circle – with Gold Star” and was awarded “The Carlton Comedy Award” for outstanding use of Comedy and Magic. In 2003, John was awarded the “Senator Crandall Award for Comedy” at Abbot’s convention in the USA.

John Recently appeared on the TV show “Penn and Teller – Fool Us,” hosted by Jonathon Ross on ITV1, where he successfully fooled magical greats Penn & Teller and won an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas to perform with them at the Rio Hotel.  John can be seen as one of the regular magicians on the hit CBBC show “Help My Supply Teacher is Magic.”

What does the Host Magician Do?
John Archer will leave you in hysterics as he weaves and guides you through the unimaginable to the unbelievable. While introducing each act with spellbinding, magical flair, our host and comic serves as the “voice” of A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS, and ultimate master of ceremonies.

Therese Curatolo (Singer)
Reigning from The Biggest Little City in the World, Therese Curatolo has made her way from the operatic stage to radio stations nationwide.

Singing alongside soul legends Stevie Wonder and Martha Reeves, Therese’s versatile vocal power has taken her from the Metropolitan Opera to the big screen. Therese opened 2019 with an epic performance at Los Angeles’ “Troubadour” and made her debut with Scott Bradlee’s “PostModern Jukebox.”

Therese delighted audiences with her performance in the 2018 inaugural tour of A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS.  Her angelic voice and charismatic stage presence will surely get you into the holiday spirit.

Yusaku Mochizuki “Mochi” (Diabolo Juggling)
World Champion performer and “America’s Got Talent” contestant Yusaku Mochizuki started juggling in his hometown of Shizuoka, Japan in 2001 when he was 13 years old, and now he works actively presenting his creative work as an artist all over the world on TV and at festivals, theaters, corporate functions, and events worldwide. For him, juggling is an essential base to express himself that merges art, sports, and performing arts.

Mochi has taken juggling beyond the circus and the street, experimenting with performances using video and performing on television and on many of the greatest stages and performing arts centers in the world, such as at the Festival du Cannes, the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre, Cirque du Demain, and the Taichung Arts Festival to name a few. In 2015, Yusaku Mochizuki achieved his dream, winning gold at the International Jugglers’ Association world championship and thereby officially becoming the world’s top diabolo artist. He is a former member of the world-renowned performance group “ENRA,” fusing visual art, dance, and juggling.

What is Diabolo?
Within the world of juggling, Yusaku Mochizuki specializes in the Diabolo, noted for his characteristically precise control and sense of extreme speed in his performances.  Diabolo is derived from the Chinese yo-yo. 

Virginie Gerbeau & Zoé Sanscartier (Duo Trapeze)
Born in France, at a young age, Virginie enrolled in judo lessons where she was taught the art of falling. A lover of heights, at 6 years old, she discovered the world of circus at “Le Tilt,” a small recreational school in Nantes, France. At 14 years old, Virginie left home to join the National Circus School of Châtellerault, France to receive superior training as a circus artist. She specializes as a base in duo trapeze where she performs for different events in theaters, as well as under big tops all over the world. To further her training as a professional circus artist, in 2012 she crossed the ocean to train at the prestigious National Circus School of Montreal, Canada, where she found her duo trapeze flyer Zoé Sanscartier, and also developed her acrobatic potential through Chinese pole, floor acrobatics, as well as a banquine flyer.

Born in Montreal, Zoé was quickly inspired by the artistic surroundings that her city offered. Through the years, her passion for the arts flowed through singing, dancing, gymnastics, theatre, drawing, and music. Her ambition and curiosity take her to the world of circus. She fell in love with this form of art and it became her dream to be part of the circus. At 11 years old, Zoé joined The National Circus School of Montreal. Combining all of her artistic knowledge from her past experiences into the present, Zoé decided to be a flyer and specializes in duo trapeze with her base, Virginie Gerbeau.

What is Duo Trapeze?
Virginie & Zoé defy gravity while gracefully swinging through the air in this beautiful aerial dance. They weave and spin effortlessly around each other all while performing stunning acrobatics in mid-air. 

