Bobby Hartman
Since his early beginnings as a street performer in San Diego's Balboa Park, Bobby made his mark, across the country and around the world, as a juggler and entertainer. Bobby returns for his eighth season in Fern Street Circus. Bobby's other performance credits include San Francisco's Make*A*Circus and Huis Ten Bosch Theme Park in Nagasaki, Japan. Bobby is also the Program Director for Fern Street Circus.
Corey Souza
Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, Performance artist began stage career as a child singing in her family's folk band and performing Equestrian stunts in the rural southern US. Currently specialized in Afro-Brazilian dance, began her study of circus arts while completing a Master's Degree in Performance Studies at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. There she studied aerial dance technique with Bia Peixoto Simoes of the Circo Picolino in Salvador. Has performed in international dance festivals such as the Mercado Cultural in Brazil and in the US, produced her own dance DVD titled "Pure Mutt", taught workshops at the University of Florida, Mills College, and the Federal University of Bahia. Currently teaching Brazilian dance in San Diego with the Union Samba School in the Centro Cultural de la Raza and at A Time To Dance Studios. Corey continues to train and perform circus arts with Fern Street Circus and Aerial Revolution and also performs with the Brazilian band Little Bit Bahia. She is also owner of S-Connection - networking artists and athletes between the US and Bahia.
Alex Blum
Alex Blum is proud to be a member of this year's cast of Fern Street Circus. This will be his fourth year performing with Fern Street and he is excited about the new show. Alex has also juggled at the Nomadic Juggling Festival, the International Jugglers Association Festival, and numerous talent shows. When not performing with the circus, Alex enjoys playing guitar, going to concerts, doing improvisational comedy, surfing, running, and eating Mexican food. On occasion, he also attends the Francis Wayland Parker High School for Boys and Girls of Certain Ages (F.W.P.H.S.B.G.C.A).
Joey Brown
Joey Brown, 16 year old junior at Steele Canyon High School. This will be his 8th year performing with Fern Street Circus. Joey has performed many different skills throughout the years and is excited to perform his newly acquired skills on the tight-wire. Outside of circus, Joey is highly involved with ASB, gymnastics, and the Boy Scouts. He also enjoys camping, swimming, and running.
Tommy Stansell
19 year old Tommy Stansell has been a part of Fern Street Circus for 14 years. Tommy is a juggler, diabolist, unicyclist, clown, and balances atop the unsupported ladder. Tommy is not only a student in these skills but has also taught at Fern Street’s summer camp. He has attended many and performed at many juggling festivals and at the 2005 and 2007 American Youth Circus Organization national conferences. He currently is training at the Great Y Circus in Redlands, CA and attending the University of California Riverside. Tommy plans on continuing to perform circus for the rest of his life.
Cynthia Franco Gil
Mexican Trapeze Artist, born on a sunny day in Cuautla, Morelos. Loves to play, perform and explore movement. Graduate of the Universidad Iberoamericana in Philosophy, she is also involved in writing, dancing, performing and teaching. She’s been working specifically on the Washington Trapeze Act with Pietro (Pop) Canestrelli for over two years, and glad to share it now with you. Lives in Tijuana since 2005. She is awarded the FONCA Young Creators Grant (National Foundation for Culture and the Arts, México) for the 2008-2009 period.
Lindsey Starr
Lindsey Starr started training in the circus when she was about 8 years old at the Great All American Youth Circus in Redlands; participated in acts such as wire, unicycle, lear, bungee trapeze, duo cradle, among other various acro and aerial acts. In addition to participating in their annual show she’s been performing professionally for the last 9 years concentrating mainly on aerial ribbon and lear acts as well as acrobatic ground acts. After 15 years with the Great Y Circus and many injuries later, with a degree in hand, she’s taken a job in San Diego and has now run away with the Fern St. Circus. They have helped her complete her 16th season as a circus performer. She’s very excited to be performing in a new arena with such a great cast.
