Chicago Circus at CircEsteem. Spring 2026.

CircEsteem Presents 2026 Spring Show

 

The Night Circus

Inspired by Erin Morgenstern’s Novel

Friday, May 8 | 6:30 PM
Saturday, May 9 | 1:00 PM

Saturday, May 9 | 6:30 PM

 

Friday, May 15 | 6:30 PM

Saturday, May 16 | 1:00 PM

Saturday, May 16 | 6:30 PM

 

ABOUT THE SHOW

The Night Circus, based on Erin Morgenstern's novel, tells the story of a mysterious black-and-white circus that appears without warning and is only open at night. To the public, it is a place of wonder, but hidden beneath its beauty is a secret: the circus exists as the arena for a lifelong magical duel. Two illusionists are bound from childhood to compete in a contest they do not choose. Competing through creation, each builds extraordinary magical installations inside the circus, using artistry, risk, and precision to prove their power. Over time, the circus becomes the physical record of their duel. Each tent and spectacle is a move in their ongoing contest — ice gardens, clockwork creatures, shifting labyrinths, wishing trees - all acts of strategy & endurance.


A community of performers, designers, technicians, and stagehands bring these visions to life, unaware they are sustaining a dangerous game. Every performance becomes part of the duel’s machinery, turning the circus into both a dream and a battlefield. The circus does not survive on magic alone. It also needs dreamers. A devoted group of followers called The Rêveurs follow the circus across the world, believing fiercely in its beauty and protecting its mystery.

 

At its heart, The Night Circus is a celebration of artists and dreamers — those who refuse to accept the world only as it is, and instead believe in what it could be. It is a story about courage, creation, and devotion to wonder, reminding us that magic is not merely something to be watched, but felt. In a world shaped by rules, control, and competition, the circus stands as an act of defiance, daring us to choose connection over rivalry, mystery over certainty, and the power of imagination to reshape fate.

 

Step beyond the ordinary and into a world of wonder—come join the dreamers at CircEsteem, where imagination takes flight and the impossible feels within reach.

SCENES

Prologue - The Dreamer

PART I: The Origin of the Game

The Circus Arrives

The Fateful Wager

 

PART II: A Duel in Motion

The Ice Garden - Illusion I

Cloud Maze - Illusion II

The Labyrinth - Illusion III

– 10 MIN INTERMISSION –

 

PART III: Intersections

Interlude - The Dreamer’s Calling

The Wishing Tree - Illusion in Secret

Encounters

PART IV: The Rebellion

The Carousel - Illusion Interrupted

The Sacrifice

Epilogue - The Dream Comes to Life

SPotify Link

PERFORMERS

Performance Troupe
Team – Soleil Azpeitia, Zia Azpieta, Linus English-Bailey, Sammy Kloster, Michael Osei Tiani, Lydia Pitak, Isaac Roberts, Gio Somuah, Karoline Treptow, Kyle Werge, Heidi Zhang

Club – Aisha Ciss, Fatou Ciss, Lennie English-Bailey, Squid Gates-Whitesel, Nora Giles, Bean Hornstra, Milo Kuechler, Paloma Pluess, Tilly Quirk, Gigi Schindlbeck, Evie Telford, Megumi Villaber

CYC-NORTH

Mini’s - Amen Baraki, Clara Carpenter, Archer Fischenich, Kai Greene, Jojo Hatwich, Lilit Rosenblatt

CYC Ensemble - Gussie Abrahams, Nicky Ashok-Ninan, Lila Beer, Nikita Ben Barak, Rory Bird, Nora Bobby, Evan Carpenter-Glanville, Noura Ferraro, Cole Farwig, Amerlia Fisch, Leandro Gonzalez, Lucia Gonzalez, Vivian Greene, Matilda Haney, Miles Jozefzoon, Liyu Kefie, Markan Kefie, Ida Kleinert, Zoe Lowen, Sierra Roberts, Ceddy Somuah, Fiona Wood, Teddy Zhang

ADVANCED UNICYCLE

Lennie English-Bailey, Squid Gates-Whitesel, Bean Hornstra, Sammy Kloster, Michael Osei Tiani, Lydia Pitak, Tilly Quirk, Fiona Wood, Simon Wood, Heidi Zhang

Graduating Senior: Heidi Zhang

FEATURED PERFORMERS

HWCW Onsite - Friday 5.8

HWCW Sawyer Elementary - Saturday 5.9 Matinee

HWCW Morton Elementary - Saturday 5.9

CircEsteem Coaches - Friday 5.16

CYC-West - Saturday 5.17 Matinee

HWCW Walsh Elementary - Saturday 5.17

PRODUCTION & COACHES

Kristin L. SchoenbackDirector & Program Manager

Izzy FrenchProduction Manager & Graphic Designer

Cupola Oso Aerials & Rigging

Jackson MikkelsonLighting Design

Rashaad Bond – Board Operator

PERFORMANCE TROUPE TEACHING ARTISTS

Iris Fleming-Graziano, Kimberly Martin, Dimitri Ngashani, Cup Oso

CYC-NORTH TEACHING ARTISTS
Iris Fleming-Graziano, Nina Bussard, Aviva Sapir, Lucas Johnson, Alexandria Bressette Dimitri NgashaniCYC-North Junior Coaches – Isaac Roberts & Kyle WergeIris Fleming-Graziano, Kimberly Martin, Dimitri Ngashani, Cup Oso

Advanced Unicycle
Lucas Johnson

GUEST ARTISTS & COACHES

Jacob Bernstein – Diabolo Coach

Lola Tarara – Dance & Movement

Thomas Russell – Fight Choreography

SPECIAL THANKS

Rashaad Bond

Erin & Melissa English-Bailey

Kristin Hollenbach

Chloe Johnston

Liz Kloster

Kirsten Fedderke

Renee & Eric Bell-Werge

Ashley Allen

Jacob Bernstein

Zephaniah Bensaid

Barbizon Lighting Company

Randelle Villaber

Annie Mallett

Azahdi Williams-Babi