Vanessa Valliere
Fall 2020 Co-MISSION Artist-in-Residence
Vanessa Valliere is a performer, clown, and puppeteer who creates solo work that has appeared in the Chicago International Puppetry Festival, several National Puppet Slams, DragonCon, and other venues and events across the US. Vanessa performed and toured with Manual Cinema and she was a member of an ensemble of clowns/performers/creators for the Tour De Fat Festival for six years. Vanessa was a rehearsal director and performer with Theater Unspeakable and she is a proud nerd-cheerleader for Chicago's thirty-piece circus punk marching band, Mucca Pazza.
PROJECT AT LINKS HALL
Pool Party | May 2021
Vanessa Valliere & John Gregorio (Pipe & Drape) are two characters making their way through life, doing their best, trying their hardest. Living in parallel dimensions and regularly coping with a growing sense of unease, they both have a suspicion that there is something "out there" for them. But is it really for them? And is it safe? Is it good? This work-in-progress uses puppetry, physical theater, and elements of clown to investigate themes of identity, risk, routine, moments of connection, and the search to see something that is right in front of you.
View the performance recording here.
Artist Credits
Choreographer: Vanessa Valliere
Cast: Vanessa Valliere, John Gregorio
Sound Design/Edit: Vanessa Valliere
Music (original & sampled): Jon Steinmeier, Mucca Pazza, Larry Beers, Dave Smith, Ronnie Kuller & Dan Dorff Jr., and “Something Doing” by Scott Joplin (played by Hope Davis)
Puppet Design: Lizi Breit (overhead pool puppets) & Dan Kerr-Hobert, Grace Needlman [BG (Big puppet)]
Outside Eye: Lindsey Noel Whiting
