Don't Drop the Ball and Miss These New Acts!

Planning for the festival involves scheduling new and old acts alike. We have been juggling these tasks for twelve years now, and think we've become quite good at balancing known crowd favorites with soon-to-be crowd favorites. This year, you'll want to keep an eye open for these stunning performers who are no strangers to catching the eyes of audiences all over the world.

Jay Gilligan photo by Hans Vera

Jay Gilligan has many talents, and juggling is certainly one of them! He has toured the world with various juggling companies and as a solo act, and when he is not touring and showing off his skills, he teaches juggling in Stockholm, Sweden. Over the years, Jay has performed a number of fascinating shows, including Prototype, a unique experience where the act of juggling creates music! If you want to know more about Jay and his juggling history, check out his recently published book 5 Catches. To see him in action, check back here in late February for his performance dates at Moisture Festival 2015!

Steven Ragatz

Another performer who knows how to captivate a crowd is Steven Ragatz. He has been performing for three decades in multiple locations worldwide, and spent ten years touring with Cirque du Soleil. Steven is at home on any stage, from juggling in front of live orchestras to being the opening act for John Mellencamp! He has even performed on ice. Yes, you read that right... Steven has performed juggling and variety acts on ice! Our stage at Hale's Palladium is made of wood, but Steven Ragatz will transform it with his remarkable circus antics that you are sure to enjoy. Check here for updated show dates near the end of February.

Patrick McGuire

 Originally from Pittsburgh, Patrick McGuire was invited to the very first Portland Juggling Festival and eventually made the Pacific Northwest his home. He has toured extensively, including stints with Cirque du Soleil, performing in both Mystere and Quidam. He started work on Mystere just out of high school at the age of 18! Patrick has even appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. Don't miss this talented character on the Moisture Festival stage! Showtimes will be posted here by the end of next month.