The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!)
by Circus Chickendog

Dec. 20 - Jan. 04

 

Circus Chickendog returns to The VORTEX with The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!). For the 13th year, our favorite canines and circus artists transform The VORTEX for the holidays with a fabulously fun show for All Ages. 

 

The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!) provides the most extraordinary original, holiday entertainment in Austin for the holidays at The VORTEX. Darren Peterson brings his masterful juggling and unicycling, as well his gifted dog-training. This year’s production features our new rescue dog stars: brilliant and talented Firefly and Dragonfly. 

 

The Mutt-cracker (SWEET!) is written and directed by Melissa McKnight. Tyler Mabry’s live original score also includes Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite with Vikki Schwarz on piano. Featuring Olivia Rose McCain as Clara, Nicole Boyd as Trudy Ballerina, Patricia Wappner as Mom, Monica Kurtz as Firefly, and Balyssa Bell as the multi-talented acro-artist. Lighting Design by Amy Lewis. Costume Design by Pam Fletcher Friday. Choreography by Blaise Ricin. Stage Management by Fernando Lara. Producing Artistic Director, Bonnie Cullum. 

 

December 20, 2024--January 4, 2025

Dec 20-23, 26-29, Jan 2-4

4:30pm and 6:30pm shows

Live-Streamed, December 27 6:30pm 

ASL-Interpreted, December 21 and 27 6:30pm

 

Where: The VORTEX, 2307 Manor Rd. Austin, TX 78722

INSIDE the theatre on the Eloise Brooks Cullum Stage!  

Free Parking (limited). Bus Route.

The Butterfly Bar @ The VORTEX opens nightly with hand-crafted cocktails and snacks.

Patrizi’s @ The VORTEX opens nightly with delicious homemade Italian food.

 

Tickets: $39/$29/$15 

RESERVED seating

$39 Benefactor

$29 Supporter

$15 Discount/Child/Artist/Student/Senior

$9.99 Pay Per View

www.vortexrep.org  or 512-478-5282

Advanced Reservations Recommended.  Limited seating.

Blue Star Theatre: Discounts for Military, Veterans, and their families.

Radical Rush Free Tickets: Limited free tickets for each performance in the spirit of sustainability, accessibility, and the gift economy. Radical Rush tickets released at 7pm each night--in-person only.

The Mutt-cracker (SWEET!) is funded and supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural District, a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.  

 

Circus Chickendog is an Austin-based troupe that has been entertaining audiences for decades. Previously featured nationally on David Letterman, Pet Star, and Donny and Marie (Osmond), Circus Chickendog performs regularly in Austin and around Central Texas. 

 

Six-time Ironman, Darren Peterson received a BS in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin after interrupting his college studies for two years to join the Royal Lichtenstein Circus where he was the main juggler and unicyclist. After graduation, Darren taught High School math for three years and worked as an editor of math textbooks for four years. While editing math books, Chicken Dog began winning Disc Dog competitions, and Darren combined her tricks with his circus skills and became so popular that he no longer had time to edit math books. Chickendog.net

https://www.circa.com/story/2017/09/19/whoa/darren-petersons-circus-chickendog-stars-rescue-dogs

 

The Mutt-cracker (SWEET!) is supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, Save our Springs Alliance, the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment on the Arts, Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural District, and ATX Theatre.

 

The VORTEX Mission: We conjure urgent, unashamed art to create action in a shifting age. We embrace diverse communities, break down barriers, and elevate inclusive discourse from our cultural harbor in Austin, Texas. We enliven humanity with magical green new theatre at our Butterfly Bar and Sanctuary.

The VORTEX Core Values: Our core values are encompassed by the Pentacle of Integrity: Transformation, Magic, Community, Diversity, and Earth. Integrity lives at our core. We engage in radical transformation through edge-walking artistic creations and innovations. Magic emanates from our cultural harbor, engaging Spirit. Our space and our culture support expanding circles of inclusive community. Our art reflects diversity of people and voices from the global majority. Sustainability and environmentalism center Earth at our foundation.

 

ABOUT THE VORTEX:

  • a fearless theatre exchange for a shifting age

  • change-makers and truth-tellers for more than three decades

  • anti-racist lens reflects diversity of people and voices of the BIPOC global majority

  • expanding circles of inclusive communities

  • a catalyst for change, providing theatrical art characterized by direct impact

  • stimulating inquiry and challenging white supremacy

  • a unique regional theatre

  • a cultural harbor in Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural Arts District

  • radical transformation through edge-walking artistic creations and innovations

  • ensemble-generated, aesthetically diverse world premiere plays and musicals

  • hundreds of awards for artistic excellence.

