Dragon Theatre In Redwood City Debuts a New Play From A Peninsula Playwright

From Dragon Productions Theatre: Inspired by Germany’s Circus Sarrasani, we enter the big-top of a world-renowned circus in 1936 Berlin. When a peculiar anthropologist visits Cirque Exotique du Monde seeking oddities for his own collection, the equilibrium of this patchwork family of misfits is shaken. But when the circus catches the eye of Frau Goebbels, all is at stake. Illusions must be maintained, secrets kept and personal sacrifices made. The show must go on because lives depend upon it. World premiere.

Cirque Exotique du Monde is a part of Dragon Productions Theatre Company’s 2017 Second Stages Series. For the first time ever, Dragon’s season has two thematic series. Part of the series entitled “Emerging Voices,” Cirque Exotique du Monde was created by Peninsula playwright Kathy Boussina. About the genesis of the play, Ms. Boussina says “The world of Cirque Exotique du Monde is a confluence of two historic occurrences; the story of an ethnographer who collected morbid curiosities for his museum and the story of Circus Sarrasani, a prominent circus that began in Germany in 1901. Ethnographer, Dr. Gonzalez de Velasco’s story tells of a complex individual flawed by his dehumanizing pursuit of “oddities;” a pursuit which had a devastating impact on the lives it touched. Circus Sarrasani is the story of a community and the changes forced upon it to survive. Circus Sarrasani weathered two world wars but at a significant cost. Most tragically, in WWII it was required to hand over performers to the Nazis if they did not meet the Nuremberg criteria of pure Aryan descent or if they displayed non-conforming traits or characteristics.

The play begins in 1936 Berlin, a time of rising gross and blatant intolerance. We know now that this time foreshadows a tragic historic turn. Though this is a story inspired by historic events, it’s truly the story of family, community, and the individuals both within and without. It is a story of acceptance and not accepting. It is the story of collective identity, personal identity and the constant struggle of finding one’s place.”

Managing Director Kimberly Wadycki says that she’s excited to produce this world premiere story because “not only is it a lovely story that’s both history and a warning, but it gives us the opportunity to put something very different on our stage. Because it’s the story of a circus we have the opportunity to put some very cool stuff on the Dragon stage. They’ve incorporated a woman who does aerialist silk work, a man with a serious clowning background, and everyone’s having a great time creating a world within our little theatre. It should be a special theatrical experience from the moment you walk into the lobby to the moment the actors take their final bow.”

About the Playwright: Kathy Boussina (Producer/Playwright) is a playwright whose plays examine psychological motivations, the complexity of relationships, and personal and societal strains on ethics. Kathy holds a degree in psychology from San Francisco State University and has studied playwriting at Berkeley Repertory Theater School, New Conservatory Theater Center, San Francisco State University, The 3 Girls Theater Group, and the Tennessee Williams Institute, Provincetown, MA. She is a member of Berkeley Playground Writers’ Pool and the Playwright's Center of San Francisco. Other full-length plays includeTenn, a play about Tennessee Williams and his psychiatrist Dr Kubie, and A Place for Grace, a southern family’s unearthed tale. More about Kathy and her plays can be found at: www.strictlyplays.com.

Featuring the talents of:

• Lisa Burton as Director Sarrasine/Tsarina
• Ronald Feichtmeir as Dr. Singer/Officer/Ensemble
• Alix Josefski as Little Giant/Picnic
• Charles Monson as Hans Heinrich/Ensemble
• Alika U. Spencer-Koknar as Boshka/Magda Goebbels
• Oscar Velarde as Otto Freudenheim/Ensemble
• Anna Yanushkevich as Aerialist

Designers & Production Team:

• Co-Directors - Lessa Bouchard and Bora "Max" Bora Koknar
• Rehearsal Stage Manager - Emma Feeney
• Performance Stage Manager - Katie Forrest
• Scenic Designer - Nathanael Card
• Technical Director - Charles McKeithan
• Lighting Designer - Nathanael Card
• Costume Designer - Kathleen Qiu
• Sound Designer - Nick Solasteas
• Properties Master - Nathanael Card
• Rigger - Anna Yanushkevich
• Graphic Designer - Maggie Ziomek
• Photographer - Lance Huntley

When: Sept 15 – October 8, 2017

Thursdays – Saturdays, 8pm, Sundays, 2pm. Doors open 30 minutes before the show.

Pay what you will preview on Thurs., Sept 14th at 8p

Opening night performance with post-show reception on Fri., Sept. 15th at 8p

Post-show discussion with the cast and director Sun., Sept. 24th

The show has a run time of approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes which includes one 15 minute intermission. The show is rated PG-13 for heavy adult themes.

Where: The Dragon Theatre in downtown Redwood City

2120 Broadway Street at the intersection of Broadway and Theatre Way

How Much: $35 for general admission seats; $27 for student/senior tickets.

$15 rush tickets on Thursdays and Fridays starting 2nd week. Limited availability and cash only at the door.

Pay what you will preview on Thurs, Sept 14 – no reservation necessary, just walk up and pay cash at the door. Doors open at 7:30p; show starts at 8p.

$175 for the VIP box (seats 4 people and includes champagne and chocolates.)

Contacting the Box Office: Leave a voicemail at 650-493-2006 x 2 and your call will be returned within 2 business days. If you’d rather email, contact Josiah at tickets@dragonproductions.net. The Dragon Box Office is not staffed 7 days a week so there might be a delay in response. Buying tickets online here is the very best way to reserve a ticket in advance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tix and more information are offered here.

Images via Dragon Productions Theatre