Circus Contraption

Circus Contraption (founded in 1998) was the name of a one-ring circus, vaudeville and dark cabaret troupe based in Seattle, Washington. The troupe, which employs about a dozen performers, uses live, original music paired with old-style circus performances, heavily influenced by cabaret and vaudeville acts. The shows are conceived for adults and usually feature some mature content.

Circus Contraption
OriginSeattle, Washington
GenresVaudeville, Dark Cabaret
Years active1998-2009
Past members
  • Joseph Vito "Dexter Mantooth" Albanese
  • Evelyn "Acrophelia" Bittner
  • Sari "Pinky d'Ambrosia" Breznau
  • Erin Brindley
  • David "Armitage Shanks" Crellin
  • Max "Fresco Rose" Davis
  • Colin "Ernesto Cellini" Ernst
  • Kevin "Chameleo" Hinshaw
  • Jenny "Nova Jo Yaco" Iacobucci
  • Drew "Shmootzi the Clod" Keriakedes
  • Whitney "Delphinia Spit" Lawless
  • Matt "Bunny LaMonte" Manges
  • Kari "Sally Pepper" Podgorski
  • Terry "The Carnie" Podgorski
  • Orycteropus "Ory" Afer
  • Lara "Darty Kangoo" Paxton
  • Hugh "Salamity Clam" Sutton
  • Jeff "Buster Speck" Walker
  • Annastasia "Esmeralda Diamond" Workman
  • Jason "Dr. Loligo Calamari" Williams
Websitehttp://circuscontraption.com/

The troupe first performed at the Seattle Fringe Theatre Festival, but soon branched out to other venues around the U.S., including a U.S. tour in 2005. Their local and touring shows, with names like "Bracing Curative," "Eat Circus," "The Beer, Bread & Cheese Cabaret," "A Raree Show," and "Gallimaufry: An Evening of Jiggery-Pokery," played to sold-out audiences.[1]

The troupe disbanded in 2009. Joe Albanese (aka Dexter Mantooth) and Drew Keriakedes (aka Shmootzi the Clod) and three other victims were killed in the Cafe Racer shooting on May 30, 2012.[2]

Members

Principal members

  • Joseph Vito "Dexter Mantooth" Albanese – bassist, leather craftsman
  • Evelyn "Acrophelia" Bittner – acrobat, costumer, stilt walker
  • Sari "Pinky d'Ambrosia" Breznau – costumer, vocalist, trumpeter, dancer
  • Erin Brindley – managing director
  • David "Armitage Shanks" Crellin – co-founder, ringmaster, vocalist, percussionist, songwriter, maskmaker, fire-eater
  • Max "Fresco Rose" Davis – acrobat, aerialist, dancer
  • Colin "Ernesto Cellini" Ernst – juggler, trombonist, welder, contraption engineer, composer
  • Kevin "Chameleo" Hinshaw – clarinetist, music director, pianist, composer, webmaster, director of small packages
  • Jenny "Nova Jo Yaco" Iacobucci – dancer, stilt walker, puppeteer, costumer
  • Drew "Shmootzie the Clod" Keriakedes – sousaphonist, ukulelist, accordionist, banjo player, vocalist, songwriter
  • Whitney "Delphinia Spit" Lawless – clown, acrobat, costumer
  • Matt "Bunny LaMonte" Manges – drummer, aerialist, acrobat, songwriter, stuntman
  • Kari "Sally Pepper" Podgorski – aerialist, dancer, acrobat, costumer, stilt walker
  • Terry "The Carnie" Podgorski – production manager, set designer
  • Orycteropus "Ory" Afer – mascot
  • Lara "Darty Kangoo" Paxton – co-founder, artistic director, aerialist, dancer, costumer, acrobat, stilt walker, fortune teller
  • Hugh "Salamity Clam" Sutton – accordionist, pianist
  • Jeff "Buster Speck" Walker – trombonist
  • Annastasia "Esmeralda Diamond" Workman – accordion player, piano player
  • Jason "Dr. Loligo Calamari" Williams – acrobat, rigger, contraption engineer, stilt walker

Occasional guest stars

  • Greg "Harold Smaude" Adair – accordionist, painter and illustrator
  • Pavel Merzo – clown
  • James Jay – juggler
  • Melissa Kerber – aerialist
  • Spencer and Gary "The Twins" Luke – unknown

Discography
  • Our Latest Catalogue CD (2001)
  • Gallimaufry CD (2004)
  • Grand American Traveling Dime Museum CD (2005)
  • The Half Wit's Descent CD (2008)
  • The Show to End All Shows CD (2010)

References
  1. "Circus Contraption: Shows". circuscontraption.com. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  2. Dominic Holden. "Morning News: Cafe Racer Massacre and the Aftermath". Slog.thestranger.com. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
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