Cirque du Soleil’s Banana Shpeel Cancels San Francisco Engagement
in Banana Shpeel
(© Olivier Samson Arcand)
Cirque du Soleil’s new show Banana Shpeel has canceled its engagement at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, which was previously announced for October 16 – November 14. David Shiner has written and directed the production, currently playing Toronto through October 10.
The show is a new kind of production from Cirque du Soleil, featuring a combination of slapstick comedy, eclectic dance, including tap and hip-hop, and acrobatic acts.
Banana Shpeel stars Danny Rutigliano in the role of Schmelky, Daniel Passer and Wayne Wilson as the character’s sidekicks, and Shereen Hickman as Schmelky’s assistant Margaret, along with Claudio Carneiro, Patrick de Valette, and Gordon White. The company also includes Russian hand balancer Dmitry Bulkin, Vietnamese hat juggler Tuan Le, Spanish foot juggler Vanessa Alvarez, Canadian Hand to Hand duo Preston Jamieson and Kesley Wiens, Russian contortionists Tsybenova Ayagma, Tsydendambaeva Imin and Zhambalova Lilia, and brother-sister tap dance duo Joseph and Josette Wiggan.
The ensemble includes Robyn Baltzer, Kassie Brown, Adrienne Jean Fisher, DeWitt Fleming Jr., Karida Griffith, Luke Hawkins, Kathleen Hennessey, Adrienne Reid, Anthony J. Russo, Melissa Schott, Josh Scribner, Alexis Sims, and Steven T. Williams.
The creative team includes Jared Grimes (choreography), Simon Carpentier (original music and arrangements), Dominique Lemieux (costume design), Patricia Ruel (set design), Bruno Rafie (lighting design), and Harvey Robitaille (sound designer).