Sarah Cooper
Sarah has been participating in Fern St Circus since middle school and has also branched off to train at Aerial Revolutions and Sophia Isadora Academy. She loves performing for Fern St Circus and loves that Fern St is like a second home. She trains in all aerial arts, along with acrobatics, hand to hand balancing, and trampoline work. Now in college, she is majoring in fire sciences, becoming certified as an EMT and personal trainer, running track, and hoping to continue her circus career. Entertaining people is one of her favorite things to do.
Lillie LopezFerrer
Lillie LopezFerrer (16) First Joined the Fern Street Circus about two years ago through the After-School Program. She is a Peg stilt walker and is currently training to be an aerialist and unicyle. Over the Summer she was an aerial instructor at the Fern Street Circus summer camp. This is her second show with Fern Street. Outside of Circus she is a student at the San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts and is a member of the National Comedy Theater (Improv) High School League.
Cathryn Stansell
cathryn stansell has been with fern st since age 2. She is currently attending San Diego High and is excited for her 16th birthday coming up in June. This year in the show she will be continuing her foot juggling skills, while also performing in trampoline and doing lots of dancing. Her first performance in the May shows was in 1998 and has been performing ever since. She hopes you all enjoy this year’s show! peace<3
Jessica Avila
Jessica Avila began performing in the circus at the age of 13 and is entering her sixth year as a star in the Fern Street May shows. She began her circus training as an eighth grader through an after school program at Roosevelt Middle School and is now an instructor in the program herself. Her specialties include lyra, hand to hand balancing, contortion, hanging perch acts, and is even a trained voiceover artist. Jessica trains at Sophia Isadora Academy of Circus Arts, Aerial Revolutions, and at the Golden Hills Recreational Center with Fern Street Circus. Outside of circus life, Jessica is a full-time student at San Diego State University who enjoys reading, movies, and spending time with her boyfriend.
Michael Ahmann
Michael Ahmann is happy to once again be performing with Fern Street Circus. Since starting in 2001, he has been able to learn a variety of different skills that have prepared him for his future job opportunities. Most recently he can be spotted performing at Legoland California playing the hero Johnny Thunder in “Journey to the Lost Temple ”, or a bumbly firefighter in the stunt show “The Big Test”.
Luke Gulley
Luke, age 13, is a 7th grader at Muirlands Middle School. Luke is proudly a DJ and Station Manager for his school radio station: LJRadio.com. He was once a platform diver and swimmer. The last two years, Luke has dedicated much of his time with Aerial Revolutions as an aerial acrobat. His debut with Fern Street Circus is an exciting one.
Corky Lindsey
One of the first students in the circus afterschool program at Golden Hill Rec Center, gained local recognition as a performer with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (Red Unit). Corky has not forgotten where he has come from and has been an active member of the Fern Street Circus for 16 years. This is Corky’s first year as Artistic Director and hopes to make his Godfather, founding member John Highkin, proud.
Dave Page
A professional San Diego-based musician, Dave began his career in his native Ireland where he was four-time Irish champion drummer. He has toured with "Riverdance" and was the original drummer for Tom Jones. You can hear him regularly on the soundtrack of "Monty Python's Flying Circus." He also performed with the San Diego Symphony for various productions. We are honored to have him lend his musical skills and knowledge to Fern Street Circus.
Garry O. Irvingwhite
An Alumni of Ringling's Clown College, Garry Otis Irvingwhite has performed with Mattel's Circus World, Ringling Bros.-Barnum and Bailey's Red Unit, Circus Vargas, UniverSoul Circus, and has been with Fern Street Circus as Clown Otis for the past 10 years. Garry is presently a full-time employee with the County of San Diego and two of his favorite hobbies are teaching and building clown routines, and playing the trombone. This is Garry's first year as Artistic Director following his two years as Assistant Director.
Joel Marsan
Joel has been with Fern Street Circus for over three years, focusing on aerial arts. He shares his experience training young aerialists in the fabric, Spanish Web, and static trapeze and has introduced many to aerial arts at hands-on circus events. Although Joel has performed primarily in aerial fabric at local venues for Fern Street Circus, he also has experience in several other disciplines. This year, he will be introducing aerial net to this spring's "Fern Street Circus Around the World Cruise" show in Balboa Park.