Cirque of the Dead 2024
Online Program

Cast

Alex Jackson is a Boston based circus performer who is never happier than when he is upside down. He began his circus career learning to juggle while earning degrees in Biology and Theater from UMass Amherst. After graduating, his passion for rock climbing led him to try climbing other things at Esh Circus Arts, where he trained a variety of aerial disciplines before attending the Professional Training program at the New England Center for Circus Arts. While his first love was aerial rope, his main disciplines now include straps, hand balancing and partner acrobatics. Alex performs regularly with the Boston Circus Guild and teaches at Esh Circus Arts and Eastern Acrobatics and Circus.

Alex Oliva is a Boston-based circus and movement artist, specializing in straps and Cyr wheel. Alex is always exploring new styles of movement and apparatus both in the air and on the ground, and seeks to push the boundaries of circus by combining elements from his gymnastics and dance background. He has performed with companies including CirqOvation, Scarlett Entertainment, House of Yes, Circus on Ice, and he will be touring with Talmi Entertainment's Nutcracker (formerly Moscow Ballet) this upcoming holiday season. Alex has also participated in festivals around the world, including the Salieri Circus Award (Italy), the Western Australian Circus Festival, Moisture Festival (Seattle), and the San Diego Circus Festival where he received several awards for his Cyr wheel and straps acts. Alex primarily received his circus training under coaches in Montreal, Canada. Prior to circus, he received training in contemporary and classical dance and in artistic gymnastics, and he performed as a dancer for four seasons with Boston contemporary dance group Urbanity Underground.

Caroline (Callie) Wright took to the air before she could walk, climbing curtains, dressers, trees and anything she could crawl to. She began her official circus journey with the Flying Gravity Circus in New Hampshire and went on to become a graduate of the New England Center for Circus Arts. Caroline has performed with companies across the US and internationally including work with Cirque du Soleil. She performs with the Boston Circus Guild, and is one half of DuoShadow with Rachel Barringer. Her specialties are dance trapeze, duo & solo hoop and duo braided loops.

Ellen Waylonis is a Boston-based multi-disciplinary circus artist, choreographer, producer, and theatrical intimacy director. Ellen is a founding member and frequent performer with Boston Circus Guild and a co-founder of the contemporary circus collective Circus 617. She has toured nationally with the BCG, Circus 617, Cirque Productions, and Nimble Arts. In her off-stage roles, Ellen has collaborated with organizations throughout New England including North Shore Music Theater, Moonbox Productions, and Harvard University. She was a 2021 Live Arts Boston grantee with Circus 617.

Ellen is a graduate of the professional program at the New England Center for Circus Arts. While at NECCA, Ellen helped to launch Esh Circus Arts in Somerville, MA in 2010. In 2017 she was a member of the founding team for Commonwealth Circus Center in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. She now splits her time between running Esh and pursuing her many creative passions, both onstage and off.

Judith Ngari (pronounced like Gary--the 'n' is silent) is a contortionist based in New England who performs solo as Twisted Elegance. Hailing originally from DC, she has honed her craft over the last 15+ years with coaches Shelly Airey, Catie Brier, and Rachel Barringer. She's had the opportunity to tour with the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, and performs with both the Boston Circus Guild and New England Black Circus.

A certified Advanced Flexibility Specialist, Personal Trainer, and Group Fitness Instructor, Judith has a passion for helping others unlock access to their mobility and work toward their flexibility goals. She currently coaches with the staff at Esh Circus Arts in Somerville.

Morgan Oldham started her performance life as a dancer before trading standing on her toes for standing on her hands. That life changing decision led her to The New England Center for Circus Arts where she graduated from their professional program in 2011. She has since worked with numerous companies across the US such as Aerial Experience Productions, Nimble Arts, The Boston Circus Guild, and Dolly Parton's Pirates Voyage in Myrtle Beach SC. She’s performed internationally at the World Expo in South Korea, with Dragone in Macau, and with Celebrity Cruises. 

Morgan is thrilled to be returning to Cirque of the Dead and hopes to continue to be able to bring her art to audiences around the world until she's a circus granny with gray hair and rickety splits.

Rachel Barringer is an aerialist and contortionist based in New England. She performs on aerial hoop, silks, rope, multi-cordes, and aerial straps. She is one half of Duo Shadow with Caroline Wright, and they perform on duo hoop and duo braided loops. Recently Duo Shadow created, co-produced, and performed HELIX, their first full-length circus show in collaboration with Circus 617 and Contemporary Circus Immersive Arts Center in Troy, NY. Rachel has performed with Shanghai Circus, Boston Circus Guild, Santa's Circus, Cirque de Light, Nimble Arts, and more. She is also a founding member of Circus 617, a contemporary circus company based in Boston. Rachel coaches aerials and contortion at Esh Circus Arts in Somerville, Commonwealth Circus Center in Jamaica Plain, and Eastern Acrobatics and Circus in Natick, MA.

