Sweet Can Productions to Present MITTENS & MISTLETOE - A WINTER CIRCUS CABARET

Sweet Can Productions presents Mittens and Mistletoe - A Winter Circus Cabaret, an intimate theatrical circus experience and a Bay Area favorite holiday tradition now in its 8th year. Mittens and Mistletoe returns with a new cast, added clowning, spectacular acrobatic circus feats and interactive madcappery that will astonish and inspire the entire family.

This year our esteemed performers include luminaries from Cal Shakes, Mixed Nutz, New Pickle Circus, Universoul, Cirque de Boheme, Ars Minerva, Teatro Zinzanni and more. Our goofy scientist emcees - Natasha Kaluza, Jamie Coventry and Iman Lizarazu - will guide you through Mittens and Mistletoe, testing theories and making new discoveries - handstands on stacked chairs, robust aerialists dancing through time & space and award-winning clowns that will amuse you on a quantum level. Laughter is good for you. This has been scientifically proven.

The 8th edition of Mittens & Mistletoe: A Winter Circus Cabaret plays for a limited engagement - only eight performances Dec. 22- 28, 2017 at Dance Mission Theater
(3316 24th St. (Mission St.) in SF). For tickets ($18 and up) and information, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3101913 or call 415-225-7281.

CAST: Veronica Blair (aerial straps); Jamie Coventry (clown, juggle, music); Kate Hutchinson (aerial fabric); Natasha Kaluza (hula hoops, clown, juggle, music); Iman Lizarazu (eccentric, juggle, mime, dancer); Nina Sawant (Cyr wheel); Jeremy Vik (handstand, juggle, actor, music). Additional performer at 12/23/17 - 8:00 pm show only - Dan Holzman (Luke LeSabre "The Mad Swordsman").

Creative Team: Harry Rubeck (Lighting Designer); Patrick Sweeney (Sound). The show is directed by Natasha Kaluza and Jamie Coventry.

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Limited Engagement - Only 8 Performances.

Performance Dates: Dec. 22 - 28, 2017

Fri. Dec. 22, 2017 Preview - 2:00 pm

Sat. Dec. 23 4:00 & 8:00 pm (adults only at 8:00 pm show)

Sun. Dec. 24 2:00 pm

Tues. Dec. 26 2:00 pm

Wed. Dec. 27 2:00 pm

Thurs. Dec. 28 2:00 & 4:00 pm

(No Performance Mon.12/25 (Xmas day)

Mittens & Mistletoe is a family friendly performance and children are encouraged to attend. Most of the shows start at 2:00 or 4:00 pm.

The show will start ON TIME. Latecomers may not be able to sit with their parties, and will be seated by ushers at an appropriate moment during the show. Please allow ample time to find parking, most spaces in the area are metered. The parking garage on 21 St. and Valencia is a good option if you cannot find street parking.

We advise taking BART. 24th St./Mission BART station is across the street from the theater

Doors open 20 minutes before the show. There will be a 15 minute pre-show with live music.

Running time: 1 hour (approx)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sweet-Can-152063651476746/

Watch a trailer below:

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Clown duo Coventry & Kaluza have developed a unique blend of comical characters, music, and circus skills; this is their sixth year directing MITTENS AND MISTLETOE. Clown school sweethearts, this award-winning comedy duo has been seen throughout the Bay Area and beyond, in the ring with Circus Bella, onstage with Sweet Can, Circus Finelli, Circus of Sound, and the New Pickle Circus, among others. Additionally, Coventry & Kaluza won Best Comedy/Clown Act in the American Circus Festival two years in a row. Jamie Coventry has a background in theater, music, and education. He attended the Clown Conservatory at the SF Circus Center, and has developed his own show about his clown experience. He formed Tin Sandwich, a neo-vaudevillian harmonica ensemble that plays blues, jazz, pop, Balkan, and Tango music. Natasha Kaluza attended the Clown Conservatory at the SF Circus Center and studied theater and dance at UC Santa Cruz. She is best known for her signature style of hula hooping which incorporates "B-girling" and funk dancing. 2013 marked a decade of collaboration for Coventry & Kaluza. coventryandkaluza.com

Veronica Blair (Aerial Straps) Veronica Blair has studied with some of the most celebrated artists in her field. From greats LaNorma Fox and Pamela Hernandez, who bears the distinction of being the very first African- American aerialist to perform with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus; to the renowned "God Father of the Tissu" Gerard Fasoli of Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque, Belgium. Veronica started her career at the age of 14 with Make*A*Circus. In addition she trained Chinese Acrobatics at the SF School of Circus Arts. Her first professional performance was at the age of 17, making her one of the youngest professional African-American trapeze artists in the U.S. Shortly after, Veronica was the resident aerialist for Universoul Circus for 5+ years. Since then, she has performed with various productions around the world including AntiGravity, Universal Studios Japan, and AFRIKA! AFRIKA! the most successful circus show in Germany.

Beth Clarke (Producer, Director) Beth grew up in SF where she was inspired by the New American Circus movement. She performed as a teen apprentice with Make*A*Circus and with Mr. Lu Yi's Circus Center, including directing one of their full length productions, Yu San. She is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale de Cirque in Montreal and studied with Masha Dimitri and Szilard Sekeley, two of the world's most re-known slack rope artists. Beth's performing credits include The Seven Fingers, Circus Cirkor, Cirque Elioze, The Pickle Family Circus, The Discovery Channel, Disney, Cirque du Soleil, and many other circuses, varieties and theatrical groups throughout the world. She is one of the founders of Sweet Can, mother to two children, and a Pilates teacher.

