Stephanie Abrams

Stephanie Abrams is an award-winning mime and director with over 30 years of experience in the theatre. She began her performing career at the age of 13 and then ran away to San Francisco to join the circus just after high school. Legendary circus coach, Master Lu Yi, took her under his wing, and she spent the next 4 years training intensely in contortion and acrobatics at the San Francisco School of Circus Arts (now Circus Center). After performing around the US and in Hong Kong as a contortionist, Stephanie created Kinetic Theory Experimental Theatre and went on to win awards at the 2001 San Francisco Fringe Festival for her original show “Stranger and Stranger.” She went on to create another five original shows with the company that were performed around the Bay Area, all of which received public and critical acclaim. She moved to Los Angeles and opened Kinetic Theory Circus Arts in 2008 and shifted her focus to her circus-theatre work. Stephanie has written and directed more than 25 original productions and served as artistic director and dramaturg for many others. Her work has been performed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, New York City, Washington DC, and in 10 countries, including a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015. Her unique approach to circus and physical theatre training and performance has helped launch the circus careers of many professional circus artists. Her students have graduated from Ecole Nationale de Cirque in Montreal, Ecole de Cirque de Quebec, and are performing with some of the top circus companies in the world including Cirque du Soleil and 7 Fingers.