Cirque Mechanics
Tilt! A Circus Thrill Ride!

January 31, 2026

Step right up to the dazzling world of Tilt! A Circus Thrill Ride!

Journey back to the 1980s and experience a high-flying homage to America’s iconic amusement parks. Bursting with acrobatics, aerial feats, juggling, and a dose of nostalgic charm, this theatrical circus adventure brings the sights, sounds, and spirit of the era to life. At the heart of the spectacle is a marvel of man-powered engineering: a giant Ferris Wheel, surrounded by incredible mechanical creations that reimagine classic rides and games of the time. The story follows a weary amusement park worker, worn down by the grind and long disconnected from the joy around him. When he confiscates a guest’s boom box, a playful chase erupts—an exhilarating whirlwind of stunts, surprises, and laughter. By the end, the pursuit transforms into a touching moment of connection, proving that even in the unlikeliest of places, shared joy can bring us together.

SHOW ORDER

Park Opens 
Bounce Juggle 
Swing Chair 
Tight Wire 
Plate Spinning
Park Closes 
Teeter Board

Intermission

Park Opens Next Day
Cradle Roller Coaster 
Ring Toss
Chinese Pole
Balloon Game
Ping Pong Ball
Ferris Wheel Finale

CAST

Scott Cooper – Acrobat | Cradle 
Chase Culp – Main Character | Clown 
Will Farlow – Acrobat | Teeterboard 
Jeremy Kasper – Acrobat | Teeterboard 
Aubrey Lawrence – Acrobat | Cradle 
Joel Malkoff – Acrobat | Wire Walking 
Celeste Murman – Acrobat | Chinese Pole
Lexi Powell – Aerialist | Swing
Ossy Sanchez – Acrobat | Juggler

CREATIVE TEAM
Chris Lashua – Founder | Creative Director | Producer | Machine Designer 
Aida Lashua – Producer | Collaborator 
Aloysia Gavre – Co-Director | Choreographer
Leonardo Hidalgo – Lighting Designer 
Janeen Johnson – Production Director | Assistant Choreographer
Michael Picton – Composer 
Caroline Rogers – Costume Designer 
Steven Ragatz – Co-Director | Dramaturge
Sean Riley – Co-Director | Set Designer | Artistic Rigger

PRODUCTION TEAM
Clint Bobzien – Artistic Director 
Bryan Runion – Production Stage Manager
Kerry Kaye – Stagehand | Truck Driver 
Penelope Onofre – Costume Manager 
Max Rosenfeldt – Lighting Director 
Toby Stanley – Props Master | Master Carpenter

Founded in 2004 by Chris Lashua, Las Vegas-based Cirque Mechanics masterfully blends American storytelling with inventive mechanical staging. Inspired by traditional circus and grounded in realism, their performances explore timeless themes of ingenuity through a captivating mix of acrobatics, mechanical artistry, and humor. Hailed by Spectacle Magazine as "the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil," Cirque Mechanics creates unforgettable experiences for audiences worldwide, including corporate and private clients through their Events and Under Canvas divisions. Their touring repertoire features acclaimed productions such as Birdhouse Factory, Boom Town, Pedal Punk, 42ft, the Drama Desk Award–nominated Zephyr, their inaugural holiday spectacular Yuletide Factory, and Winter Wonder Shoppe, created in partnership with the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Their sixth touring production, Tilt! promises an exhilarating circus thrill ride for all ages.

CLINT BOBZIEN 
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Clint has been performing, coaching, and directing for more than 25 years. His journey began in search of a “stable desk job,” but instead, he did what came most naturally—he ran away with the circus. Since then, countless adventures have taken him across the globe, to Broadway, and on multiple tours with Cirque Mechanics. His performance repertoire spans partner hand-to-hand, aerial straps, Chinese pole, and trampoline. A lifelong fan of theme park rides—especially those with a vertical drop—Clint is thrilled to serve as Artistic Director of Tilt! and can’t wait to take audiences along for the ride.

