Opening night at The White Album Christmas was an overwhelming success. The band
was 19 strong, playing in perfect synchrony with a troupe of 20 world-class
circus performers and an all-star local tech crew. The costumes, sets, and decor
turned out to be perfectly complementary as they were brought together for the
first time just hours before the doors opened. A Beatles-themed gourmet menu was
served to early arrivals. After a late start and short-lived seating crisis, we
played the entirety of The White Album in just over 2 hours, closing to a
standing ovation.

But, as Levar Burton reminds us, you don't have to take my word for it:

"This marked a historic year for the most famous self-titled album of all-time.
Yup, the Beatles' "White Album" turned 40. And what better way to celebrate the
landmark than with fire dancers and Leapin' Louie Lichtenstein? Hosted by
longtime local circus leader Noah Mickens (a.k.a. William Batty of Batty's
Hippodrome), "White Album" Christmas has a plot featuring an ambitious young
clown named Nipplebottom who falls in love with one of the aerial performers.
Although it doesn't really matter when an ace 15-member band runs through the
whole album (minus, thankfully, "Revolution 9") while the Bellini Twins spin 10
plates. The whole show is pretty ridiculous, but it adds up to the most
entertaining Christmas show we've seen." - Michael Mannheimer, Willamette Week

We're doing this once more, Friday 12/19. I've made a few updates and additions
to the announcement below, chiefly the expanded list of musicians who comprise
our guest vocalists, string and horn sections, and other unexpected players.
I'll be adding links to photos and video as they surface, and generally doing
everything within my power to convince every man, woman, and child in Stumptown
to bundle up and join us for a truly white White Album Christmas.


FRIDAY DECEMBER 12th
and
FRIDAY DECEMBER 19th

Wanderlust and WiFli Present:
"White Album Christmas"
at
The Bossanova Ballroom

A Holiday Circus Spectacular set to the music of The Beatles' "White Album"

Musical Director: John Averill (March Fourth, Kaosmosis)
Theatrical Director: Noah Mickens (Batty's Hippodrome, Someday Lounge)
Technical Director: Nick the Creature (Wanderlust Circus, CELLSpace)

Advance Tickets Available from Brown Paper Tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/48112

TICKETS $22 advance, $27 Day of Show
All Ages

Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm sharp

Bossanova Ballroom
722 E Burnside
Portland, OR 97215
(503) 236-2454
http://www.eastburnside.com


Though Portland's snowy season lasts for only one week at the end of January,
like all cities we dream each year of a white christmas. 40 years ago, in
December of 1968, the gift of choice for anyone aged 12 to 30 was 1 record The
Beatles. Affectionately known as "The White Album" for its monochrome cover,
The Beatles has become the 10th-highest-selling album of all time, an
acknowledged classic of popular music. As it sat under shimmering aluminum
trees the world over, families watched the crew of the Apollo 8 send back the
first ever images of the Moon's far side.

To pay tribute to that monumental holiday season, our own Fab Four have
orchestrated a colossal love-in of music and circus arts. Telling a story of
one clown's riotous adventure through love, fame, class struggle, and kung-fu;
with the music of The Beatles and the fairytale steampunk stylings of
Wanderlust; White Album Christmas will amaze and amuse three generations of
children, parents, and grandparents in the vintage theater ambiance of The
Bossanova Ballroom. More fun than The Nutcracker, Jesus Christ Superstar, and
The Singing Christmas Tree combined.


The Music

John Averill, founder and musical director of March Fourth Marching Band, unites
with his comrades from the Kaosmosis house band to rearrange and perform the
entirety of The White Album. They call themselves The Nowhere Band. These
musicians have performed together for years under many guises: The Dahoo Chorus,
The White Parade, The Roswell Sisters, and a myriad of other themed projects and
troupes. The core band consists of
Dave Camp - guitar, vocals (Stereovision)
Arthur Parker - bass, vocals (Trash Can Joe, Flat Mountain Girls)
Carl Tietze - piano, synthesizer, harmonica (Solovox)
Jason Wells (Trashcan Joe, March Fourth)
Ryan Moore - drums (Titans of Oblivion)
and of course Mr. Averill himself on vocals and guitar
They've had their eyes set on The White Album since they were little kids
listening to their parents' copies, and can't wait to share their
interpretations; fortified by an all-star array of guest musicians:

core players
Jason Wells - guitar,vocals (Trashcan Joe, March Fourth)

Andy Sterling - percussion (March Fourth)

Chet Lyster - guitar (Eels, Lucinda Williams)

guest vocalists
Lara Michell (Stolen Sweets, Dirty Martini)

Miss Sarah King

Christopher Worth (NIAYH)

and William Batty

string section
Sonja Mykelburst - cello
? - violin
? - viola

and the legendary March Fourth Horns


The Circus
A troupe of circus and varieté acts, directed by William Batty, performs a Stage
Show scored live by this band; drawing from the existing Wanderlust roster of
world-class performers. Meanwhile a second show unfolds on the floor, starring
spurned thespian Hero McGuffin, his team of loyal usherettes, and the members of
the studio audience. McGuffin's troupe will meet the audience members as they
enter the theater in order to prepare them for total immersion in the show, and
to make sure they know their parts. At White Album Christmas, the Fourth Wall
is the one between the sidewalk and the ticket booth.


