The Unfinished Work of Camille Claudel

Camille Claudel was an Impressionist sculptor in France at the turn of the century.  She defied expectations of women at the time by creating dynamic pieces that shocked the art establishment. Single-handedly, Camille manipulated marble into artworks that tenderly exposed the full range of her subjects’ humanity. She was a visionary, but Claudel’s genius came at a price.  

People’s Circus Theatre blends circus, dance, and physical theatre to tell Camille’s story. In this stunning homage, Claudel’s art is brought to life through movement. The Unfinished Work of Camille Claudel is a passionate revelation of art in the face of adversity.

Premiering on May 1-2, 2026 at the San Francisco International Arts Festival.

Tickets

Production Team

Felicity Hesed

  • Felicity is the Founder and Artistic Director of People's Circus Theatre (PCT). With PCT she has written and directed "Reindeer Games" and "The Nightingale." She made her Off-Broadway directing debut with the world premiere of "{IN}TANGIBLE" at Theatre Row in Manhattan. Felicity was one of the directors on the 2024 remount of "The Speakeasy: The Age of Scofflaws," San Francisco's longest running immersive show.

    Felicity is well known for her outstanding work as Artistic Director at Circus Center from 2021-2023, including her groundbreaking adaptation of "The Secret Garden" in 2021 and remounted at the Children’s Creativity Museum in 2022. Before the pandemic in 2020, Felicity's solo show "Cara Vita: A Clown Concerto" toured to San Francisco, Asheville, and London. Felicity directed and produced Circus Pop Ups! in 2021, a series of pop up performances at iconic SF locations that incorporated live circus and music. Felicity's film documentary of Circus Pop Ups! won the Audience Choice Award in the Circus International Film Festival 2022.

Claire Mann

  • Claire is a seasoned aerial and flying trapeze performer with over ten years of experience in the circus arts. She began her movement journey in rhythmic gymnastics at the age of ten, transitioning into circus at fifteen when she joined Les Aerielles, an all-aerial troupe performing throughout the Bay Area.

    Claire has been flying for the past nine years, getting her start at Trapeze Arts in Oakland before joining Circus Center in San Francisco, where she is now the Head of the Flying Trapeze Department. Known for her precision, coaching style, and passion for the flying trapeze community, she brings both technical expertise and creative energy to her leadership role.

    While studying at university, Claire directed a competitive dance team and performed extensively. After graduating, she returned to the circus world to direct the youth troupe at Trapeze Arts, where she discovered a love for teaching and mentorship.

    During the pandemic, Claire expanded into the world of film, discovering a passion for storytelling through production. She has since produced a number of independent and student films, including her first major short, which she also wrote and directed.

    Today, Claire works as a freelance producer, circus coach, and production manager for People’s Circus. Whether she’s on set or flying through the air, her work is grounded in creativity, collaboration, and a deep love for performance.

Ariel Mihic

  • Ariel Mihic (she/her) has a passion for adventure and an insatiable curiosity to live a life less ordinary. Ariel is Chinese/White, cis-, hetero-, middle-aged, able-bodied, childfree, and English speaking.

    Since 2011 Ariel has been teaching handstands and partner acrobatics primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sonoma County.  Acro is a practice that relies upon thoughtful communication, trust, and accountability; these values shape the way she trains and teaches. You can find info about training techniques and partner acrobatics @PrecisionAcrobatics.  Ariel also shares her love for handstand drills, knitting, and French Bulldogs on her personal page @InvertedLifeSF.

    Ariel is the founder of BACCES (BIPOC Acro Collective Care Ecosystem), an organization that aims to foster more BIPOC representation at partner acrobatic events and to cultivate more inclusive acro spaces (www.BACCES.org, @BIPOCacro). Ariel is also the Board Vice President for CSAW (Connecting Circus Students Around the World), a non-profit that provides grants to BIPOC circus artists.

    Ariel has a Doctorate in Pharmacy and certifications in the following disciplines:  Ashtanga Yoga, AcroYoga, YogaSlackers, Thai Massage/Thai Foot Reflexology/Pranassage.

Shelli Frew

  • Shelli Frew hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia but currently lives in the weirdly wonderful city of San Francisco. After running away to join the circus (seriously), she got into writing (novels and short stories), immersive theater (acting, writing scripts, and producing), and costume creation. Her sewing focus is mainly circus costumes, historical recreation, and fantasy inspired. If you’d like to book her for a custom piece, you can find her on instagram @shellifrew. 


Fernando Gambaroni

  • Fernando performed in Off-Broadway shows such as: Mac Wellman's 'Cellophane,' Len Jenkin's 'Like I Say' and A.R. Gurney's 'Mrs. Farnsworth.' Was a founding member of The Hive, an Off-Broadway theater company that produced successful runs of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'The Imaginary Invalid.’

    Fernando was also a teacher at HB Studio, an acting school founded by Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen. It was there that he developed the course 'English for Actors.’

    His solo show 'just don't touch me, amigo' premiered at The NY Fringe Festival in 2009 and was restaged multiple times in New York, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City (in 2016 and 2017).

    His work as a graphic designer started in 2007.

    He is a board member of the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts in an advisory role.

Rachael Servello

  • Rachael is a US based choreographer who has been developing work and performing for over 15 years. Rachael holds an MFA in Dance from Washington University in St. Louis, and an Associate's in Dance from Santa Monica College. Recently she was a guest speaker at Tanzahoi Dance Festival in Hamburg, Germany.