BRYAN RUNION
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Bryan is a production and stage management leader whose work spans immersive entertainment, contemporary circus, theatrical premieres, and large-scale live events. His professional credits include Stranger Things: The Experience (Netflix), Winter Wonder Shoppe (Cirque Mechanics), Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Duel Reality (The 7 Fingers), La Perle (Franco Dragone), Drawn to Life (Cirque du Soleil/Disney), Mastercard Experiences, Everybody Black (World Premiere), Queens (La Jolla Playhouse), Ken Ludwig’s The Gods of Comedy (The Old Globe), TEDx Chula Vista, The Voice of Tolerance (UAE Ministry of Education), Mark Morris Dance Company, Joey Alexander Trio, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (La Jolla Music Society), and The Bridges of Madison County (Arkansas Rep).Bryan’s work has taken him across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. He has supported productions seen by more than 650,000 audience members annually and collaborated with artists and technicians from over twenty-five countries. His experience ranges from intimate theaters to major performing arts centers and global immersive venues. Dedicated to bringing stories to the stage with precision, care, and deep respect for the collaborative process, Bryan is grateful to be part of Tilt! and extends thanks to the cast, crew, and creative team for their artistry. Outside the theater, he enjoys cooking, traveling, spending time with family, and developing tools for stage managers at BackstageOS.com.

KERRY KAYE
STAGEHAND | TRUCK DRIVER
Kerry Kaye has been operating self-propelled and motored wheeled vehicles from a young age. Starting with a Big Wheel; progressing up to a bicycle; branching off to scooters, roller blades, skateboards, and wheelbarrows. At the age of 9, Kerry was shifting the transmission on his Dad’s Geo Metro from the passenger seat. At 16, he attained his first driver’s license. Growing up in the Midwest, Kerry was accustomed to long drives and has driven across the country numerous times. In 2015, Kerry started learning how to drive trailers while on tour with Circus Smirkus. In 202,3 Kerry attained his Class A Commercial Driver’s License. Kerry has also been a rigger, technician, administrator, and performer for circus, theatre, and dance since 2007. His favorite amusement park rides are the rollercoasters with a big splash at the end. When not on tour, Kerry lives in Northeastern Vermont and likes to spend time on his porch watching the hummingbirds.

MAX ROSENFELD 
LIGHTING DIRECTOR
Max Rosenfeld is a New York–based Lighting Designer and Programmer whose work spans theater, musical productions, and live performance. They have designed and programmed for a range of productions, including serving as Assistant Lighting Designer for The Garbologists at Shadowland Stages and Lighting Designer for Shrek: The Musical at SUNY New Paltz, among many others. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for shaping atmosphere through light, Max continues to build a diverse portfolio that blends artistry with technical precision. Max fondly recalls their very first rollercoaster ride during a summer camp trip. At first, rollercoasters felt too intimidating—but thanks to a favorite counselor who encouraged them onto just the right set of rides at Six Flags, the fear turned into exhilaration. That breakthrough sparked a lifelong love of rollercoasters, and today Max still seeks out the thrill, both in theme parks and in the excitement of live production.

ESMERALDA ONOFRE 
COSTUME MANAGER
Esmeralda Onofre, a fifth-generation circus performer from Mexico, grew up immersed in the vibrant world of circus arts. She began training at age 10 with the hula hoop and discovered the challenging art of slack wire at 15. By 21, Esmeralda moved to the United States, performing with prestigious circus shows across the country. Alongside her performing career, Esmeralda developed a passion for costume design. Mentored by her mother, a seasoned costume maker, she became a skilled wardrobe technician and designer for numerous circus productions, including Do Portugal Circus and Cirque Mechanics. Now based in Las Vegas, Esmeralda continues to perform while contributing her costume expertise to the circus world. A true artist, she blends performance and craftsmanship, leaving a lasting mark on every stage and wardrobe she touches.

TOBY STANLEY
PROPS MASTER | MASTER CARPENTER
Toby is both a skilled carpenter and an accomplished performer, striking a balance between sawdust and spotlight. By day, he continues his family’s tradition of craftsmanship, working with wood to create pieces that are as strong as they are beautiful. By night, he brings the same discipline and precision to the stage, performing his favorite act—the Russian Swing—where timing, nerve, and trust are everything. Woodworking has been a constant in Toby’s life, offering both comfort and a creative outlet. Over the years, that passion has grown into a career that seamlessly combines technical skill with a performer’s perspective. As the show’s carpenter, Toby doesn’t just build equipment—he tests it himself, ensuring every prop and apparatus is safe, functional, and ready for the demands of performance. His experience extends from restoring historic homes to designing stage elements tough enough to withstand the impact of acrobats in motion. For Toby, carpentry and circus aren’t separate callings but two sides of the same coin—each requiring creativity, adaptability, and exacting attention to detail. Whether on the workshop floor or mid-flight on the swing, Toby is always ready for the challenge, finding ways to make things work—and making sure they hold up under pressure.

