Zephyr — A Whirlwind of Circus is not your grandfather’s circus. Think world-class acrobatics, astounding feats of strength, and a bit of clowning for this theatrical circus show, then throw in some timber, steel, and ingenuity.
“The layer that we have that’s unique is this mechanical industrial layer,” says Cirque Mechanics founder Chris Lashua, who created Zephyr, which is coming February 3 and 4 to the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Merchant Hall in Manassas.
Cirque Mechanics is a contemporary theatrical circus, with no animals, which features acrobats interacting with machinery to display thrilling acts and tell a compelling story.
“Cirque Mechanics last visited the Hylton in 2019, and I am thrilled to welcome them back,” says
Adrienne Bryant Godwin, director of programming at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. “Their impressive use of machinery coupled with their spectacular feats of acrobatics always lead to quite a wow factor that leaves audiences wanting more.”
For every new show, Cirque du Soleil veteran Lashua starts by sketching an elaborate machine — a boiler trolley, a trampoline cart, a pedal-driven gantry — that will serve as the onstage centerpiece. For Zephyr, he designed a 20-foot-tall performance windmill as the show’s multifunctional focal point. Around this mechanical marvel, the ensemble of aerialists, jugglers, and gymnasts builds a theatrical experience that showcases the relationship between humankind and the machines we create.
“I particularly love that a Cirque Mechanics performance can be appreciated by members of the whole family — from the youngest among us to the seasoned theater patron,” Godwin says.
Zephyr — A Whirlwind of Circus is in its second season of touring nationally, showcasing American performers. Lashua says from conception to opening night, Zephyr took about a year to incubate, and since the show is created in Las Vegas, he can leverage his Cirque du Soleil relationships for assistance.
“We get to access amazing people, and there isn’t anything that I can’t find,” he says.
In Zephyr, there’s practically nothing that won’t spin — including heads — as acrobats brazenly balance atop the windmill’s blades and fearlessly face a Wheel of Destiny. The show includes several new acts, including foot juggling and group bicycling.
“It’s a show that appeals to a lot of different people,” Lashua says. “You don’t have to be interested in circus. You don’t have to be interested in dance. If you’re mechanically inclined, there’s plenty of stuff in there for you, too.”
Hylton Performing Arts Center: 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas, hyltoncenter.org, tickets starting at $38
Feature image by Paris Photographic, courtesy Cirque Mechanics
This story originally ran in our January issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
