Greetings!
We began the day with Gregangelo and I having a heart to heart about what we want to accomplish today. We both looked at each other, and said,it is about the artists, the kids and the community. We need to be big spirits today, because if we do not own the day, it will slip away. It is comforting to know that our regular Special Events business is in good and caring hands with Rachel Stegman,Laura Fraenza, Denise Adkins and Lorna Zilba. Their support allows us to nurture and grow this show and our artists.

The first phone call before we left the house was to The Blow Up Lab. They were printing a "Circus Extravaganza" banner that would be displayed over the marquee to attract PIER 39 visitors to the show. I called to see if we could pick up the banner on our way to the show at 10am and to my elated surprise Bryan of the Blow Up Lab, was planning on delivering the banner, as he understood how important it was to have it in place before the show, and our time was limited, he volunteered to go the extra mile. It was a great sign, (pun intended) and a moment that whispered of wonderful things and honorable business. I highly recommend their business and look forward to building their business alongside ours!

Our day at the theatre began with a rigorous rehearsal and fine tuning of both choreography and lines, followed by a heart to heart with the cast and tech crew about uplifting the audience and each other to a place beyond each others expectations. There is a sense of family that is present now in the cast, we have won with each other, we have lost with each other, and more importantly in our most vulnerable moments that each and everyone of us has, we have truly become a "friend" to each other in the truest sense of the word.

I dressed in my Native American Phoenix ceremonial regalia, and led a parade of 5 of us down Jefferson to Fisherman's Wharf. It was quite a spectacle to see, me with my huge red wings fluttering in the winds, Kelsey and Rebecca in their belly dance costumes playing the Dumbek and finger cymbals, Vladimir trailing with a huge smile in his purple tunic and accordion humming traditional Russian melodies and sweet, dear Apollo greeting people we passed by and encouraging them to come see the show.

It was very refreshing to step outside the theatre and see the energy and excitement around our parade, we didn't parade to create a spectacle, but to see, touch and hear the spirit of families coming to our lovely San Francisco to be entertained, enriched and embraced. I thought a lot on the walk about growing up in Arizona, my life on the reservations and people of color. They were happy thoughts about the joy of embracing one another and what a wonderful place this city can be when we truly allow each other the room to breathe.

Apollo stopped and began speaking with a Latin woman in Spanish with 5 kids, she seemed a bit perplexed by all the commotion and her kids clung next to her, part hugging her, part peeking out at all the colorful characters making a commotion. She reminded me a lot of my mother, there were 8 of us kids,with a single mom and figuring out what to do with us on a summer day was always difficult for my mother if not financially burdensome. I spoke to her in Spanish, and told her about the show, and that kids are free. I saw her look at her 5 kids all under 12 and I said, "never mind" how many, bring the kids, they will have a great time, and it is about them having a great experience today. We left her with a rack card and danced our way back to the theatre to prepare for the show. I wondered as we left, would she come to the show. It is alot to ask a stranger to leave the safety of their world and enter a new one. I saw her look at her kids, and then look at us. Her kids were these lovely spirits dancing around her cocoon she so lovingly provided and I understood that her heart would provide the direction needed.

As we arrived at the theatre, Miguel Martinez was in full Native American Grass Dance dress, welcoming us back with Loree Lee Harper in her 10ft lime green Luna Moth wings and glorious smile, taking a picture with a young family on their way to Aquarium by the Bay.

Before the show Miguel Martinez and I take the stage as is our calling, and begin to dance around the stage, Miguel dances a traditional Grass Dance which prepares the stage or "camp" for all the other performers, and I fall into a rhythmic movement and clear the space and corners of any negative energies or thoughts that have drifted by. We dance to open the hearts of the audience to see wonder and take them away from their toil. We dance because we care for one another and especially the cast, we dance because we want the acrobats to have a safe show, the aerialist to be light in the air, the singers voices to soar high and that the laughter will blossom open heavy hearts.