CHRIS LASHUA
FOUNDER | CREATIVE DIRECTOR | PRODUCER | MACHINE DESIGNER
Chris Lashua, founder of Cirque Mechanics, grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where his passion for movement began on a BMX bike. Discovered by Cirque du Soleil, he created and performed a groundbreaking BMX act before being commissioned to design a “German Wheel” number for Quidam, a role he performed for several years, and which established his reputation as a pioneer of circus gadgetry. His engineering ingenuity and creative vision eventually inspired him to “run away” and launch his own company, Cirque Mechanics. At the heart of Chris’s work is a belief that the interaction between performer and machine defines Cirque Mechanics’ unique voice. His theatrical productions showcase this vision: acrobats, jugglers, dancers, and contortionists perform on and around extraordinary machines—from a 1920s factory floor in Birdhouse Factory, to a gold rush town in Boom Town, a bicycle shop in Pedal Punk, a classic circus ring in 42ft: A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels, a countryside windmill in Zephyr: A Whirlwind of Circus, and most recently, the rides of an amusement park in Tilt!. During the pandemic, Chris reimagined live performance by creating Drive-n-Dine, an outdoor, socially distanced show staged on a Las Vegas golf course, and Cirque Mechanics Under Canvas, a spectacle presented inside the company’s custom orange-and-gray big top. Beyond the stage, Chris continues to invent playful, pedal-powered creations like the Paddle Ship—a floating stage propelled by human-powered paddle wheels—the Wine Trike, and the Buffet Train, which double as whimsical hospitality devices and performance platforms. Chris also invests in the broader circus community as a producing partner of the Vegas International Variety Arts Festival (VIVA Fest), Founding Board Member of the American Circus Alliance (ACA), Founding Member of the Producers Alliance of Southern Nevada (PALS), Board Member of the Circus Historical Society, charter member of Black Box Collective, and guest lecturer for the Association for Theater in Higher Education.

AIDA LASHUA
PRODUCER | COLLABORATOR
For more than 30 years, Aida Lashua has been Chris Lashua’s creative partner in life and in work, helping to shape Cirque Mechanics into one of America’s most innovative circus companies. Her professional journey began with Cirque du Soleil (CDS), where she spent a decade both on tour and behind the scenes. While with CDS, she worked for sponsor AT&T, managing the implementation of a multi-million-dollar sponsorship that included product placement, sales promotions, and staff training. She also served as Box Office Supervisor and House Manager, where she trained and managed a team of 60 and helped refine customer service policies, training manuals, and VIP programs. Those experiences gave Aida a deep appreciation for the business of circus and a lasting passion for its artistry. Today, she manages the day-to-day operations of Cirque Mechanics, balancing the demands of touring productions, marketing, and family life with poise. With a background in direct marketing, she has guided the company’s website and social media development with a targeted, strategic approach. She has also written the company’s study guides, created educational materials, and designed workshop programs that bring circus arts into classrooms and communities. A native of Puerto Rico and mother of three boys, Aida is both a stabilizing force and a creative driver within Cirque Mechanics. Beyond circus, she contributes as a writer for CityLife Publications and dreams of one day finishing her novel, ideally near the ocean, where she feels most at home. A true amusement park enthusiast, Aida never skips the souvenir shops, and she proudly admits to being an unabashed Diet Coke fanatic.

ALOYSIA GAVRE
DIRECTOR | CHOREOGRAPHER
Aloysia Gavre is a Circus Creator, Director, Educator and founding board member of the American Circus Alliance. She co-founded both Troupe Vertigo and Cirque School in Los Angeles in 2009 with a vision to contribute and grow a wider appreciation for the Circus Arts. She began her own performance career with the Pickle Family Circus in her hometown of San Francisco and then went on to perform with Cirque du Soleil, Monte Carlo Circus Festival, Teatro Zinzanni and numerous international symphonies. Her expertise has been used in the films “Water for Elephants” and “Pitch Perfect 2.” She was featured on the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine for her expertise in circus-arts. Speaking engagements include TEDx, Center Theater Group, Directors Lab, Chicago Circus Festival, AYCO and VIVA Fest Las Vegas. Aloysia’s creative journey with Cirque Mechanics began at its inception with its premier show, Birdhouse Factory, in 2004. Her expertise of integrating CM trademark architectural machines with circus bodies in motion remains an integral part of the company. A vintage fun memory: in 1999 Aloysia & Chris rode their bikes through Amsterdam after their performance in Quidam to see Lauryn Hill in concert.

