Omnium Circus Program

The Sharon®L. Morse

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Dear Patron of the Arts,

Welcome to The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center!

Much like the building’s namesake, my grandmother, Sharon L. Morse, we love all varieties of the performing arts here. It is in her memory that I, along with my amazing team of artists and arts administrators, strive to bring many different types of the highest quality entertainment here to The Sharon.

Since opening in 2015, we have strived to establish your trust, that a show at The Sharon is a show worth seeing. Perhaps you find yourself here today to see a concert of one of your favorite musicians, or to take in the national tour of a Broadway show. Either way, we encourage you to consider trying out a new show that perhaps you haven’t heard of before, knowing that it has been intentionally curated by our team.

We welcome you to The Sharon: a place for you to see an old favorite, but also a place to discover your new favorite. I sincerely hope you enjoy the show today, and I look forward to seeing you here again soon!

See You at The Sharon, Whitney

Morse

Artistic Director

OMNIUM: LATIN FOR “OF ALL AND BELONGING TO ALL”

Follow young Johnny on his journey to courage, strength and perseverance through a death-defying, awe-inspiring, madcap circus adventure with no limits, no boundaries, and no barriers. Every show includes stellar performers with and without disabilities from a cross section of cultures and races. American Sign Language is seamlessly integrated and all shows include audio description, relaxed seating, tactile experiences, calming areas and social stories to ensure ease of access and inclusion for the whole family. Through the magic of the circus, Omnium is changing the world one squeal of delight at a time. Join us!

Omnium: A Bold New Circus Is a first of its kind: a singularly inclusive Circus that is multi-abled and representative, highlighting and celebrating the disability and diversity that shine through the excitement of Circus arts. As a non-profit built on a tripod of Entertainment, Employment and Education, Omnium Circus is comprehensively inclusive on stage, behind the scenes and in our audience. Founded in 2020 as the first comprehensively inclusive circus performing arts company, our mission is to unite families and communities through shared joy, providing a safe entertainment place where people experience wonder and laughter together through extraordinary feats of human accomplishment and the astounding potential of the human spirit. The show demonstrates that anything is possible: all people can achieve their own greatness regardless of their challenges.

CAST

Danette E. Sheppard-Vaughn

Monica Foletta

Ermiyas Muluken

Ottavio & Naomi Gesmundo

The Noe España Family

Dick Monday & Tiffany Riley

CREW

Founder: Lisa B. Lewis

Artistic Director: Noe España

Choreographer: Ottavio & Naomi Gesmundo

Lighting Designer/Technical Director: Evan Hawkins

Stage Manager: Grace Zottig

Company Manager: Miriam Rochford

LISA B. LEWIS began her career as a graduate of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. She has a BA from Brandeis University and earned a Master’s Degree in Clown/Circus History from NYU, co-founded the Super Scientific Circus, and spent many years working with the Big Apple Circus in multiple capacities. She is the founder and executive director of Omnium: A Bold New Circus, whose mission it is to include and welcome the beautiful mosaic of humans who make up our world, creating joy and entertainment for all no matter the body you inhabit and the skin you are in. She is a recognized leader in the area of DEAIB (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion and Belonging) and a passionate advocate for making the magic of the performing arts available to all.

NOE ESPAÑA is a fifth-generation heir to an incredible variety of circus talent and history, with family roots in both Europe and North America. He knows his business from both the performer side of the spotlight and from behind-the-scenes involvement in production, direction, and logistics. Challenged and inspired by the most incredible acts in the circus repertoire, those demanding the greatest precision, skill, and style, he has pushed the envelope with his interpretations of the Flying Trapeze, Wheel of Destiny, and Globe of Death, among other aerial and thrill acts, winning a Silver Clown at the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo. And for more than two decades, he has been deeply involved as both collaborator and guiding light in the programming, direction, and production of circusthemed entertainment. His industry credits, too numerous to list in their entirety here, include the prestigious Action Maverick Award presented to him by New York’s MacArthur Genius Award choreographer and dance maverick Elizabeth Streb. It has been said that Noe España is the quintessential Renaissance man of contemporary circus. His vast technical expertise and sensitivity to the arts and family values guarantee that any production he creates or directs will be masterpiece quality and adored by audiences of all ages.

