Photo Flash: Sweet Can Productions to Stage MITTENS AND MISTLETOE, 12/20-24

Sweet Can Productions presents an intimate theatrical circus experience for the holidays with the fourth edition of MITTENS AND MISTLETOE: A WINTER CIRCUS CABARET from December 20-24, at the

Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St. (at Mission). This astonishing production, a charming, light-hearted, variety program suitable for all ages,features the innovative clowning, spectacular circus feats, and holiday high jinks from some of the Bay Area's most talented theatrical circus artists (including Abigail Baird, Andy Cook,Jamie Coventry, Natasha Kaluza, Kerri Kresinski, SAM Luckey, Jasper Patterson, Diana Strong, Matt White, and special guests) in an unforgettable program that will amaze, delight, and inspire the entire family.

MITTENS AND MISTLETOE, hosted by Bay Area performing legend Joan Mankin and directed by award-winning clown duo Coventry & Kaluza, features live music, comedy performances, and performances on trapeze, aerial fabric, Cyr wheel, hula hoop, and juggling.

The mission of Sweet Can Productions is to create intimate, heartfelt performances in which the audience and performer easily connect. Sweet Can presents the circus performer as a human being, and uses the performer's circus skills to make connections by demonstrating the shared emotional experiences that unite us all. Formed in 2006 at the San Francisco Circus Center by founding members BetH Clarke, Kerri Kresinski, and Daniela Steiner, Sweet Can was established with the artistic goal to bridge the gap between traditional circus and theater. Where most Bay Area circus performers were resigned to performing in night clubs, at corporate events, as incidental performers for major theatrical productions, or at non-professional community events, Sweet Can Productions wanted to allow for complete artistic expression, and embarked upon creating a production rooted in traditional circus, theater techniques, and improvisation, creating an intimate theatrical circus experience in which circus artists provide stage substance and not merely stage decoration.