Oak Park Newspaper

TRACES, THE HIGH ENERGY ACROBATIC PRODUCTION
FROM 7 FINGERS

EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND THRU
JANUARY 1, 2011

Interview with Florian Zumkehr
by Ed Vincent

"FLORIAN ZUMKEHR (Artist). Originally from Switzerland, Florian began his training at a very young age at a children’s circus school, and continued his training at the Berlin Circus School. His specialties include hand balancing and acrobatics.

Previous credits include: Cirque Éloize’s iD, Soap (original cast at the Chameleon Theatre in Berlin) and GOP cabaret (Munich, Munster)."

This 22 year old gentleman from Basel, Switzerland began his training in a local circus school when most children were practicing their soccer. When Florian turned fifteen years old he left Basel and traveled to Berlin where he learned with a very
experienced group of performers who only graduate a dozen or so young people a year.

The school in Berlin had been in East Germany years ago and was sponsored by the state. When the wall came down and political changes ensued, the school had to be reinvented and fend for itself, yet the art was still living in the institution and
graduates like Florian Zumkehr keep the dreams alive. When we spoke about how much rehearsal they do I was told that with 8 shows a week, the body stays in tune and that if there was too much additional practice the performer could be weaker. They all seem to have the right blend of work and rest and the show is a grand testament to the art and skill of the entire ensemble.

He is pleased that his friends and family can see something of his work on a few streaming videos, but a viewing in person is so much better... That said get your tickets for a tremendous time.

Their next stop is Los Angeles

TRACES

Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place
(175 E. Chestnut)

TRACES, THE HIGH ENERGY ACROBATIC PRODUCTION
FROM 7 FINGERS

EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND THRU
JANUARY 1, 2011

“**** FOUR out of Four STARS” - Chicago Tribune
“Highly Recommended”– Chicago Sun Times
“***** FIVE out of Five STARS” - Time Out Chicago

CHICAGO (November 16, 2010) – Broadway In Chicago and TRACES, a fantastical blend of circus, physical theater, music and dance created by the Montreal-based performance group 7 Fingers, are thrilled to announce the hit show has been extended two weeks by popular demand. TRACES will continue through January 1, 2011 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.). Individual tickets for the extended dates are on sale now.

TRACES has Chicago critics and audiences in awe bestowing their highest ratings on the production The Chicago Tribune raves “Massively talented performers in a gorgeously pure and personal circus”. “Sexy thrilling and sincere, TRACES leaves a hell of an impression.” said Time Out Chicago. The Chicago Sun Times “HIGHLY RECOMMENDS” TRACES saying, “the magnificent 7 boosts the ‘wow’ factor to dizzying heights!”

Combining extraordinary acrobatic feats, music, film, narration and dance, seven performers deliver gravity-defying displays of skill that are fresh, urban and inventive. The casts wide-ranging talent includes traditional Chinese acrobatics, balancing on each other's heads, tumbling through hoops and leaping spectacularly up giant poles. Poetic and explosive, funny and thoughtful, TRACES creates an experience that surprises and delights all ages.

7 Fingers is a twist on a French idiom ("the five fingers of the hand") used to describe distinct, individual parts moving in coordination towards one common goal. Founded in Montreal by seven seasoned circus performers, and now with five touring shows, this collective has charmed audiences across the globe with their strikingly human and unprecedented multi-disciplinary approach to circus, moving their distinct parts towards common artistic goal.

The North American Tour of TRACES is produced by Fox Theatricals, Tom Gabbard, Amanda Dubois, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Nassib El-Husseini and Tom Lightburn.

TRACES is part of the 2010-2011 Broadway In Chicago Subscription Series.

Individual tickets to TRACES are $50 - $71.50 and go on sale Friday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St. and 18 W. Monroe St.); the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000; all Ticketmaster retail locations (including Hot Tix and select Carson Pirie Scott, Coconuts and fye stores); and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Groups of 10 or more should call (312) 977-1710.

A Brief Selection of the Group's kinetic ART

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Behind the Scenes with the Wheel.....

Parking is about $11.00 in Water Tower Place with validation.

Individual tickets to TRACES are $50 - $71.50 and go on sale Friday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St. and 18 W. Monroe St.); the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000; all Ticketmaster retail locations (including Hot Tix and select Carson Pirie Scott, Coconuts and fye stores); and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Groups of 10 or more should call (312) 977-1710.

Review of Traces