Shortly after, Apollo comes back into the dressing room and gives us a 10 minute call to top of the show, he mentions" It is a very enthusiastic crowd" so be very big! He whispers in my ear that the Latina mother and her kids, made it to the show, I bow my head and give thanks, as I move into place. There is a huge Mongolian crowd in the audience to support our Mongolian artists Darkhia Damba and Bolorrma Batbayar who are in the show. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and spreads like the Japanese saying "Takashi" mentioned in the earlier blog "The water never runs higher than its source" and boy was the source of the laughter and enthusiasm of its purest! To hear children laughing and shouting out, the parents lost in the comedy and their children's delight, wonder and inspiration dripping like honey, and all of this with no barrier such as language or expectation. The audience gave incredible energy to us today, and we threw it back to them three fold from stage. After the show ended, I watched the Latina mother leave with her kids, they were all excited and speaking to her in Spanish about their favorite parts, she was smiling and laughing as they pulled at her to listen to them first, fighting for her attention. I asked in my heart that many blessings would find their way into her and her children's lives, just as San Francisco and Gregangelo had found their way into mine.

I listened closely to the chatter and enthusiasm back stage, as the cast, were enjoying a beautiful moment of "what it is all about" and knowing we had given it our best with purest heart, and the universe had given us the purest audience and acknowledgment in return.

After the show Gregangelo, Rita Abrams our lovely, and graceful collaborator and I went to dinner in North Beach to work on an outline/script for an upcoming private gala, and it was the first time that the three of us had met outside of the show, relaxed, laughed and enjoyed the city. We had grown closer in 6 months, we weathered a tough storm, found a new benchmark of friendship and in the setting sun of San Francisco on this rare and warm day and without a spoken word, knew we were with each other for "Life". A good place to be.....

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Ferns
www.gregangelo.com/1906

photo by Scott Saraceno

Welcome to Velocity Circus' Blog, we created this blog to interact and share the remarkable and fascinating stories of our cast and journey in creating and bringing 1906~ A Journey Through the Mythical City to stage. In this beautiful production we bring 18 artists from different disciplines and from around the world to share the stage in celebration of the spirit of San Francisco from the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, through today and into the future.

We begin this blog with the recent press around the show. We have been very fortunate to have great coverage and support from numerous media channels including The Marin independent Journal, Contra Costa Times, ABC Channel 7, The Bay Times, Where Magazine, ArtsExtra, and numerous other media outlets.

Please visit the show website to see video and a gallery of images from the show. The website will be updated frequently and the blog will become a daily journal with different voices of the cast, coming in to share their stories.

Here are 2 of our favorite quotes from the recent press, Pat Craig and Laurie Bushman both critics reviewed the show, they had the vision and clarity to see the heart of what the show is about, and we note their suggestions as we continue to develop the show.

'1906' a mythical journey indeed
By Pat Craig
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
For those who view San Francisco as the world's fifth or sixth great religion -- which would include those people born there before the Summer of Love, as well as most contemporary tourists -- "1906 ... A Journey Through the Mythical City" is a wonderfully sweet, joyfully enthusiastic tribute to darned near everybody's favorite city.

A Journey Through The Mythical City
By Laurie BushmanPublished: June 29, 2006

What sets 1906 apart from most tourist fare is the sincerity of its vision. It feels like the people responsible for this show actually love this city and are trying to share the essence of what makes SF special.

And our least favorite because it fails to see the heart and artistry in the show, is from Robert Hurwitt of the San Francisco Chronicle- If you have not read this one or have, enough said...

And a heartfelt thank you from an audience member-Takashi Thomas Tanemori

Gregangelo & Jeffrey Ferns:
I am a friend of Lorna Zilba. As you have known her, she is an extraordinary human being who has the heart as big as Pacific Ocean as high as heaven. I have been so blessed by knowing her, knowing her is truly treasure indeed!

I was invited by her to enjoy myself as I was entertained with such performance by your artists, on June 23, 2006; some of their detailed and meticulous choreography were beyond my imaginations that I was taken back and back into the history of San Francisco and many times I was mesmerized in such that I have forgotten that I was there alone with my guide dog, at my feet.

