The original founders of Circus Finelli. (Left to right) Luz Gaxiola, Z Smith, Verka Zaskodna, and Molly Shannon. Photo by Eric Gillet.
~ The story of Circus Finelli ~
Four clowns from different parts of the nation... and the world, converged at the San Francisco Clown Conservatory in 2005 to form Circus Finelli. They named themselves after beloved teacher and
new Circus Pioneer Judy Finelli, and set off across the Atlantic to debut at Czech clown Bolek Polivka’s theatre in Brno, CZ.
Since then they have been performing, traveling, and aspiring to new heights of the stupid and sublime through music and mischief. They perform at theatres, festivals, and variety shows in Mexico, Europe, and throughout the United States.
Circus Finelli members are currently clowning in different parts of the West Coast, but come together quarterly to do shows as a larger ensemble. Molly Shannon and Luz Gaxiola are currently performing out of Seattle, Washington as Duo Finelli. For information on upcoming performances, please see www.duofinelli.com.
For a more detailed listing highlighting past performances, see our about page.
Four clowns from different parts of the nation... and the world, converged at the San Francisco Clown Conservatory in 2005 to form Circus Finelli. They named themselves after beloved teacher and
new Circus Pioneer Judy Finelli, and set off across the Atlantic to debut at Czech clown Bolek Polivka’s theatre in Brno, CZ.
Since then they have been performing, traveling, and aspiring to new heights of the stupid and sublime through music and mischief. They perform at theatres, festivals, and variety shows in Mexico, Europe, and throughout the United States.
Circus Finelli members are currently clowning in different parts of the West Coast, but come together quarterly to do shows as a larger ensemble. Molly Shannon and Luz Gaxiola are currently performing out of Seattle, Washington as Duo Finelli. For information on upcoming performances, please see www.duofinelli.com.
For a more detailed listing highlighting past performances, see our about page.
And now, we present the Ladies of Circus Finelli:
Photo by Liz Acosta
Molly Shannon
Molly Shannon is a dynamic physical comedienne who began her performance career in her native city of San Francisco. As a founding member of Circus Finelli, the San Francisco based clown troupe, she has performed for audiences in Europe, as well as throughout the US and Mexico. As a clown she studied at the San Francisco Clown Conservatory and Flying Actors Conservatory, with such renowned names as Jeff Raz, Dominique Jando, Ronlin Foreman, Judy Finelli, James Donlon and Leonard Pitt. As a member of Aquarela, the Bay Area’s premier Brazilian dance ensemble, she specializes in the explosively extravagant Rio de Janeiro style of samba. Combining her love of comedy with her love of dance, she has fused her backgrounds in clowning and samba to create a unique style of delightfully sassy comedic performance.
Molly is currently performing with Luz Gaxiola as part of the comedy team Duo Finelli.
Molly Shannon is a dynamic physical comedienne who began her performance career in her native city of San Francisco. As a founding member of Circus Finelli, the San Francisco based clown troupe, she has performed for audiences in Europe, as well as throughout the US and Mexico. As a clown she studied at the San Francisco Clown Conservatory and Flying Actors Conservatory, with such renowned names as Jeff Raz, Dominique Jando, Ronlin Foreman, Judy Finelli, James Donlon and Leonard Pitt. As a member of Aquarela, the Bay Area’s premier Brazilian dance ensemble, she specializes in the explosively extravagant Rio de Janeiro style of samba. Combining her love of comedy with her love of dance, she has fused her backgrounds in clowning and samba to create a unique style of delightfully sassy comedic performance.
Molly is currently performing with Luz Gaxiola as part of the comedy team Duo Finelli.
Z Smith
Z Smith is an innovative performer who creates original works for both adults and children.
She is best known for her work as the lovable and stripy, Pepito the Clown. Z developed Pepito'scharacter while performing with Circus Finelli, San Francisco's all female clown troupe, of which she was a founding member.
An improviser, clown, and actor, Z's work ranges from refined to ridiculous. Her production of Pepito's CLOWNdemonium Revue at the Baltimore Creative Alliance, was described by critics as “Hilarious,” (Investigative Voice) and “Pure entertainment for the senses...exceptionally entertaining and never boring.” (The Examiner)
Z grew up in Baltimore, Maryland where she attended The Baltimore School for the Arts. She went on to complete a two year program at the San Francisco Clown Conservatory. Since then she has performed in Europe, Mexico and across the United States.
For more information on her children's show, visit www.pepitotheclown.com
Z Smith is an innovative performer who creates original works for both adults and children.
She is best known for her work as the lovable and stripy, Pepito the Clown. Z developed Pepito'scharacter while performing with Circus Finelli, San Francisco's all female clown troupe, of which she was a founding member.
An improviser, clown, and actor, Z's work ranges from refined to ridiculous. Her production of Pepito's CLOWNdemonium Revue at the Baltimore Creative Alliance, was described by critics as “Hilarious,” (Investigative Voice) and “Pure entertainment for the senses...exceptionally entertaining and never boring.” (The Examiner)
Z grew up in Baltimore, Maryland where she attended The Baltimore School for the Arts. She went on to complete a two year program at the San Francisco Clown Conservatory. Since then she has performed in Europe, Mexico and across the United States.
For more information on her children's show, visit www.pepitotheclown.com
Luz Gaxiola
Luz Gaxiola graduated from the San Francisco Clown Conservatory's advanced program, The Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre, and studied comedy writing at Prescott College. She studied with James Donlon and Leanard Pitt for two years at the Flying Actor's Studio in San Francisco. Luz is a multi-instrumentalist, playing accordion, tuba, trombone, ukulele, and theremin. She mixes music with circus comedy to create inventive performances.
Catch her with Molly Shannon as one half of Duo Finelli.
Luz Gaxiola graduated from the San Francisco Clown Conservatory's advanced program, The Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre, and studied comedy writing at Prescott College. She studied with James Donlon and Leanard Pitt for two years at the Flying Actor's Studio in San Francisco. Luz is a multi-instrumentalist, playing accordion, tuba, trombone, ukulele, and theremin. She mixes music with circus comedy to create inventive performances.
Catch her with Molly Shannon as one half of Duo Finelli.
Photo by Marc Simon
Verka Zaskodna
Verka is Circus Finelli's multi-lingual mastermind. Whether as "Madame Vinaigrette", the sultry European mistress of Ceremonies, or "Muffin" the hapless assistant, Verka can joke with the audience in several languages, all while juggling knives or balancing a broom on her chin.
Verka is Circus Finelli's multi-lingual mastermind. Whether as "Madame Vinaigrette", the sultry European mistress of Ceremonies, or "Muffin" the hapless assistant, Verka can joke with the audience in several languages, all while juggling knives or balancing a broom on her chin.
Photo by Karen Goldman
Juliana Frick
Juliana performs character-based movement theatre in the San Francisco bay area. Drawing on mime, mask, character work and acrobatics Juliana strives for total embodiment and audience engagement in her performances. Her work often plays with elements of the absurd and surreal. She has shown original solo, duo and ensemble pieces in venues all over the bay area.
http://julianafrick.wordpress.com/
Juliana performs character-based movement theatre in the San Francisco bay area. Drawing on mime, mask, character work and acrobatics Juliana strives for total embodiment and audience engagement in her performances. Her work often plays with elements of the absurd and surreal. She has shown original solo, duo and ensemble pieces in venues all over the bay area.
http://julianafrick.wordpress.com/
Clementine Jany
Circus Finelli's youngest member, Clementine is getting an early start in clowning and juggling.
Circus Finelli's youngest member, Clementine is getting an early start in clowning and juggling.
