New at 2012 Moisture Festival: David Deeble, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Dana Smith

Each year Moisture Festival invites artists new to the festival to join us to play. The 2012 festival welcomes into our crazy circus tent:

David Deeble's Unnatural Act is a whirlwind display of exotic skills with laugh-out-loud commentary. Dave kicks coins into his eye socket, extinguishes flaming marshmallows with his mouth and - as if that weren't enough - accompanies it all with hilarious asides: "All that talent and I'm also a notary." Best known for his grocery-sack juggling routine on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", his other t.v. appearances include "America's Got Talent!" and "Last Comic Standing". He also appears regularly at The Comedy & Magic Club and emcees the Palace showroom at The Magic Castle in Hollywood. Dave's engaging style, audience-savvy and intelligent humor spread grease-fire laughter at world-class venues around the world. We can't wait to add Dave's razor-sharp wit and contagious goofiness to Moisture Festival 2012.


Since 1995 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has traveled the world, bringing its unique hybrid of Vaudeville, Circus, Wild West Shows, Burlesque, and Sideshow to theaters, clubs, colleges, and festivals. Co-founders Stephanie Monseu and Keith Nelson's personal dedication to the variety arts, circus, vaudeville, sideshow, and burlesque have made the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus famous both among audiences and within the variety performance community. This spring they stop in at Seattle's own Moisture Festival bringing thier own bit of one of the last true touring vaudeville shows in America. Their shows combine traditional circus high wire aerialists, clowns, and juggling with sideshow denizens like swords swallowers, and burlesque dancers. With these basic ingredients, The Bindlestiffs cook up an alchemical brew that promises to enthrall audiences.

Dana Smith has been entertaining the world since 1974 when he landed his first big chance and hit the road with the Royal Lichtenstein Quarter Ring Sidewalk Circus. After a year as a sidekick on that show he decided to trade his second banana status for a real shot at what he describes as the small time. After presenting thousands of urban street shows across all parts of North America he has earned a reputation as one of the most polished performers of this style. His show is a mix of circus arts stunts and interactive audience participation routines all inventively presented by this veteran showman. We are excited to welcome him to the festival!

We have many more new artists to introduce and a host of returning favorites to make 2012 an amazing Moisture Festival year, so stay tuned. We hope to see you there!

The Chairmen, Master Payne, Scot Nery, The Quidldlers, and Robet Lok

I think we can pack a few more clowns into this car! We'd like to welcome to the Festival for the first time:

UPDATED 1/27: Unfortunately, the Chairmen will not be able to attend this year, but we hope to bring them to a future festival.
The Chairmen are James O'Shea and Bob Palmer of the very popular comedy juggling duo Flying Debris. These are two obsessed individuals dedicated to exploring and expanding the world's perception of those white plastic stacking resin patio chairs that are found everywhere on the planet. Their extremely funny, extremely weird antics will cause you to jump out of your seats in amazement. We can't wait to bring this this chair-raising experience to the Moisture Festival. Website.


Master Payne, purveyor of thematic thaumaturgy, is a noted Northwest performer who has traveled the world assuming and shedding a series of characters and in an unending effort to give a new twist to ancient arts. His is a respected voice in the world of magic and we're proud to have him, for the first time, on our Moisture Festival stage. Website.







Scot Nery's unique and acclaimed performances combine his one-of-a-kind personality and newfangled object manipulation. Every show is a refreshing splash of unexpected ingenuity. Whether Scot is working in theater, at a party or on the small or large screen he regards each performance as an opportunity to apply “unexpected ingenuity”. He's noted for his comic daring and his carefree stage presence. We're looking forward to this first time Moisture Festival appearance by this fearless LA performer. Website.




The Quiddlers' Micro Jackson and other comic characters will blow you away. These International Ambassadors of Physical Comedy started out in the mid-1980s as The Marauding Miners and they are still going strong with worldwide performances of their unique costumes, puppetry and comedy. This is their first Moisture Festival and Seattlites are in for a treat. Short, sweet and hilarious.




Rob Lok is an international variety performer and contemporary clown. An unpredictable combination of slapstick comedy and high-octane circus skills has made his shows in demand around the globe. Since receiving his BFA (Bachelor of Funny Arts) at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, Robert has spent over a decade traveling the world and performing his unique style of contemporary clowning and physical comedy. We look forward to welcoming him to the Moisture Festival. Website.

Nate Cooper joins the 2011 Festival

Moisture Festival is pleased to welcome Nate Cooper back into our crazy clown car. Nate will be performing at this year's Festival, straight from Cirque du Soleil's "Love" in Las Vegas.

www.coopervaudeville.com
"Cooper is a natural physical comedian and eccentric dance aficionado. An endlessly talented clogger, tap and swing dancer, juggler, roller skater and clown. Dedicated to the art of play, Cooper explores physical limitation through clown logic."