Oleksiy “Alex” Mruz (Rola Bola)
Born in Lviv, Ukraine, the multi-award-winning Oleksiy “Alex” Mruz graduated from Kiev State College Circus and Variety Arts in 2004.  Alex is returning from the 2018 tour of A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS where he had audiences on the edge of their seats with his daring feats.

What is Rola Bola?
As a master of balance and precision, Alex will amaze and astound audiences of all ages as he bends beyond the nature of gravity and human potential, climbing higher and higher while balancing on an always-moving surface. 

Duo X Lines: Sergei Kozakov & Anastasiia Niukina (Duo Straps & Duo Adagio)
Sergei and Anastasiia have been in the circus world for many years, first working as soloists and now creating breathtaking acts together. Sergei started out later in life and became a solo artist training in Aerial Gymnastics and Acrobatics.

Anastasiia started training from a very young age and is a champion of many titles and competitions.  She has grown into a multi-skilled artist performing rhythmics, contortion, duo adagio, aerial hoop, aerial straps, and aerial silks.  Since meeting, Sergei and Ana have created an amazing partnership and work together to perform jaw-dropping acts. They have traveled all over the world together performing unique and awe-inspiring acts for audiences of all ages. 

What is Duo Straps?
Duo X Lines will showcase their chemistry on the Aerial Straps with a performance full of feats of strength, grace, acrobatics and flexibility, all while suspended in mid-air.

What is Duo Adagio?
A passionate dance that combines acrobatics with extreme strength and balance.

Ray Rodrigues & Henry Green (Foot Juggling)
Born in La Habana, Cuba, Ray Rodrigues and Henry Green studied and perfected their flawless foot juggling at one of the most prestigious circus schools in Latino America called “Escuela National de Circo Cubana” where they dedicated their lives and futures to their acrobatic art.

What is Icarian Games / Foot Juggling?
Foot juggling is one of the oldest disciplines in circus arts. The porter juggles the flyer with his feet while the flyer performs dizzying spins and flip after flip that will send the audience into a frenzy.

Rachel Salzman (Cyr Wheel)
Born and raised in New York City, Rachel grew up in dance, but always dreamed of circus. For four years, she worked for contemporary and modern dance companies in NYC, and, in 2012, she moved to Montreal where she discovered Cyr Wheel – the perfect melding of dance and acrobatics — at the National Circus School of Montreal. Upon graduation in 2015, she participated in the creation of Luzia with Cirque du Soleil and toured the show for two years performing cyr wheel and pole dance.  She then relocated to Lyon, France to join long-time collaborators, Company Puéril Péril, to be a part of their new creation, L’Autre, which premiered in September 2018. She is currently working on a collaboration with musician Der Mahler called Mississippi to premiere in February 2020 in France.  She continues to work with other companies worldwide such as Cirque Eloize, 45 Degrees, and Cie Les Nouveaux Nez.

What is Cyr Wheel?
The Cyr Wheel combines grace, elegance, and acrobatic skills. The hypnotizing wheel rotation will amaze and transport you into a poetic world. 

Eduardo Garza (Juggling)
Having been born into a family of performance artists that span multiple generations in Monterrey, Mexico, Eduardo Garza defies the notion that “the hand is quicker than the eye.” Eduardo’s delightful demonstration of juggling demands both physical and mental discipline and agility. 

What is Juggling?
Eduardo is fast, furious, and dexterously skilled in this ancient art as his coordination gives animation to inanimate objects.

Anastasiia Mazur (Hand Balance)
Multi-award decorated Anastasiia Mazur has travelled the globe with her unique hand balance act that combines her jaw-dropping flexibility with her inhuman strength. Born in the Ukraine, Anastasiia is taking America by storm, one finger at a time. 

What is Hand Balance?
Gymnastics performance which showcases skills of extreme, inhuman, physical flexibility and strength, all while balancing on two thin canes.

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