Shana Carroll
SHANA CARROLL is co-founding artistic director of Montreal's Les 7 Doigts de la Main (7 Fingers circus company), where she has directed and choreographed the company's major touring shows, including Traces (Drama Desk nomination), Sequence 8, Loft, La Vie, Le Murmure du Coquelicot, Cuisine & Confessions, and Psy. Shana also created the circus show of Queen of the Night at the Diamond Horseshoe in New York, which won the Drama Desk award for Unique Theatrical Experience.
Latest News on Shana Carroll:
BIO
SHANA CARROLL is co-founding artistic director of Montreal's Les 7 Doigts de la Main (7 Fingers circus company), where she has directed and choreographed the company's major touring shows, including Traces (Drama Desk nomination), Sequence 8, Loft, La Vie, Le Murmure du Coquelicot, Cuisine & Confessions, and Psy. Shana also created the circus show of Queen of the Night at the Diamond Horseshoe in New York, which won the Drama Desk award for Unique Theatrical Experience.
In addition to her work within 7 Fingers, Shana's circus choreography includes the Cirque du Soleil performance at the 84th Annual Academy Awards (2012), the acrobatic design and choreography of Cirque du Soleil's IRIS, and creation of four gold-medal winning acts at the Festival de Cirque de Demain. A former trapeze artist, Shana performed for 20 years in the air, including seven years as original solo trapeze artist for Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco (1994-2001).
Photos
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Productions
Awards and Nominations
Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants
Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants
Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants
Shana Carroll, Traces
Videos
Video: Ben Joins the Circus with Choreo from WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
by Joey Mervis - 2024-05-30 12:07:46
Video: Songwriting Team For Broadway's WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Performs 'Anywhere'
by Stephi Wild - 2023-10-27 10:04:30
News
by Stephi Wild - Oct 20, 2026
Initial casting has been announced for Warriors, the new musical with book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, coming to Broadway next year! Find out who is starring in the show here.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 22, 2026
Shana Carroll's The Attic: Things I've Seen While Lying on My Back has been extended at The Goodman. The production is written, directed and choreographed by Shana Carroll.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 17, 2026
The North American tour of the Tony-nominated musical WATER FOR ELEPHANTS will perform at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle from October 6–11. Based on Sara Gruen's bestselling novel, the production features a book by Rick Elice and music by PigPen Theatre Co.
by Rachel Weinberg - Sep 16, 2026
The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying On My Back is genuinely a unique experience at the Goodman. The 7 Fingers Co-Founder Shana Carroll wrote, directed, and choreographed this world-premiere autobiographical performance piece that shares vignettes from her life story. An international company of circus artists and acrobats join Chicago actor Tyler Meredith onstage to tell much of the story through movement. Carroll’s superpower is using movement and acrobatics as a storytelling vessel.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 15, 2026
The Goodman will begin its 2026/2027 Season tonight with Tony Award-nominated former trapezist Shana Carroll's heart-stopping, high-flying The Attic: Things I've Seen While Lying on My Back. Get a first look at footage!
by Evan Henerson - Sep 14, 2026
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS bears the imprint of its original director, the uber-talented Jessica Stone, and a team of collaborators who span a whole mess of creative genres. Along with their marvelous ensemble, they take us away.
by Rachel Weinberg - Sep 14, 2026
I interviewed Chicago actor Tyler Meredith, who has the principal role in Goodman Theatre’s season opening production The Attic. The 7 Fingers co-founder Shana Carroll wrote, directed, and choreographed The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying On My Back. Notably, Meredith portrays the role of Carroll in the show — alongside a company of circus artists. Not only does Meredith play the lead, but the role also requires her to sing, dance...and perform acrobatics and lifts onstage. Meredith shared all the details about her rehearsal process, training at acrobat bootcamp with The 7 Fingers in Montreal, and what it was like collaborating with Carroll to develop the role.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 10, 2026
The Goodman is beginning its second century with The 7 Fingers, Montreal’s multidisciplinary creative collective. All new photos have been released from The Attic. Check out the photos here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 9, 2026
The new musical based on the critically acclaimed bestselling novel WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, will play Broadway in Portland's Keller Auditorium this September and October.
by Tyler Hinton - Aug 26, 2026
The national tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, currently playing at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, is an awe-inducing ride.
by Lucía Serrano - Aug 21, 2026
From acrobats and funny clowns (not the scary kind, don't worry) to big Broadway numbers, puppetry, and an intimate love story, Water for Elephants has a little something for everyone.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 23, 2026
Mischief has released new rehearsal photos for the West End return of The Comedy About Spies, which begins performances at the Adelphi Theatre on August 1. The award-winning comedy, written by Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, returns for an eight-week run following its acclaimed 2025 premiere, with a cast led by Bryony Corrigan, David Hearn, Adele James, Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and more.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 13, 2026
Tickets for the North American tour of Water for Elephants in Seattle will go on sale this week. Water for Elephants is based on the critically acclaimed and New York Times Bestselling novel by Sara Gruen.
by Elizabeth Armstrong - Jul 5, 2026
Canadian-born Jesse Robb and American-born Shana Carroll, who now resides in Montréal, serve as co-choreographers on the Tony Award-nominated musical Water for Elephants, presented at Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre from July 7-19.
by Rachel Weinberg - Jun 25, 2026
The Water for Elephants tour transports audiences to the circus — and has some dazzling aerial tricks up its sleeve. Based on the popular 2006 novel by Sara Gruen, Rick Elice’s book and PigPen Theatre Co.’s score comprise a memory musical: The elderly Mr. Jankowski (Robert Tully) looks back on his days as a member of a traveling circus back in 1931.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 24, 2026
Talent from around the world is coming to to The Goodman for its 2026/2027 Season opening production. Performed by The 7 Fingers, Tony Award-nominated Shana Carroll debuts her new work, The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying on My Back
by Elizabeth Armstrong - Jun 21, 2026
Paige Parkhill, who hails from Kelowna, B.C., serves as Associate Choreographer on the Tony Award-nominated musical Water For Elephants, coming to Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre next month.
by Scott Rawson - Jun 17, 2026
I truly enjoyed Water for Elephants far more than I thought I would. I came to the theater fearing the puppetry of the elephant would over shadow the actors. While it was spectacular, it did not over shadow the actors and for that I am grateful. And in an effort of full disclosure, admittedly, I also really hate the circus. No need to judge, just offering a little vulnerability here. Still, in spite of that I enjoyed the performance a great deal.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 1, 2026
The North American tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, the Broadway musical based on Sara Gruen's bestselling novel, will make its Wisconsin premiere at Overture Hall in Madison.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 20, 2026
Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins have revealed the 2026/2027 Season line-up, beginning this fall. With 12 productions—five world or Chicago premieres, a reinvestigated classic and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Outstanding Choreography (Drama Desk Awards) for Water for Elephants, Outstanding Choreography (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Water for Elephants, Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for Water for Elephants and Outstanding Choreography (Drama Desk Awards) for Traces.
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