It's Been A Magical Moisture Festival 2011

Crowds were dazzled by acts from around the world. 1000 shifts were filled by spirited volunteers. Bananas, pancakes, and children were juggled. A patron exited the show to give birth. Seriously.

55 shows, 4 weeks, 5 venues and now here we are at Closing Night. Thanks to our amazing team of volunteers our marvelous sponsors, our supporters and our fans. 
Your incredible!

Moisture Festival Performer Interviews: Christopher Phi

Born in and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Christopher Phi began theater and gymnastics at the age of 10. He competed in power tumbling throughout high school, twice becoming national champion. Attending Notre Dame de Namur University on a musical theater scholarship, Christopher performed in various musicals and plays as well as trained vigorously in different circus disciplines and dance. Christopher moved to Las Vegas in April of 2005 when he was hired for Franco Dragone’s “Le Reve”, a show at the Wynn Resort in which he performed as a handbalancer, contortionist, aerialist, and dancer for over 5 years. He has been contracted by “Cirque du Soleil” and has frequently appeared on television, most recently the Latin Grammy’s 2009 and a Brandon Flowers music video. Recently returned to the bay area, Christopher enjoys teaching pilates, performing in various corporate events and shows, studying languages, and spending time with his family and friends.

Moisture Festival Performer Interviews: Aerialist Helena Reynolds

From our performer lounge interview series at Hales Brew Pub.

A contemporary dancer aerialist and fitness teacher, Helena Reynolds graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA. She performs in the air sometimes with a partner and even with a group (Aloft, a noted Chicago performance collective). Helena is now concentrating on silks, trapeze, and lyra. Moisture Festival is happy to welcome her for the first time this year. Note: Helena performs on Vashon Island Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 3pm and 7:30pm at the Open Space for Arts and Community

Moisture Festival Performer Interviews: Karen Quest Cowgirl Rope Tricks & Hilby The Skinny German Juggle Boy

From our performer lounge series of interviews at Hale Brew Pub.

As a boy growing up in Berlin, young Hilby exhibited no particular talents other than making funny faces at strangers and, as Hilby himself describes it, "breezing rhythmically." When people began to call him a grown-up he packed up his old kit bag, gave his mom a big kiss on the cheek, and set out on a journey that was to lead him all over the world. Hilby traveled across the European continent to Asia. One of the talents he learned along the way was juggling and from that day forward his social life took a distinct downward turn as countless weeks went by during which he wouldn't listen to anybody but his own inner voice saying, "Come on Hilby, you can do it!" Hilby perfected his art on the road--from his first performance on the famous Islamabad Friday Market to Lhasa, Tibet, from Calcutta to Bangkok,

Born in St. Louis, Missouri Karen Quest was raised in Studio City, California, it surprises no one more than herself that after the 13-year college plan, odd jobs too numerous to mention and a foray into circus life, Karen has been blazing a trail with her one-woman Vaudeville-style comedy Western act, "Cowgirl Tricks". Karen trained at the Dell' Arte School of Physical Theater, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Clown College and The San Francisco School of Circus Arts, where she is also an instructor.

Moisture Festival Performer Frank Olivier Juggles 1.8 Million Volts Of Stunguns While Riding High Unicycle In Seattle Times Video

Frank Olivier can be seen at the Moisture Festival on Vashon Island this Saturday in shows at 3pm and 7:30pm.  Frank developed his unique offbeat brand of humor in San Francisco's comedy clubs. He was soon sharing the bill with Dana Carvey, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, and others. New York producers spotted his talents, and quickly signed him. He performed his act for the next three years in the Broadway hit show 'Sugar Babies'. Olivier has a growing number of television appearances including The Tonight Show, Comic Strip Live, and shows for PBS, HBO, BBC, Disney and more. He also headlines Las Vegas, comedy and theater festivals, and performs countless corporate shows.

Moisture Festival Performer Wang Hong Featured in Seattle Times Video

The amazing Chinese antipodis (foot balancer) Wang Hong can be seen this weekend at the Moisture Festival Shows on Vashon Island at the Open Space for Arts and Community. Tickets are available on line or at the box office one hour before the show. Wang Hong’s name translates into English as “rainbow” and the spectrum of talents that she employs in her performance are as beautiful and delicate as that ephemeral play of light. She was raised in the cold, far northeast province of Jain on China’s border with the Soviet Union. At 10 years of age she started training as a gymnast but began her performance career as a dancer. She worked in North America with the famed Tandy Beal Dance Theater company and the New Pickle Circus under Tandy's direction and with the Cirque du Soleil.

Moisture Festival Performer Interviews: Avner The Eccentric

Avner Eisenberg was one a handful of 1970s street performers who took their acts into theaters and, along with the Flying Karamazov Brothers and others, gave birth to the New Vaudeville movement. Even in those early days, this Georgia-born clown was recognized by other performers as wise beyond his years. He helped them to consider what it was they were doing onstage and how they went about doing it. After obtaining a BA degree in theater at the University of Washington in 1971 he took further training with Jacques Lecoq in Paris and then with Carlo Mazzone Clementi in California. Avner acknowledges a debt to these two masters who helped to give him direction: “Lecoq, taught me everything I know and Carlo taught me the rest” and he repaid that debt by doing the same for many of us for many years. Along with top theater credits (his one-man show was a hit of the 1984-85 Broadway season and was followed by rave reviews as he toured America and European theaters), the big screen (he co-starred with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny Divito in the film Jewel of the Nile) and small screen (many TV shows worldwide) Avner was recently inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame. You can see Avner at Hales Palladium on April 7th, 8th and 10th and on Vashon Island at the Open Space for Arts and Community April 9th