Compulsive vaudevillian and international romantic Hans Lieberdich wants to bring curiosity and spontaneity back to the circus, and his own life. Pushing the limits of acrobatics, manipulation, and teutonic comedy, Hans digs deep while balancing atop precarious objects and extended metaphors.
Hans had to travel from his native Germany to a new continent, to a land that shared his absurd, possibly fatal, level of optimism to create a new variety arts. Along the way, he will ask: What are the theatrical dimensions of physical risk? How does curiosity react with danger? And what happens when you lose the plot at the height of the Big Top?
After a lifetime spent honing his craft and performing with some of the most famous circuses around the world, Hans now explores new acrobatic props of his own design, to try to find a spark of creativity amidst the sparkle of showbiz. The results are by turns absurd and poetic, and surprisingly human.
Expect thrills, laughs, pathos, and hopefully you, too, can say you’re ‘Happy to Be Here!’
PERFORMANCES
Tuesday, May 27, 7 PM
Wednesday, May 28, 5:30 PM
Christ Church Neighborhood House
20 N. American St,
Philadelphia, PA 19106
TICKETS
GA $25
Limited tickets for this show are “Sliding Scale”, or Pay What You Can, which means you are able to pick your price. If you are able to pay the suggested price, that will help to subsidize somebody else’s ticket in need, but seating is General Admission and is not determined by the amount you choose to pay.
Recommended for all ages
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jan (“Yahn”) Damm has been touring in the U.S. and internationally as a circus artist for 17 years. Originally from Maine, he has worked street corners, big-tops, theaters and opera houses. He specializes in clown, juggling, acrobatics, balancing and eccentric skills. Jan enjoys collaboration and creating original work, but is also at home in classic spectacles inspired by the greats of vaudeville and circus. He has toured with ‘Clowns Without Borders’ to Haiti, Indonesia, Lebanon and Greece. Career highlights include Celebrity Cruises, Cirque Mechanics’ Pedal Punk, and Big Apple Circus’ 40th Anniversary Tour. Most recently Jan toured 30 cities as lead character and solo act in Ringling ’s 2023 revival of ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. He lives in Brattleboro, Vermont with his wife Ariele and their two children.
See More Circus!
The Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival (PCCF) runs May 23 - June 1, 2025, featuring artists from Philly's vibrant contemporary circus community as well as ground-breaking artists from across the nation and beyond. These contemporary circus artists defy limitations, reimagine what’s possible, and create breathtaking moments of connection for audiences of all ages. Don't miss thrilling shows that blend acrobatics, dance, theater, and storytelling to push the boundaries of performance.
SUPPORT
The Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