OTTAVIO

&

NAOMI GESMUNDO

(“MR. & MRS. G”) first met while performing in Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida in the Netherlands. It was love at first sight and the beginning of an amazing 15-year collaboration. Mr. and Mrs. G have extensive performing credits, including The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, The Britney Spears Circus, Spider-Man Live! At Radio City Music Hall and Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde. Ottavio hails from six generations of circus performers and is the co-author with his grandfather of The Grand Gypsy. Naomi was born in Utrecht, Holland where she began her martial arts training at the age of 3. She attended the Royal Academy of Ballet in Amsterdam and then graduated from the Academy of Dance in Rotterdam with a degree in Classical Ballet and Folklorist Dance with additional specialties in contemporary, jazz, flamenco, character dance and choreography. Naomi has enjoyed an extensive performing career of dancing and singing throughout Europe, Canada and the U.S. Ottavio & Naomi are proud to be choreographers for Omnium’s bold new show I’m Possible. Mr. and Mrs. G continue to astound audiences around the world with their death-defying crossbow act and are known for their artistry and flair for drama in performing a unique integration of dance, martial arts and daring stunts.

DANETTE E. SHEPPARD-VAUGHN was the first featured female vocalist in the 147-year history of Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus. She is honored to be the Ringmaster of Omnium Circus. A native New Yorker, and current member of Actor’s Equity Association, Danette began singing at the Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem at the age of 14. Since making her professional debut, she has amassed an impressive list of musical theatre credits, including sharing the stage with legends like Patti LaBelle, Freda Payne, and Debbie Gibson, a leading role in the Off Broadway production of Red Hot Broadway starring BJ Crosby. Danette is able to pursue her dreams thanks to an extremely supportive network and incredible parents. Her mother truly believed that even with limited financial means anyone and everyone can be a success in their lives and make their dreams come true with hard work and determination. Danette is a prime example.

MONICA FOLETTA has a passion for hula hooping that began in 2012 when she picked up a friend’s hoop to give it a try. She was hooked from that moment! She went on to perfect her hula and fire hooping skills and to become a Certificated Hoop Dance Teacher in 2015. As a professional hula hoop entertainer and fire dancer she has had the opportunity to spin her way performing in Europe, Canada and throughout the U.S. to showcase her captivating skills to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and hearing communities. Based in Southern California, Foletta, aka “Hula Bella,” is well known for her signature flamboyant Purple-Orange-Pink hair, her hula hoops and fire props.

ERMIYAS MULUKEN is a native of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and an accomplished professional circus artist. He amazes audiences with his ladder, rolla bolla and juggling acts, displaying incredible balancing skills and showmanship. Ermiyas fell in love with circus as a youth after experimenting with rolla bolla using a whiskey bottle, glass, and some wood. His professional training includes African Roots Circus School in Addis Ababa, under the guidance of Zekarias Mekuria. Ermiyas has since performed in numerous acclaimed circus productions including Mother Africa, Funexpress in Turkey, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus andm ore recently, Cirque du Fringe: D’illusion at the Rochester Fringe Festival. Ermiyas resides in Washington, D.C.

DICK MONDAY & TIFFANY RILEY (RILEY & MONDAY) have been life partners and performing partners for the past twenty years, during which time they have headlined at circuses and festivals worldwide including Circus Sarasota, The Big Apple Circus, The Lone Star Circus, Hanneford Circus, Circo Atayde and Ringling Bros., and Barnum & Bailey. They created the clown troupe The New York Goofs, Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse, and the Laughter League. Today, they perform together as Slappy & Monday.