Summer is prime family time for Navy Pier, which attracts nine million visitors annually as the largest tourist attraction in Illinois. Longtime tenant Chicago Shakespeare Theater is adding more family-friendly fare to the Pier’s offerings with Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams, a 70-minute visual treat for all ages, running through August 3. Abyssinia was a historical kingdom in the Horn of Africa, now called the northern highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Directed and produced by co-creator brothers Mehari “Bibi” Tesfamariam and Binyam “Bichu” Shimellis, the all-male ensemble of strong, solid kings moves through their real-life dreams of joining the circus, choreographed by Kate Smyth. “Ethiopia has no circus tradition, and very few acrobats ever make a living by their skills,” Shimellis said. “Circus Abyssinia is the first Ethiopian circus created by and for Ethiopian artists, and my hope is that our show will help create a space in the world for many more to come.”
On a simple black thrust stage, punctuated by Ethiopian music and dramatic lighting effects (by Mark Whatmough), the players mix and match for eight different acrobatic acts, starting with various styles of high- and multiple-hoop diving. A sturdy shirtless solo performer offers feats of arm and leg strength and flexibility on a pair of aerial straps high in the rafters, as well as inverting on progressively higher stackable spindles.
There is jump-roping on a high teeter-totter (with five stackable metal platforms added one-by-one) and then with two audience members on the ground, orchestrated by the clown character. After a short intermission, Bibi and Bichu share a high-flying juggling moment together (with lit batons glowing through the stage fog), and a man balanced on a ladder with no outside support. Finally, the core team of six scampered up and down two anchored poles center stage to close the show, looking like waving friendship flags.
The exuberance is palpable, and the tricks are fearless. The production could implement more connective tissue, however, as there were longish, silent pauses between each act as the performers set up. But the kids and families in the audience fed off the joyful interplay and energy and this celebration of movement transcends any cultural divides.
“The show is about the boyhood dreams of my brother and I, but it’s also about every artist back in Ethiopia and everywhere—those who know that to perform is to be happy, and that nothing can compare with sharing the beats and excitement of acrobatic daring and dance with an audience,” said Shimellis.
Now under new artistic leadership, Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s programming includes more non-Shakespeare offerings, such as:
Billie Jean, 7/18-8/10/25 (about tennis great Billie Jean King)
Ain’t Misbehavin’, 9/3-28/25 (the Fats Waller musical)
Circus Abyssinia runs through August 3 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, with multiple performances on many days. Tickets and more information here.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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