As I returned home knowing this was the first time (how long???) that I have ever entertained myself with such luxury of beauty and elegance!, but my heart filled with gratitude for your staff at the window (will-call ticket window). There was a young man and young lady, who immediately assessed my needs since I was alone with my own guide dog, without a sighted-friend to accompany with me. There were so concerned, not only I will have the best seat in the house (right front of the main stage area), but their heartfelt concern for the safety of my partier, Yuki (my guide dog) was overwhelming that brought tears to my eyes.

When I am encountered with such gifted staff of yours at first sight and these two have discussed with each other and then, could you ever think that she practically has taken my hand and led me to the seat, as she has explained to me what will be taking place during the performance. Once again, she made sure that my dog was comfortable and safe, as I was to enjoy the afternoon.

I take my hat off to your staff; as we say in Japanese, the water never runs higher than the source. I think the secret is nothing but by your exemplified leadership. This is so obvious to me, as Lorna has told me that your generosity that provided me with complimentary tickets for the concert.

Dear Takashi,
You words fell like soothing rain on scorched earth and your writings are well placed on this day. I believe only the creator's hand could take reward for moving you into our world at this moment. Thank you for the blessing and for reminding us what it is all about, and what and why we must remember the heart when we take the stage. We also look forward to the release of your book "Bridge to Forgiveness" recounting your personal journey, path and experiences since the bombing of Hiroshima. sincerely, jeffrey & Gregangelo

Takashi Tanemori Profile from "Bridge to Forgiveness"

My journey, chronicled in the forthcoming book "Bridge to Forgiveness" has been long, difficult, and inextricably linked to the seeming opposites of hatred and love. In my path from Hiroshima, conflicts have shaped and redirected me, today allowing me to express my love and gratitude for two countries that both wounded and nurtured me.

The result of these tribulations has been the greatest gift: a solution to human conflicts, a rite of passage created through forgiveness. My life story demonstrates how a heart twisted by hatred and revenge can be transformed by forgiveness, evolving to a path of peaceful wisdom and the essential work of healing human hearts.

My life-mission and goals are rooted in my Father's teaching, "Live your life for the benefit of others. Then, we will all benefit." I believe this universal principle is the key to living peacefully with each other.

Even though I am now almost completely blind due to the late embers of the naked sky of Hiroshima, when I first saw with the "vision of the heart", I finally understand I am at last, truly able truly see. When I had an epiphany two decades ago, I was convinced that forgiveness is the first step toward peace, as it defines our relationship with the Divine Creator and sustains all human relationships. No matter what, you can choose to forgive. We all face this challenge in our in my daily lives.

As a survivor of Hiroshima, my firm belief is in a clear and simple message - - we can settle individual human conflicts and differences of national enmity, ethnic hatred, cultural divisiveness without resorting to violence or war. There need not be any endless cycle of revenge.

When we are able to conquer the raging war in our own hearts, one-by-one, what Japanese people call: kokoro no yasuragi yutori . This inner-transformation is much more powerful than any atomic weapon in shifting the world toward peace. I believe that inner-transformation can make nuclear weapons and war fall by the wayside!


We can create our lives by
Transforming our experience
Into something new,
Like a butterfly soaring freely
In the splendor.

In future blogs we will explore the different cultures from our show and the fascinating behind the scenes of 1906 including a Native American blessing ceremony that happens before each show, A young Mongolian contortionist's experiences in the show and here in the United States, experiences from our 2 young pre-teen aerialists that are being mentored by the cast, our work in the community via our non-profit www.cuekids.org and our exciting upcoming guests from Prescott Circus who we will partner with in programming throughout the year. Prescott's goals are: To provide a culturally conscious educational program promoting leadership, performing arts education, skill training, academic progress, and life experience opportunities for youngsters in a context that allows them to fully explore their talents and enriches self-esteem.

We encourage you to participate in the blog by posting comments or giving us suggestions on what you would like to hear more about.

We want to thank everyone who has e-mailed, phoned and sent letters supporting us and the show!
photo by Scott Norlund