THIS TRULY IS HOLIDAY JOY
Now playing this holiday season through January 5, 2025, down by The Embarcadero: The circus is in town. But not just any circus.
Circus Bella, in a colorful Big Top tent at Beale & Howard, puts the circus in your lap with Kaleidoscope. Certainly what is achieved in this one-ring setting is the the humor and derring-do you’d expect from a circus, but this intimate outing has more joy, more heart and more soul than any of the huge three-ring circuses of the past. We are promised a consistently changing set of colors and events, and how lovely to have a promise fulfilled as this terrific show has it all: jugglers, aerialists and, of course, clowns. Not just any clowns though. San Francisco has always been a home base for training the greatest clowns on earth, but for this close-up experience, you can feel a holiday love along with the comedy from these merry pranksters.
Abigail Munn (photo by Daisy Rose Coby)
The Ringmaster for this modern one-ring show is Abigail Munn who certainly knows how to excite the audience as she introduces all the acts, starting with the juggling clowns: Kai Ku, Jaime Coventry and Natasha Kaluza. With their bright eye-catching costumes, they delight with amazing antics and feats of precariously holding, catching, and balancing pins, balls and multiple hoops.
(photo by Chuck Louden)
Elise Hing contorts her whole body in poses that don’t seem humanly possible. Ori Quesada falls from atop a high pole but manages to stop himself just a few inches from hitting the ground. Garret Allen manages to balance himself on a stack of chairs, six high. Truly, all the performers in this band of twelve can seemingly do it all.
Ensemble (photo by Aaron Weinstock)
Costumer Autumn Adamme of Dark Garden offers the most unique bright and form-fitting costumes, which give the performers the look of an old-fashioned circus. And there is LIVE music. The talented Circus Bella All Star Band performs their own original soundtrack throughout the show, enhancing the full circus experience. The band is Rob Reich (accordion), Michael Pinkham (percussion), Kasey Knudsen (sax), Ian Carey (trumpet), Jonathan Seiberlich (tuba) and Shania Evonik (violin).
The shrieks of delight over all the amazing feats of the circus won’t just be coming from the children. Everyone will be mesmerized during this 95-minute show. To quote The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, “Oh, joy! Rapture! How can I ever thank you enough?”
(photo by Chuck Louden)
Kaleidoscope
Circus Bella
The Crossing at East Cut, Beale & Howard in downtown San Francisco
for tickets ($55-$75), visit Circus Bella
remaining performances:
Mon. 12/23 – 11 & 4
Thurs. 12/26 – 1 & 4
Fri. 12/27 – 4 & 7:30 pm
Sat. 12/28 – 1 & 4
Sun. 12/29 – 1 & 4
Mon. 12/30 – 1
Tues. 12/31 – 12pm (Special NYE Performance – Early Show*)
Tues. 12/31/24 – 7:30 (Special NYE Performance – Evening Show*)
Thurs. 1/2/25 – 1
Fri. 1/3 – 4
Sat. 1/4 – 1 & 4
Sun. 1/5 – 1 & 4 (closing performance)
Ensemble (photo by Chuck Louden)
