It’s been called everything from “a circus on acid,” to “French burlesque meets Sweeney Todd,” and most appropriately, “P.T. Barnum’s worst nightmare." Cirque Berzerk’s unique flavor of adult psychedelic vaudevillian tomfoolery returns to the Los Angeles State Historic Park for an exclusive engagement.
Performances are set to begin today Thursday, June 18th through Sunday, July 5th.
Since its debut at Burning Man in 2005, Cirque Berzerk has been entertaining audiences - large and small - with their signature spin on contemporary circus theater, blending hardcore circus choreography with the sexy and comedic undercurrents of cabaret and vaudeville.
Cirque Berzerk’s show, “Beneath,” will tickle your innards with a psychotically-tinged sultry show filled with sinewy, breathtaking acrobatics, sensual aerialists, gothic stilt walkers, fetishy burlesque dancers, voluptuous contortionists and a host of punk rock clowns, none of whom know how to make cute balloon animals for the kiddies. "Wholesome family fun" it ain't.
Last year, Cirque Berzerk co-founders (and husband and wife) Suzanne Bernel and Kevin Bourque rolled the dice and invested their entire life’s savings into the show. Just on great word-of-mouth and a tremendous PR effort alone, Cirque Berzerk came out of nowhere to sell out last summer’s entire run. Critics and fans raved about it. The Los Angeles Times named it one of “L.A.’s 10 weirdest events of 2008.
This year, they’re back with an even more twisted big top experience that takes place under an even bigger big top-a massive tent imported from Italy that holds over 1,500 spellbound guests with theater seating.
above: their new bigger big-top
Before & After The Show
To get into the spirit of the evening, revelers are encouraged to arrive early before the show to drink and dine picnic-style around the big top; you can bring your own or purchase dinner and drinks on site while enjoying interactive carnival-themed attractions before entering into the big top.
And after the show, the audience is invited to party with the entire Cirque Berzerk circus troupe and enjoy a live performance by house band Vaud & The Villains at the nightly post-show party held in the “The Berzerk Lounge,” a club- like atmosphere adjacent to the big top that will enable guests to continue their Cirque Berzerk experience well into the night.
Even the owners get into the act. Literally. Owners Kevin Bourque and Suzanne Bernel are actually the guy with the top-hat on the "death" card and Suzanne is an aerialist who works with silks in the show.
above: circus owner and performer, Kevin Bourque
above: circus owner and performer, Sue Bernel rehearsing
With that said, and without further adieu, welcome and enjoy the show. The various Circus Acts are indicated by the wonderfully designed 'tarot' cards shown below.
CIRCUS ACTS
Click on each card below to be taken to more info about that particular act:
Berzerk Buzz:
"The sort of phantasmagoric spectacle Tim Burton would dream up if he quit filmmaking to join the circus." -Los Angeles Times
"They gave us Sexy, Scary, Funny and Absinthe...What else does one need, really?" -LA City Beat
"This is no Barnum and Bailey's." -- Metromix
VIDEOS:
The videos to promote the circus are fabulous. Take a look at "Fire Breather" and "Trampoline"
Lots of talented people deserve credit for the wonderful graphics, site design and tv commercials and promos.
Credits:
The Famous Group, Los Angeles
Executive Creative Director: Greg Harvey
Creative Director/Copywriter: Greg Collins
Creative Director/Art Director: Josh Weltman
Creative Director/Interactive: Joel Lava, Michael Marina, Patrick Tran
Producer: Kay Lynn Dutcher
Interactive Art Director: Jennifer Puno
Designer: Zak Iddings
Web Designers: Chris Chernoff, Brandon Fisch
Visual Effects Artist: Ryan Kaplan
Director of Photography: Connor O'Brien
Viral Director: Joel Lava
TICKETS
Starts Tonight!
Buy tickets here
