The co-founder of The 7 Fingers returns to Chicago to debut a world premiere.
The landscape of contemporary performance is being reshaped by artists who refuse to stay within the bounds of a single discipline. Shana Carroll, a former trapeze artist and the co-founding artistic director of the renowned collective The 7 Fingers, is currently at the center of this evolution. Her latest project, a world premiere production, marks a significant moment in the fall 2026 season as she collaborates with Tony Award-winning director Pam MacKinnon. This partnership signals a bridge between the high-stakes physical language of circus arts and the narrative depth of traditional theater.
Carroll’s journey from the heights of the trapeze to the director’s chair illustrates a growing trend in the industry: the rise of the 'hybrid' maker. Her work often blends acrobatic prowess with intimate storytelling, a hallmark of The 7 Fingers' style that has influenced small studios and independent creators globally. By bringing this sensibility to a major stage in Chicago, Carroll is demonstrating how the technical rigor of circus can be used to explore complex human themes, moving beyond mere spectacle to create a new form of theatrical expression.
This season also highlights the vital role of curators like Marisa Santiago at the Auditorium Theatre, who are championing these diverse voices. Santiago’s programming, which includes the Martha Graham Dance Company’s centennial and the return of Dance Theatre of Harlem, provides the necessary platform for innovators like Carroll to thrive. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the Los Angeles Ballet recently experimented with site-specific performance, presenting 'Antigone: The Language of Kings' at the Getty Villa’s Greek amphitheater. These collective efforts by individual directors and regional venues underscore a vibrant period of experimentation where the craft of movement is being redefined through new environments and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Shana Carroll’s transition from performer to director highlights how specialized physical skills can be translated into powerful storytelling frameworks. It encourages creatives to leverage their unique backgrounds to innovate within traditional theatrical structures.
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