Roger May is a professional acrobat with over a decade of experience in partner acrobatics, handbalancing, and juggling.  He is the Co-Owner of Esh Circus arts in Boston Ma, as well as a founding member of the Boston Circus Guild.

Roger is a graduate of the New England Center for Circus arts, and has performed in theaters and events all over the country.  In his spare time he is a proud dog father, a lover of murder mysteries, and loves to spend time in the ocean. 

Tim Ellis is thrilled to be back for his 7th (8th? 9th?) Cirque of the Dead! Tim is a juggler, acrobat, fire artist, musician and writer. He loves working with the Boston Circus Guild - credits include writer and performer for Cirque of the Dead and Midnight At the Midway; performer in Le Cirque Esprit, Throwback Tales, Speakeasy Circus, Vaudevillainy, and Reign of Revelry. He has traveled North America with juggling troupe A Different Spin, and collaborates often with local groups including Off the Ground Circus and Cirque de Light. Tim coaches juggling and acrobatics at Esh Circus Arts and is excited to spread the love of circus to kids and adults of all ages!

Crew

Director

Eileen Little (she/her) is an actor, aerialist, director and circus coach - and she’s the director for Cirque of the Dead 2023!  After receiving her MFA in Acting from the National Theater Conservatory in Denver, Colorado, Eileen moved to New York City where she was a founding member and Artistic Director of Fight or Flight Theater, an aerial theater company specializing in reimagining Shakespeare and 80’s films, such as “Henry V” and “Top Gun.” She has choreographed aerial for theater productions across the country and most recently she directed the workshop production of Medusa Reclaimed at Central Square Theater in Boston, as well as the animated version at the Charles Hayden Planetarium. Eileen is a graduate of the New England Center for Circus Arts’ Intensive program and has taught at Show Circus Studio and Circus Smirkus before coming to teach at Esh Circus Arts in Boston, MA, where she has been for over 10 years.  Eileen also teaches circus at her own studio, Seaside Circus Cape Ann based in Gloucester, MA.  Over the years, Eileen has been a classical radio announcer in Utah, Arizona and recently, WCRB in Boston, MA. 

Stage Manager

Zahra Garrett has been a professional stagehand for over 15 years, working in Baltimore, MD, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Portland, OR over the course of her career. Some favorite Portland credits include: stage management for Fright Night - A Halloween Circus (2019) presented by Night Flight Aerial Studio; lighting design for Sir Cupcake's Queer Circus (2017, 2018); and lighting design for The Circus Project's training company showcases (2018-2021). Most recently, Zahra has stage managed for Circus 617's productions of Gathering the Threads. Zahra is excited to be working with Boston Circus Guild on her first production of Cirque of the Dead as the Stage Manager!​

Assist. Stage Manager

Micaela Slotin (she/they) is ecstatic to be returning for their fourth Cirque of the Dead as the Assistant Stage Manager! Micaela is a Boston-area stage manager who most loves working in musical theater, circus and burlesque, and queer and trans performance. They look forward to learning what song M.C. Tim has parodied this year, and gently elbowing their way through an enthusiastic crowd of people dressed like M3GAN, various Barbie characters, and J. Robert Oppenheimer. 

Creative Producer

Ellen Waylonis

Script Writer

Tim Ellis

Lighting Design

Brittany Trymbulak

Sound Technician

Nick Amento

Makeup Design

Sparklle Thames is the creative force behind Sparklle T. Beauty. With over a decade of experience, Sparklle is a highly skilled makeup artist and esthetician. She's known for her work in bridal, fashion, film, and special effects. As a lead makeup artist for 'The Slutcracker' in Somerville, MA, she loves any opportunity to step outside of everyday makeup looks and tap into the more artistic side of makeup artistry.

Costume Design

Ellen Waylonis

FOH Manager

Jess Shada

FOH Assistants

Circe Rowan,  Omega Au

Aerial Act Puller

Jen Ender

Stage Hands

Ben Miller,  Ian Doucette,  Jen Ender,  Lanya Butler

Videographer

Beren Jones is a photographer, videographer, and occasional circus person. He's been filming circus for over ten years and doing circus for over four. Catch him lurking in the dark as the videographer for Cirque of the Dead. Beren also created the trailer for this year’s show!

Marketing Manager

Ricky Hawkins is a man of many creative pursuits, currently helping the Boston Circus Guild's productions as their Graphic Designer and Marketing Manager. He's been juggling since the age of 10, but fell in love with the circus while studying at Vassar College and after meeting their local circus group. Since 2008 he has been a professional fire spinner, written shows, developed choreography, and helped run small businesses like his circus and fire arts performance troupe A Different Spin. He was there to help the Boston Circus Guild get off the ground back during its inception as a legal entity, and strives to help make Boston a center for circus arts.

Social Media Manager

Genevieve Martineau

Special Thanks

The team at Arts at the Armory

Courtney Verhaalen and Forge Baking Company

Eric Freeman

​Sarah Selby

​Mélis Kooyomjian

Gabriel Rizzo

Jon Beckley

Doug Pouliot