On April 27, 2023, Cirque Mechanics’ show Zephyr at the New Victory Theater in NYC was nominated for the Drama Desk Award in the Unique Theatrical Experience category.

The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theater. Founded in 1949, it honors the best of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway.

Drama Desk Awards winners include and have contributed to the success of such major actors and creators as Bernadette Peters,  Al Pacino, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Edward Albee,  and George C. Scott, and shows as Driving Miss Daisy and The Boys in the Band.

The Unique Theatrical Experience category celebrates productions that, due to their unusual nature, cannot be categorized in the regular musical and play categories.

“It is humbling and thrilling to be in the company of such incredible nominees this year as Asi Wind’s Inner Circle, Peter Pan Goes Wrong on Broadway, and Plays for the Plague Year at The Public Theater,” stated Cirque Mechanics in their announcement.

“Zephyr’s extraordinary scale and original mechanical contraptions fill the stage with exactly the kind of awe-inspiring spectacle that you’d expect from a circus of this caliber,” said New 42 Artistic Director Mary Rose Lloyd. “Cirque Mechanics is a shining example of American circus at its very best, and we can’t wait to have them return to the New Victory.”

Cirque Mechanics was founded by Chris Lashua, who serves as the company’s director and primary machine designer; and Aida Lashua, who is Cirque Mechanics’ marketing director. Zephyr is choreographed by Aloysia Gavre and features set and rigging designs by Sean Riley, lighting design by Joe D’Emilio and Leo Hidalgo, lighting direction by Leo Hidalgo, and music composition by Michael Picton. The show is co-directed by Aloysia Gavre, Sean Riley, and Steven Ragatz.

Main image: Photo @maikephotocircus