  • a leader in the growth of the arts and economic stability in Austin

  • striving for an equitable, life-sustaining civilization

  • centering Earth at our foundation

  • Green Business Leaders with Recycling and Composting

  • spacious Butterfly Sanctuary

  • Garden Stage

  • The Butterfly Bar

  • Patrizi’s

  • The Eloise Brooks Cullum Stage

The Mutt-Cracker (SWEET!)
by Darren Peterson and Circus Chickendog
Circus Chickendog

December 20 - January 04, 2024
The Vortex
2307 Manor Road
Austin, TX, 78722

December 20, 2024--January 4, 2025

Dec 20-23, 26-29, Jan 2-4

4:30 pm and 6:30 pm shows

Live-Streamed, December 27 6:30 pm 

ASL-Interpreted, December 21 and 27 6:30 pm

Where: The VORTEX, 2307 Manor Rd. Austin, TX 78722

INSIDE the theatre on the Eloise Brooks Cullum Stage!  

Free Parking (limited). Bus Route.

The Butterfly Bar @ The VORTEX opens nightly with hand-crafted cocktails and snacks.

Patrizi’s @ The VORTEX opens nightly with delicious homemade Italian food.

 

Tickets: $39/$29/$15 

RESERVED seating

$39 Benefactor

$29 Supporter

$15 Discount/Child/Artist/Student/Senior

$9.99 Pay Per View

www.vortexrep.org  or 512-478-5282

Advanced Reservations Recommended.  Limited seating.

Blue Star Theatre: Discounts for Military, Veterans, and their families.

Radical Rush Free Tickets: Limited free tickets for each performance in the spirit of sustainability, accessibility, and the gift economy. Radical Rush tickets released at 7pm each night--in-person only.

The Mutt-cracker (SWEET!) is funded and supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural District, a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.  

 

Circus Chickendog is an Austin-based troupe that has been entertaining audiences for decades. Previously featured nationally on David Letterman, Pet Star, and Donny and Marie (Osmond), Circus Chickendog performs regularly in Austin and around Central Texas. 

 

Six-time Ironman, Darren Peterson received a BS in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin after interrupting his college studies for two years to join the Royal Lichtenstein Circus where he was the main juggler and unicyclist. After graduation, Darren taught High School math for three years and worked as an editor of math textbooks for four years. While editing math books, Chicken Dog began winning Disc Dog competitions, and Darren combined her tricks with his circus skills and became so popular that he no longer had time to edit math books. Chickendog.net

https://www.circa.com/story/2017/09/19/whoa/darren-petersons-circus-chickendog-stars-rescue-dogs

 

The Mutt-cracker (SWEET!) is supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, Save our Springs Alliance, the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment on the Arts, Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural District, and ATX Theatre.

 

The VORTEX Mission: We conjure urgent, unashamed art to create action in a shifting age. We embrace diverse communities, break down barriers, and elevate inclusive discourse from our cultural harbor in Austin, Texas. We enliven humanity with magical green new theatre at our Butterfly Bar and Sanctuary.

The VORTEX Core Values: Our core values are encompassed by the Pentacle of Integrity: Transformation, Magic, Community, Diversity, and Earth. Integrity lives at our core. We engage in radical transformation through edge-walking artistic creations and innovations. Magic emanates from our cultural harbor, engaging Spirit. Our space and our culture support expanding circles of inclusive community. Our art reflects diversity of people and voices from the global majority. Sustainability and environmentalism center Earth at our foundation.

 

ABOUT THE VORTEX:

  • a fearless theatre exchange for a shifting age

  • change-makers and truth-tellers for more than three decades

  • anti-racist lens reflects diversity of people and voices of the BIPOC global majority

  • expanding circles of inclusive communities

  • a catalyst for change, providing theatrical art characterized by direct impact

  • stimulating inquiry and challenging white supremacy

  • a unique regional theatre

  • a cultural harbor in Six Square Austin’s Black Cultural Arts District

  • radical transformation through edge-walking artistic creations and innovations

  • ensemble-generated, aesthetically diverse world premiere plays and musicals

  • hundreds of awards for artistic excellence.

  • a leader in the growth of the arts and economic stability in Austin

  • striving for an equitable, life-sustaining civilization

  • centering Earth at our foundation

  • Green Business Leaders with Recycling and Composting

  • spacious Butterfly Sanctuary

  • Garden Stage

  • The Butterfly Bar

  • Patrizi’s

  • The Eloise Brooks Cullum Stage