Photo Flash: Acorn Productions' Phyzgig Festival

For the past thirteen years, Acorn Productions has been brightening the cold bleak week between Christmas and New Year's with Phyzgig, a unique festival featuring vaudeville variety shows in downtown Portland from December 27th through New Year's Eve. Phyzgig shows offer a complete package of entertainment for all ages -- juggling, illusion, physical comedy, live music and much more. Acorn annually attracts performers from all over the country to appear in Phyzgig, which is attended by approximately 2,500 audience members each year. This year's edition of Phyzgig features 11 traditional acts and 3 local burlesque groups, along with the live sounds of "The Fabulous Lacklusters" under the musical direction of Joel Eckhaus. The festival is comprised of 13 shows at 3 different venues: the mainstage at Portland Stage Company, SPACE Gallery on Congress St., and the Acorn Studio Theater in Westbrook.

Tickets to Phyzgig range from $10 to $20 and a complete performance schedule appears below. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 854-0065 or visit www.phyzgig.org.

There are three different types of shows at Phyzgig. Vaudeville shows feature 4 or 5 performers in full-length shows, offering a unique blend of expert juggling, incredible illusions, mystifying magic, captivating storytelling, and side-splitting physical comedy. All vaudeville shows take place on the mainstage at Portland Stage Company, a 290-seat theater in the heart of Portland's Arts District, and feature "The Fabulous Lacklusters," a band comprised of local musicians Joel Eckhaus, Tim Findlen, Elizabeth Trice, and Mark Tipton.

Phyzkidz shows are held at SPACE Gallery and the Acorn Studio Theater, accessible venues that are appropriate for audiences of all ages. Phyzkidz shows are shorter, only one hour with nor intermission, and kids sit on the floor in front of the stage or in seats with their parents. A new addition to this year's Phyzgig is the burlesque show, an adults-only show that reaches back to the origins of vaudeville with a hot blend of variety entertainment and sensuous dance numbers by some of Portland's best-known acts. This show is for adults only.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Who: Acorn Productions
What: Phyzgig
Where: Portland Stage Company, SPACE Gallery, and Acorn Studio Theater
When: December 27 to 31
How Much: $10 to $20
FMI: 854-0065 or www.phyzgig.org

SPECIFIC LISTINGS FOR EACH PERFORMANCE

Tuesday, December 27th at 11 a.m. (Acorn Studio Theater)
Dan Link, Iman Lizarazu, Karen Montanaro

Tuesday, December 27th at 2 p.m. (SPACE Gallery)
Daniel Forlano, Randy Judkins, Norman Ng

Wednesday, December 28th at 11 a.m. (Acorn Studio Theater)
Jacob D'Eustachio, Daniel Forlano, Norman Ng

Wednesday, December 28th at 2 p.m Phykidz (SPACE Gallery)
Antonio Rocha, Randy Judkins, Ray: Big Ball Juggler

Thursday, December 29th at 11 a.m. (Acorn Studio Theater)
Daniel Forlano, Ray: Big Ball Juggler, Phil Smith

Thursday, December 29th at 2 p.m. (SPACE Gallery)
Jacob D'Eustachio, Norman Ng, Antonio Rocha

Thursday, December 29th at 7 p.m. (PSC)
Randy Judkins, Iman Lizarazu, Karen Montanaro, Reifer and Saccone

Friday, December 30th at 11 a.m. (Acorn Studio Theater)
Iman Lizarazu, Karen Montanaro, Phil Smith

Friday, December 30th at 2pm
Lauren Breunig, Jacob D'Eustachio, Randy Judkins, Norman Ng, Ray: Big Ball Juggler

Friday, December 30th at 7pm
Lauren Breunig, Jacob D'Eustachio, Randy Judkins, Norman Ng, Matthew Ragan, Ray: Big Ball Juggler

Friday, December 30th at 10 p.m.. (PSC)
ATOMIC TRASH!, The Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue, Daniel Forlano, Matthew Ragan, Vivid Motion

Saturday, December 31st at 2 and 7 p.m. (PSC)
Lauren Breunig, Daniel Forlano, Iman Lizarazu, Matthew Ragan, Ray: Big Ball Juggler, Antonio Rocha

Vivid Motion

Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue

Reifer and Saccone

Ray: Big Ball Juggler

Randy Judkins

Karen Montanaro

Matthew Ragan

Jacob D’Eustachio

Antonio Rocha