The Venue
The immutable elegance of The Bossanova Ballroom has been revived. A
ringmaster's dream come true, with her showbox balcony and 25-foot ceilings; and
an expanded stage, sound system, lighting design and aerial rig installed
especially for this show.

A fine menu of dinners and appetizers will be served; and for a little extra you
can purchase VIP access or reserve an entire table in our showbox balcony for
the best views in the house. A table comes also with a complementary meal and a
bottle of wine, by far the best way to enjoy the show.

VIP Tables can be arranged by calling (503)890-4001.

The Look
Eveline Darroch designed props and stages for Teatro Zinzanni, Cirque du
Soleil's "Dragonne", and Holland's Robodock festival before signing on for our
humble production; and leaves the Northwest shortly thereafter to begin
construction on a new underwater show in China.

Our principal costume designer, Melody Rossiter, crafts elaborate and
imaginative neo-Victorian wear under the name of Outer Underthings; specializing
in corsetry and gowns. She has taken on converting these restrictive garments
for use by tumblers and acrobats, and worked with our veteran performers to
fashion steampunk variations of their usual stageclothes.

These two and the many brilliant artists who have contributed their talents have
worked together to create a scrapyard carnival fairytale setting for our family
to explore.

The Cast
The artists who comprise our core troupe and extended family of performers and
technicians include veterans of Teatro Zinzanni, The Flying Karamazov Brothers,
The San Francisco Circus Arts Center, Big Apple Circus, and more. For The White
Album Christmas, Wanderlust has assembled the best of the loyal all-stars from
our past shows, alongside dynamite acts new to the Portland varietè underground.

Kazum



Kazum has been cleverly combining acrobalance, adagio and cheer-leading stunts
to create high-flying, jaw-dropping spectacles since 2005. In that time they
have collaborated with many of the most beloved groups in Portland's dynamic
culture including Heroes & Villains, Trashcan Joe, Sweet Juice, and The March
4th Marching Band. This fresh-faced foursome of fearless fantastics has been
seen brandishing their high energy flair at Portland's Earth Day Festival, The
Oregon Country Fair, The Alberta Street Fair, Pickathon, The Bite of Oregon,
Batty's Hippodrome, and everywhere else.


AWOL Dance Collective

Wowing audiences of all ages and interests, A-WOL has been known to hang from
trees in parks, ceilings of any building or stage, cranes in warehouses and any
other structure built to support a flying dancer. Although aerial dance is their
unique specialty, this diverse group has also used floors, staircases, jungle
gyms, stages, sidewalks, trampolines and the like to display gymnastics,
partnering, break dancing and skilled modern technique to any variety of
audience.
AWOL first crossed paths with William Batty as members of his first circus
troupe, Cicuri Curajul at The Crystal Ballroom. Like so many of our family,
they've left home to find their fortune and return to us this Christmas as
self-made circus stars.


Leapin' Louie Lichtenstein

Straight from the Wild West, where life is cheap and courage is costly, Leapin'
Louie Lichtenstein is never without a spare dollar. With his lasso from El Paso
and a bullwhip that even Wyatt Earp couldn't Dodge, this buckaroo buffoon is
like sand beneath the chaps of our wrathful ringmaster. Mr. Lichtenstein was
recently awarded the title of Best Comedy Roper at the 2007 Will Rogers Expo of
the Wild West Arts Club, Claremore, Oklahoma; and the Prix d'Or, 1st Prize at
the Vevey International Festival des Artistes de la Rue in Vevey, Switzerland.


Rhys Thomas

It's not likely that you've ever seen anyone who can do the things Rhys Thomas
can. He juggles, he spins globes, he rides a unicycle; and as seen above, he
does all three at once. But that's just the beginning. Rhys Thomas' list of
skills includes such lost disciplines as the free-standing ladder, the walking
globe, the box of swords, the ladder of swords, the diabolo or "Chinese yo-yo",
and a line of smooth-talk that could charm a pirrhana. His extraordinary skill
and diversity have been displayed on multiple tours of the world, as well as his
local residencies at OMSI.

Dizzyhips
(12/19 ONLY)

This centrifugal chevalier has single-handedly expanded the possibilities of
hooping, from his base of operations in San Francisco to the circus meccas of
Dubai and Montreal. His repertoire of tricks is unduplicated on this Earth.


