Featured Performer of the Week: Philip Rosenberg

BroadwayWorld is thrilled to present its latest feature series: The Performer of the Week! Get to know these amazing talents as they share a bit about themselves, their work and life!

This week's featured performer is Philip Rosenberg who is currently on stage at The American Repertory Theatre in the Production of PIPPIN!

Hey Philip, Tell Us About Yourself!

Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Philip Rosenberg, left a rigorous gymnastic regime to pursue his love for the performing arts at the age of 10. While attending several acting academies Philip also found the Circus Center, where he began learning Chinese Acrobatics under the guidance of Master Trainer Lu Yi. While learning how to be a powerful and dynamic acrobat, Philip also participated in various shows with the Circus Center and New Pickle Circus, including the original cast of Birdhouse Factory.

This ever-expanding exhilarating world of performance and travel led Philip to the "National Circus School" of Montreal where he refined his technique in handbalancing, acrobatics, dance and theatre. Graduating in 2008, Philip immediately began performing with "The 7 fingers" in a two year international tour of the show TRACES. The production played in over 15 different countries and dozens of theaters, including Union Square Theatre, Saddlers Wells in London, Casino de Paris, and The Sydney Opera House. Soon after, Philip began performing his Mannequin Handstand act in various Cabarets throughout Germany.

He is currently back in the United States, working in Diane Paulus' Revival of PIPPIN at The American Repertory Theatre, which has announced a move to the Magic Box Theatre on Broadway.

Where You Might Have Seen Him

Off-Broadway: TRACES, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Union Square Theatre. Regional: PIPPIN, American Repertory theatre; TRACES (touring), Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Saddlers Wells in London, Casino de Paris, The Sydney Opera House. The Birdhouse Factory, The New Pickle Circus, Palace of Fine Arts Theatre; Dummy, GOP Variete Theatre, Germany; Die Boscars, Variete et Cetera Theatre, Germany; Cabotinage, Vague de Cirque Tent, Canada; LA VIE, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, France; C'est Assez Pour Aujourd'hui, Les Feuilles Mortes, Ou Est le Chef, La TOHU, Canada; Vau de Vire Society, The Regency Ballroom; Planetary Carnival of Circus Stage Direction, Grand State Circus of Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

We've Got Questions!

1) What are you working on right now?

At the moment, I am in our last week at The American Repertory Theatre in the Production of PIPPIN. Which will be making the move to broadway early this spring.

2) What has been your professional biggest accomplishment so far?

Performing TRACES with the 7 fingers was definitely a huge accomplishment for me. With this show I had the opportunity to work with some truly amazing artists and got to travel and see the world in the process. This production of PIPPIN has also been a huge professional accomplishment for me. It has been inspiring to work with Diane Paulus and the rest of the creative team and I am so grateful to work with such an immensely talented cast.

3) Share your funniest or worst audition moment

This is a hard question because in circus we don't do too many auditions. We are mostly hired by video, performing in a festival or simply by reputation. One of the only moments I can think of, was my audition for the circus company DRAGONE in Las Vegas about 7 years ago. The audition was an entire day of physical challenges. We started off the day with with an acrobatic evaluation, then flexibility, then strength, followed by a dance evaluation. To say the least at the end of the day, I was exhausted...but I had made it without being cut to the end of the day. Just when I thought the day was over, they took us outside and revealed a olympic sized swimming pool. I had no idea there was a swim test involved in the audition, and I was already ready to drop. With exercises like, tread water for as long as you can, or find the penny at the bottom of the pool and then swim the length underwater, I can honestly say I failed miserably. I could barely keep afloat, and never heard again from DRAGONE casting again.

4) What's your dream role?

My dream role has always been to play in a show that I created. Three of my fellow PIPPIN acrobats (Greg Arsenal, YanNick Thomas and Lolita Costet) and myself have recently formed a company entitled "Le Roux", and plan to create and open a circus show in the future. The day I stand in front of the audience and can perform our own show, will be a huge achievement for me.

5) If you weren't a performer, what would you be?

If I wasn't a performer, I would still want to work in the arts. I have painted for years, and while now I only consider it a hobby, I might have chosen to pursue this art form as a career. I have also always wanted to direct, both for stage and behind the camera. I would find a way to create art, no matter what the medium.

6) Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years?

In 5 to 10 years, I see myself touring internationally with my own company, surrounded by loving and supporting friends and family.

Visit - and like! - Philip's performance company 'Le Roux' on Facebook here!

BWW wants to feature YOU! Interested? Tell Romina at romi@broadwayworld.com and we'll get you set up!

Photo Credits: Bertil Nilsson, Julie-Blanche Taillon, Kevin H. Lin.

More Articles by This Author...