Jamie Coventry (Clown, Juggler, Director, Music) Jamie was raised in central California by a family of eccentrics. He studied theatre arts in Santa Fe, music in San Luis Obispo and education and circus arts in SF. Jamie has worked with Flynn Creek Circus, Circus of Sound, New Pickle Circus, The Pickle Circus School Tour, Teatro Zinzanni, Sweet Can and more. He is perhaps best known for his work with partner Natasha Kaluza. Coventry & Kaluza won Best Comedy/Clown Act in the American Circus Festival two years in a row, and Best Duo in the Picklewater Free Circus Festival. Jamie is also the co-creator of the neo- vaudevillian harmonica trio, Tin Sandwich and a dedicated member of the Bay Area Harmonica Club. www.coventryandkaluza.com

Katherine Hutchinson (Single Point Trapeze) Katherine Hutchinson is an aerial artist with a background in classical ballet. After earning a BFA in Dance Performance at Towson University, she moved to Oakland, CA to deepen her study of aerial dance. Here she trains, performs and teaches (Athletic Playground, Kinetic Arts Center, Trapeze Arts) her own unique style of air ballet. Katherine performed aerial alongside the opera artists of Ars Minerva this fall in their premiere of La Circe. She performs annually in Tourette's without Regrets and participates regularly in fundraiser showcases at Athletic Playground. Most recently, she danced, choreographed, and collaborated with Kinetic Arts Productions and Jaron Hollander in Circus Veritas.

Natasha Kaluza (Clown, Juggler, Hula Hoop, Director, Music) Natasha holds a degree in theater and a graduate certificate in dance from UCSC, and attended two years of the SF Clown Conservatory under Jeff Raz. She's performed with the New Pickle Circus, Pickle Circus School Tour, Circus Bella, Flynn Creek Circus, Circus of Sound, Sweet Can Productions, Teatro ZinZanni and many others. Aside from being the Super Duper Hula Hooper, she is perhaps best known for her work with partner Jamie Coventry. Coventry & Kaluza won Best Comedy/Clown Act in the American Circus Festival two years in a row, and Best Duo in the Picklewater Free Circus Festival. www.coventryandkaluza.com

Iman Lizarazu (Clown, Juggler) Iman Lizarazu was born in a small village in the Basque region of France, where her family has lived for over 800 years. Iman's early years were spent inthe Basque Country, France and Moscow, where her father worked with the Bolshoi Ballet. She first performed on stage at age six as the Mouse in the Nutcracker. Here she began her training in classical ballet, and then learned circus arts at the Moscow Circus training gym. After dabbling in science, math and medicine, Iman went on to earn a PhD in Astrophysics with Honors from the Max Plank Institute in Munich. Iman also studied at the School of Mime with Marcel Marceau, and with Masters Julie Goell and Avner the Eccentric. She has been active in Clowns Without Borders since it's inception in 1993 and has worked in: Kosovo, St. Petersburg, Georgia, Cuba, Nairobi, Somalia and Haiti. She has performed in various shows throughout the world, and has created her own solo show. Iman is co-owner and co-creator of Renegade Juggling, where she and her partner have made juggling equipment for 25 years.

Nina Sawant (Cyr Wheel) Nina Sawant is a circus performer and choreographer who has found her home in the Bay Area. She has performed as a modern dancer and circus artist in the US, France, Ukraine, and Mexico. In 2009, Nina graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida Dance Program. Nina has performed with the national tour of Peter Pan 360, Incanto Productions, Earth Circus, Yea Big Dance, Shoes at the Door Dance Company, Femme Dulce Cabaret, and Busch Garden's KaTonga. In 2013, Nina founded her own circus entertainment company, Maison Aurora to facilitate the creation of collaborative and innovative circus.

Jeremy Vik (Hand Balancer, Juggler, Music) Jeremy is a juggler, acrobat, singer, and clown, but also works as an actor in Shakespeare, musical theatre, and children's theatre. Some of his favorite roles have been Feste in 12th Night (Marin Shakes and Shotgun Players, the Emcee in Cabaret (Ind. Cabaret Prod.), Dromeo of Ephesus (SF Shakes), and Bibinski in Silk Stockings (42nd St. Moon). Jeremy is also the Head Coach of the Super Novas, the middle group of Circus Center's pre-professional Youth Circus in SF. Jeremy has a BFA in Acting from Southern Oregon University and is a graduate of the SF Clown Conservatory and Professional Acrobatics Program at SF Circus Center.

Since 2006 Sweet Can Productions, the Independent circus company based in SF, has been bringing laughter, wonder, awe and delight with their unique combination of circus arts, theater, music, and clowning. Hip hop hula hoop, jaw-dropping aerialists, and foot juggling slack ropers are just a few of the amazing acts presented over the years. When sour can't Sweet Can!!!

Sweet Can Productions' mission is to create intimate, heartfelt performances in which the audience and performer easily connect. Sweet Can presents the circus performer as a human being, and uses the performer's circus skills to make connections by demonstrating the shared emotional experiences that unite us all. Formed in 2006 at the SF Circus Center by founding members Beth Clarke, Kerri Kresinski, and Daniela Steiner, Sweet Can was established with the artistic goal to bridge the gap between traditional circus and theater. Where most Bay Area circus performers were resigned to performing in nightclubs, at corporate events, as incidental performers for major theatrical productions, or at non-professional community events, Sweet Can Productions wanted to allow for complete artistic expression, and embarked upon creating a production rooted in traditional circus, theater techniques, and improvisation, creating an intimate theatrical circus experience in which circus artists provide stage substance and not merely stage decoration.

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