    Rachael studied under company members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Karen McDonald (Director, Debbie Allen Dance), choreographer Doriana Sanchez, Shana Lord (Quidam), Petra Sprecher (Quidam), and Joshua Ryan Zhener (Kooza). Her previous performances include Dolly Parton Entertainment, Santa Monica Opera, Modesto Opera, Circus Lena, and Ramos Bros. Circus. She has worked extensively in arts outreach with Cirque Du Soleil, Children of the Night, Camp Ubuntu, Refuge Recovery, and the Department of Justice.

Tanya Nelson

  • Tanya is currently part of the Stage Management team at Club Fugazi for the circus show, Dear San Francisco and is an active member of the Board at 3Girls Theater Company. Theater has been a major part of her career path over the last 20+ years. Past collaborations include Gravity (SFBATCO), The Pajama Game, Snoopy!!!, and Sugar (42nd Street Moon), Jerry Springer the Opera, Baby (Ray of Light Theatre). She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and has a BFA in Technical Theater from Emerson College in Boston. 

The Cast

Kapi Lee

  • Kapi (they/them) began has been working behind the scenes with People’s Circus Theatre since 2024 as a Rigger. Kapi made their debut performing with PCT in the work-in-progress of “The Unfinished Work of Camille Claudel” and continues with the cast for this premiere.  Kapi is also currently performing with Flying Rabbit Circus on Box [M].

Mikayla Dinsdale

  • Mikayla is a PCT Company Member. She began her training at the San Francisco Circus Center at ten years old. She continued her career at ÉSAC (École Supérieure des Arts Du Cirque) in Brussels, Belgium. Recent credits include: Immortals of Aveum (motion capture artist), The Secret Garden, a Circus Center production, Reindeer Games and The Nightingale with People's Circus Theater, and the off-broadway production of {IN}TANGIBLE. She is thrilled to be working once again with the incredible cast and crew of PCT to help bring Felicity Hesed's beautiful storytelling to life. 

Lex Baesen

  • Lex is a San Francisco based acrobat, Chinese pole artist, and hoop diver. They’re originally from Chesapeake, Virginia and received their BA in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2016. Lex is a company member of The People’s Circus Theatre and is grateful to have been Acro Captain in PCT’s production of The Nightingale as well as choreographer in the company’s production of The Secret Garden. When working as a soloist or ensemble member Lex brings their technical skill, creativity, and energetic presence to every production.

Yasmina Bourdais

  • Yasmina is a PCT Company Member. She is an Alumni of the San Francisco Youth Circus, the pre-professional performance program at Circus Center. She currently attends SFSU, double majoring in Cinema and Race & Resistance, with an interest in combining Film with Circus Arts. (Check out her film “Traversing Tarot” on YouTube, an official selection of the 2023 Circus International Film Festival) Yasmina collaborated with previous People’s Circus Theater productions; she enjoys character work and especially ensemble work! When onstage, she brings her full presence and expressive energy. When backstage, she is very quiet; because it’s backstage; and she doesn’t want to disrupt the show; obviously. Most importantly, she puts her all into everything she does, and hopes her love of Circus rubs off on the audience!

DeMarcello Funes

  • DeMarcello “Cello” Funes is a dynamic and versatile stage performer originally from West Oakland, California. Trained at the Prescott Circus Theatre, Cello has developed a wide range of performance skills, including juggling, clowning, hambone body percussion, African drumming, and West African stilt dancing. He continued to expand his artistry with Circus Bella, refining his stage presence and acrobatic talents. Cello’s background in stage acting, musical theatre, and improvisation was shaped through his drama studies at the Oakland School for the Arts, located in the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Oakland. In addition to performing, Cello is a passionate educator. He teaches circus arts, clowning, and physical comedy at Circus Center SF, where he also serves as Community Engagement Associate of Performance. He is currently a performing artist with Thrillride Mechanics at ZSpace, appearing in clown operas such as The Supers, Atomic Comic, and The Mechanics. Cello also serves as Co-Lead Teaching Artist for West African drumming and stilt dancing with the Beautiful Beginnings Arts Collective in San Francisco, where he shares his love for the performing arts with the next generation.

Ray Ostrow

  • Ray Ostrow is an acrobat and hoop diver from San Francisco. After being introduced to the San Francisco Circus Center at age four, she has essentially grown up with the circus community. Her commitment and love for acrobatics truly began to flourish after joining the San Francisco Youth Circus in high school. She has been performing in productions and creating ever since.

Emily Engelking-Rappeport

  • Em is curious about bodies and their many entangled relationships to space and story. They explore movement as both an animal and a human. To experience joy, fascination and connection. You can find her dancing solo and in partnership, upside down on all manner of surfaces, climbing mountains and sliding down them, and bathing in most bodies of water. Other interests include: figure modeling, poetry, watercolors, naps, daydreaming, letter writing, photography and type two adventure

James Dallape

  • James Dallape is an aerial artist and acrobat from San Francisco. He graduated from SF Circus Center’s pre-professional youth program in 2018, and he holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. While he was in college, he continued to develop his circus practice with Brown’s Aerial and Acrobatics club. He has trained in a range of disciplines over the years, and he specializes in aerial rope. He has previously performed with People’s Circus Theatre in The Nightingale and the 2024 production of Reindeer Games, and he is excited to be a part of Reindeer Games again this year. In his free time, James enjoys running, playing piano, and studying languages.