SEASON 36 | DECEMBER 2023

The MUTT-CRACKER (SWEET!)
December 15-30, 2023

Circus Chickendog returns to The VORTEX with The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!). For the 12th 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!) offers the most extraordinarily original holiday entertainment in Austin. This year’s production again stars brilliant and talented rescue dogs including the two newest doggies, Dragonfly and Firefly. Darren Peterson brings his masterful juggling and unicycling skills, and he and his pups are joined by Austin actors, musicians, and acrobats to create a light-hearted theatre show that’s fun for the whole family.

ABOUT circus chickendog

Circus Chickendog is an Austin 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 B.S. 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. Learn more at chickendog.net.

The Mutt-cracker (SWEET!) is 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.