Night Flight

Night Flight were trained in Montreal, the circus capital of North America, by
teachers from the Cirque du Soleil. Newly returned to Portland in 2008, they've
arrived just in time for the real fun. They work alone and as a pair on the
lira, trapeze, silks, and straps.

Cherry

For 8 years, Cherry has stood among the finest poi spinners in the business, a
founding member of Societas Insomnia and a fixture at Sinferno Cabaret. Her
exploits have been seen on HBO, The Style Channel, and in live shows with L.A.'s
Firegroove . Her love of dance and fire has taken her across the globe to
perform in Amsterdam, Greece, Paris, Italy, Spain and Portugal.


Charlie Brown
(12/19 ONLY)

Charlie Brown is one of the finest cigar box jugglers in the world. And that's
just the beginning for this consummate professional!

Whether it's blazing torches, balls, top hats, broadswords or tossing machetes
on his double high teeter-board, Charlie delivers!

A hilarious multi-talented performer, Charlie manipulates his props and
audiences with breathtaking skill. His special blend of absurd comedy and
technical feats create a memorable experience for everyone!


Jasper Patterson


Jasper studied conventional theater until he realized that it was boring. He
returned to his roots as a second generation Vaudevillian. His mission; to
combine the best aspects of theater and variety entertainment, spectacle,
audience immersion and mind-control...and then to finally, one day, become a
wizard.

He has studied with "Master Teachers" of physical performance: Avner Eisenberg,
Sue Morrison and Jim Calder. He is also the co-producer of the upcoming
Comedy/Variete festivals (an extension of the Seattle Moisture Fest) in
Portland and San Francisco this Spring. He directs in the Northwest and Bay
Area, and sometimes pays his rent by performing at cabarets and bachelorette
parties.

Mr. Creature


Nick "The Creature" Harbar is not only a co-founder and -director of the
Wanderlust operation, but also a multifaceted circus performer. He founded and
directed the gypsy-themed Circo Romani at San Francisco's CELLSpace theater
before relocating to Portland to start his new Wanderlust Circus with Noah
Mickens. He deftly commands his pride of acrobatic lions, his reluctant
balancing bear, and the rarely-seen Fannie the Elephant.

http://www.myspace.com/thewanderlustcircus





and
Noah Mickens as
William Batty Himself

William Batty is the owner and proprietor of Batty's Hippodrome, a circus from
Victorian London that fell on hard times and was forced to embark upon an
endless journey through the United States in search of the perfect stage. Mad
with strong drink and delusions of grandeur, Battys is nonetheless resolute in
his mission to save his circus and spread the word of the coming Rennaissance to
the benighted and inhibited masses whose liberation depends upon it.

Noah Mickens is something very similar, though younger and hopefully saner than
the caricature he portrays onstage. He has produced, directed, and starred in
four independent circus troupes over the past 10 years (Cicuri Curajul, The 999
Eyes of Endless Dream, Societas Insomnia, and Batty's Hippodrome); as well as
sitting on the board of directors for 2Gyrlz Performative Arts; serving as
booker and promoter of Someday Lounge, Rotture, Branx, The Jasmine Tree, and now
the Hippodrome Circus Arts Center; performed with the butoh troupe P.A.N.,
experimental theater group Implied Violence, ritual performance project Soriah,
and numerous others; played percussion with ensembles such as Nequaquam Vacuum
and The Steve MacKay Ensemble; and MC-d productions from Drunk Puppet Night to
The Bite of Oregon. His work has been the subject of innumerable newspaper and
magazine articles, television and radio shows, and government investigations.
He also juggles a
little.

http://www.myspace.com/battyshippodrome

http://www.myspace.com/noahmickens

The Series:
The ways of the Circus are older than the cities, older than the banks, older
even than the churches. These most ancient of performance traditions have always
existed just slightly to the left of the Everyday World. Now, at the first
flickering of the 21st Century, The Wanderlust Co. has established itself as an
association of the finest circus performers in Portland and beyond.

We will not rest until the whole of the world has been entertained.

From the high ceilings to the vintage interior design, the Bossanova Ballroom is
a dream location for us. Now that the time is ripe, we're preparing an ongoing
series of variety shows on various themes that will establish the Bossanova as a
destination for the discerning tourists who are just now discovering our beloved
city, as well as local lovers of the arts.

The series itself is named "Wanderlust Presents", a flexible title that will
indicate the familiar faces and level of quality behind each performance while
allowing us to present shows in a variety of styles and settings. Using the
naming convention of "Wanderlust Presents 'Title of the Show' at The
Bossanova", we' build the reputation of this proud collaboration while showing
off our inspired versatility.

Future show plans include "Wanderlust Presents: ALICE IN WONDERLAND",
"Wanderlust Presents: CIRQUE De L'AMOUR" (a Valentine's Day show), and showcases
for touring acts.