“Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams” Makes Them Come To Life

By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel

Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier has brought another fascinating troupe from across the Atlantic, inspired by a dream and desire of two brothers, Mehari “Bibi” Tesfamariam and Binyam “Bichu” Shimellis, to create the first circus in Ethiopia with performers from and for the African nation. The show itself tells the tale of Bichu and Bibi’s quest of self-teaching driven by the love of the art to make this fantasy become reality. 

You witness wonderful acrobatic balancing, agile leaping and tumbling through hoops, balancing on ladder and high rope, climbing, parallel double bar gymnastics, and juggling, with audience interaction, comedy relief, and amazing African music rhythms.

They are an engaging group of young, determined, happy men and women working out of what was available for the pure joy, the thrill to perform, and put their country on the circus map. It is great that Chicago Shakes is once again reaching to bring the world to the Windy City. But your chance to share in the brothers’ dream only lasts until August 3rd, so run away to join the circus at www.chicagoshakes.com.

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