“My character starts out as a sort of ladies’ man and makes his way around the show through all the women… and then he gets seduced by another man.”


doing everything, so we actually had to cancel our first show. We thought, ‘Well yeah it’s a great setup, but we’re so tired, we can’t even walk!’ It was hard but it was what the three of us wanted to


do more than anything. We knew that if we could get people to see all the work that we had done, then it would really catch on. There was never a doubt, actually. We were always confident that we would slowly build this thing. And here we are today!” By now, Cirque Berzerk boasts 28 brilliant performers.


“Pretty much everyone in the show has a specialty skill, so they’ll have a main act,” described Everett. “But they won’t just do their one act and then leave. You do get a chance to meet all the performers in their characters and they all have multiple parts. There’s acting, dance numbers and some do multiple acrobatics throughout the show.” So what does it take to be one of the sensual, mysteri-


ous, deliciously off-the-wall characters in the Cirque Berzerk family portrait? “You’ve gotta be crazy, first of all!” joked Everett. “We


really look for people who are going to fit in. We’ve all been in production when there was someone who was really difficult to work with. We like to stay close. We are a family and we’re worked really hard to bring in people who are going to fit in—who love what they do. There’s a lot of time that goes into a show. The rehearsal process is REALLY long and challenging. We look for versatile performers who can handle more than one thing in the show, and those who don’t mind the work. Some people are not used to our style of circus. We’re all pitching in. If they’re ‘family,’ they’re a keeper! Also, from one production to the next, some people


won’t be available. That’s just the nature of it, so we fill in their spot with someone else. But the people we like, we’ll hold their spot. When we go back into production somewhere else, we’ll use the original people. There’s a lot to being a performer. Not just the rehearsal process, but maintaining one’s strength and body outside of practice. So right now, after an all-day rehearsal, practic- ing multiple acts, there’s a lot of acupuncture, massage and sleep! (laughs)”


So what’s next for this generation’s circus escape? Big-


ger pyrotechnics? More modern effects? “I don’t think things like that get our style across or make it any better. I would love to go on the road and take the show through more of the U.S.” clarified Everett. “All of our big shows have been here in Los Angeles. I think we’re ready share this with the rest of the country. I would like to see the show back in the big top when on tour. I’ve been obsessed with circus tents since I was a kid. I feel that when the audience is in the big top, they’re sitting so close to the performers that they’re able to say, ‘Wow, it’s so raw. These are real people right in your face doing really hard things!’ The destination of a circus tent becomes another world inside of the space. We’re getting really antsy about creating a second


show. We’ve got great ideas we’d like to get rocking on. But while we’re finalizing this show, it takes all of our focus. Plus, they’re still kind of top secret! It’s still going to be VERY Cirque Berzerk. Nothing’s changing in that way.” For more information and tickets to Cirque Berzerk contact cirqueberzerk.com


JANUARY 2011 | RAGE monthly 49


Everett


photography by Kevin Rolly


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