SEASON 35 | DECEMBER 2022
The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!)
December 16 - January 1. Shows at 4:30 & 6:30pm!
Presented by The VORTEX and Circus Chickendog
Circus Chickendog returns to The VORTEX with The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!). For the 11th year, our favorite canines and circus artists transform The VORTEX for the holidays with a fabulously fun show for All Ages.
The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!) provides the most extraordinary original, holiday entertainment in Austin for the holidays at The VORTEX. This year’s production again stars brilliant and talented rescue dogs including 2 new puppies, Dragonfly and Firefly. Darren Peterson brings his masterful juggling and unicycling, as well his gifted dog training. We are pleased to introduce the multi-talents of acro-artists Balyssa Ball and James Kent.
This production is dedicated to the memory of our amazing friend and performer, Lauren Macaw.
CAST AND CREW
Featuring Sarah Rickert, Nicole Boyd, Jasper Murphy, Patricia Wappner, Monica Kurtz, and Balyssa Bell and James Kent as party guests/circus performers. Vikki Schwarz on piano.
Written and directed by Melissa Vogt. Tyler Mabry’s live original score also includes bits of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite. Lighting Design by Amy Lewis. Costume Design by Pam Fletcher Friday. Choreography by Blaise Ricin. Stage Management by Suzanne Smith. Production Manager, Katie Hamilton. Producing Artistic Director, Bonnie Cullum.
Circus Chickendog is an Austin-based troupe that has been entertaining audiences for decades. Previously featured nationally on David Letterman, Pet Star, and Donny and Marie (Osmond), Circus Chickendog performs regularly in Austin and around Central Texas.
Six-time Ironman, Darren Peterson received a BS in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin after interrupting his college studies for two years to join the Royal Lichtenstein Circus where he was the main juggler and unicyclist. After graduation, Darren taught High School math for three years and worked as an editor of math textbooks for four years. While editing math books, Chicken Dog began winning Disc Dog competitions, and Darren combined her tricks with his circus skills and became so popular that he no longer had time to edit math books. Chickendog.net
https://www.circa.com/story/2017/09/19/whoa/darren-petersons-circus-chickendog-stars-rescue-dogs
Funded and supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural District, a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.