LEONARDO HIDALGO 
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Leonardo Hidalgo is a New York–based Lighting Designer, Production Manager, and educator specializing in theatre, circus, and dance. He has collaborated with a wide range of companies and productions, bringing technical precision and artistic vision to every project. Recent credits include serving as Lighting Designer for Zephyr: A Whirlwind of Circus with Cirque Mechanics, Lighting Designer/Production Manager for Circus Juventas, and Lighting Designer/Production Manager for Battery Dance Company. He also contributes to the internationally recognized Battery Dance Festival, a weeklong outdoor event showcasing artists from around the globe. In addition to his professional work, Leo is currently pursuing a master’s degree in city and Regional Planning at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School, where he explores how the arts intersect with community development and urban design. His dual interests in performance and planning reflect a commitment to creating spaces—both theatrical and civic—that inspire connection, creativity, and shared experiences. When he’s not behind the console or drafting a production plan, Leo can often be found at the Dutchess County Fair in the Hudson Valley. For the past six years, he and his friends have made it a tradition to watch the pig races, a favorite amusement park memory that never fails to bring joy.

JANEEN JOHNSON
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR | ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER
Janeen Johnson is a visionary arts administrator, stagecraft specialist, and cultural strategist with more than 20 years of experience driving excellence in arts management, event operations, and theatrical production. With a foundation as a professional dancer, she brings a rare artistic lens to her production leadership, earning recognition as a dynamic force across dance, theatre, and live performance. For the past 13 years, Janeen has been at the helm of Cirque Mechanics’ touring operations as Principal Production Stage Manager, directing logistics, administration, and tour leadership for six original productions — Birdhouse Factory, Boomtown, Pedal Punk, 42FT, Zephyr, and now TILT! — performed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Her progressive leadership extends beyond the stage. Through O.Y.A. Strategies, her cultural consulting and coaching agency, Janeen mentors emerging stage managers and cultural practitioners through The Cultural Powerhouse Model, blending creativity, strategy, and community impact. This season, Janeen expands her creative contribution as Assistant Choreographer and Production Director for TILT!, further weaving her creative insight into Cirque Mechanics’ latest theatrical experience. Janeen also loves to travel and experience new spaces and places, finds joy in dancing wherever Spirit guides, and proudly calls California home.

MICHAEL PICTON 
COMPOSER
Michael Picton is an award-winning composer whose eclectic career spans film, television, advertising, theatre, and circus. Michael has scored five Cirque Mechanics productions: Boom Town, the Cirque Mechanics Orchestral Project, Pedal Punk, 42ft and now Zephyr, A Whirlwind of Circus. His circus career began as a performer, touring as keyboardist with Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam. He has written songs and score for six editions of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus: Bellobration, Funundrum, Dragons, Built to Amaze, Circus Xtreme, and the final edition Out of this World. Recently his live work has expanded to include superhero arena shows with Feld Entertainment’s Marvel Universe Live and Marvel Universe Live - Age of Heroes. The winner of the Turner Classic Movies Young Film Composers Competition, Michael was chosen from a field of over 600 aspiring composers by a jury chaired by the legendary Elmer Bernstein. For TCM, he scored the silent films The Temptress and The Red Mill. Other film and television work includes Mutt & Stuff for Sid and Marty Krofft on Nickelodeon, the SyFy series Flash Gordon, the independent feature Little Chenier, and main title themes for I Want to Work for Diddy and Bates Motel. Michael has composed network themes for PBS, Amazon Originals, and CNN International among others as well as commercials and promos for a long list of clients.

CAROLINE ROGERS
COSTUME DESIGNER
By age 16, Caroline was a professional aerialist traveling the world, a journey that eventually led her to meet her husband, Kevin, a former Cirque Mechanics cast member. Her dual passions for performance and sewing naturally evolved into a career as a costume designer. Over the past 20 years, she has designed hundreds of costumes for live shows, including Disney, DreamWorks, and, of course, Cirque Mechanics. One of her favorites was designing CM’s 42ft, set in her beloved 1930s era. A lifelong theme park enthusiast, Caroline continues to indulge her love of Disney, visiting Epcot weekly—and occasionally braving Spaceship Earth despite her astraphobia. She has brought stories to life for millions of guests worldwide, both through costume design and performance. Recently, she contributed as Scenic Artist and Lead for the Viking Training Camp at Universal Studios’ Epic Universe. Growing up in the 1980s fueled her excitement for designing Tilt!, where she hopes her costumes transport audiences back to a simpler time, reigniting childhood wonder and the magic of theme parks. Caroline is deeply grateful to Cirque Mechanics for welcoming her creativity into another production and gives glory to God for the talents and opportunities she has been given. Follow her work @DesignsByNine.

STEVEN RAGATZ
CO-DIRECTOR | DRAMATURGE
An original Birdhouse Factory, Boom Town, and Orchestra Project cast member collaborator, plus lead writer for Pedal Punk, Zephyr, A Whirlwind of Circus, and currently Yuletide Factory, Steven Ragatz has been entertaining audiences with his juggling, physical comedy, stilt walking, and general antics for the past three decades. As a ten-year veteran of Cirque du Soleil, Steven has toured throughout North, South, and Central America as well as Asia and Europe, performing multiple juggling acts as well as an eclectic array of characters. Steven is on the staff of Bloomington’s Stage Flight Circus Arts, where he teaches juggling and unicycle skills workshops. He recently toured his one-man show “Under the Umbrella, Life is a Circus”- an evening with a juggling virtuoso and stories from world-wide circus adventures. Steven holds a B.A. in Variety Theater and an M.S. in Computer Science from Indian University. He studied mime, stage movement and circus arts with Fred Garbo, Tony Montanaro, George Pinney and Michael Moschen. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Melissa, and Andrew, and currently live in Maine, where they have mastered the art of making the perfect margarita.

SEAN RILEY
CO-DIRECTOR | SET DESIGNER | ARTISTIC RIGGER
Sean Riley creates performances that merge suspension, kinetics, architecture, and narrative sculpture. Working at the intersection of production, rigging, and mechanical design, he develops striking environments and apparatus for time-based art. His work spans a wide range of genres—including theatre, circus, dance, opera, television, and both outdoor and gallery installations. Through his company Gravity Projects, Riley has built a unique arsenal of specialized tools and techniques, expanded the boundaries of live performance while advancing standards of industrial safety. He is a founding member of Cirque Mechanics, host of two television series (World’s Toughest Fixes on National Geographic and Speed on Curiosity Stream), and a lead collaborator on the construction of the Long Now Foundation’s 10,000 Year Clock. He also serves as production designer and producer for the annual Panto in the Presidio holiday show. His design work has earned multiple honors, including six Izzies, TBA Awards, Bay Area Critics Circle Awards, and the Isadora Duncan Sustained Achievement Award in Scenic Design. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Riley now lives in British Columbia with his wife, three sons, and an abundance of bears. He is thrilled to still be creating circus with dear friends after 20 years of Cirque Mechanics. More at www.visiblegravity.com.

The creation of Tilt! has been a true labor of love, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has shared their time, talents, and heart in bringing this 1980s-inspired amusement park adventure to life. To our family—Zion, Quinn, and Iago—thank you for your boundless imagination, encouragement, and hands-on help, from brainstorming wacky ride ideas to rolling up your sleeves in the workshop. To our parents, we are forever grateful for sparking our passion for circus by taking us to carnivals, fairs, and amusement parks—memories that still fuel our imagination and inspire our work today. To our remarkable cast and crew, your artistry, dedication, and joy have transformed Tilt! into the thrilling ride we dreamed it could be. To Alliance Artists Management, thank you for your unwavering belief in our vision. A very special thank you to Lori Cobo and the UNLV Performing Arts Center for their generous collaboration, enabling us to premiere Tilt! at home. Special thanks to Bo Bogatin and Kurt Nelson for their legal guidance, Andy Espo for technical support, and Bryan Schuette and Stephen Butz at United Machine for their precision craftsmanship and Mike Levine for the fastest T-shirt turnaround ever—your speed and quality product kept our cast and crew looking totally tubular. We are indebted to Don Seiersen for his artistic contributions, which added texture and depth to this production. We are grateful to the Las Vegas Circus Center for fostering such a vibrant community of creators, and to Cirque du Soleil and circus companies worldwide for their enduring commitment to pushing this art form forward. Finally, to our audiences: your enthusiasm and joy fuel our passion. Thank you for strapping in and taking this ride with us—together we celebrate the thrills, nostalgia, and wonder of the circus, the amusement park, and the totally awesome spirit of the 1980s.