Circus Freaks
MEET THE TEAM
While the spotlight shines on our talented performers, it’s the passionate individuals working behind the scenes who truly bring this spectacle to life.
Their expertise, dedication, and attention to detail have been instrumental in bringing this production to life.
Christopher Childers
Christopher Childers is the Creator and Director of Circus Freaks. The show ran for 5 successful years in Las Vegas, featuring notables like Penn and Teller, Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and many others. Celebs such as Wayne Newton were always in attendance.
Christopher brought Circus Freaks home to his native SF Bay Area last year. Christopher has danced for Madonna, Whitney Houston, Prince, Michael Jackson, Prince and Paula Abdul. It wasn’t until he joined Cirque du Soleil, at the time he wanted to retire, as the principle “Red Bird” character in Las Vegas’ “Mystere” that he began to work with the fabulous artists of Cirque du Soleil, calling them all “Freaks” as a term of endearment. Their relentless training, flexibility and drive blew Christopher away, and that is how Circus Freaks began!
Sallie Sargent
Lion Tamer
Sallie Sargent(Executive Director)has produced hundreds of mega-events and stage shows over the past 30+ years. From Super Bowls to political conventions and million-dollar fundraising galas, Ms. Sargent has worked with Fortune 500 companies and non- profit organizations worldwide. Beginning her career as a dancer/stage performer allowed her to learn the business of entertainment from an early age and experience firsthand the true magic of the theatre.
Danielle Combs
Magician
Danielle Santana Combs (Production Stage Manager) is a Bay Area native. She has stage managed around the Bay Area for Musical Theatre and Dance companies for the last 22 years. Beginning her journey with Hillbarn Theatre and Broadway By the Bay/PCLO early in her career Stage Managing and serving as an Asst. Conservatory Director and then subsequently Operations Manager. She has consistently Stage Managed, which is her passion.
She more recently Production Stage Managed the award-winning productions West Side Story and The Producers at Hillbarn Theatre, as well as the TBA-award-winning production of Cabaret. She’s also continues to stage manage for Peninsula Lively Arts, Peninsula Youth Ballet and many other companies since 2002.
Danielle enjoys working with youth theatre groups, teaching and mentoring theatre artists and technicians of the future in the Bay Area. She spends most of her time as mom, wife, soccer coach, PTA board member, team mom, but always tries to stay active in our local theatre scene.
David Oliphant
After leaving the constraints of the corporate world, David has worked for himself for the last 30+ years. While always trying to experience life to its fullest, David has taken on fun and different careers. Jobs like a TV Host, a large scale event planner working on such events as Super Bowl 50, a small scale wedding planner, a Flight Attendant, a Cruise Director , and currently is the founder and is part owner of a coastal real estate firm, a fitness studio, a local artist collective, a pho take out noodle window and even a costume shop.
Saying YES more then NO to opportunities and experiences has helped to create a different, fun and exciting life for David.
Christine Baker
Assistant to the Ring Master
Christine Baker is a native of Des Moines, Iowa and has lived in the Bay Area for the past 18 years. During that time, she has trained in various dance styles with studios in San Francisco, Oakland and Palo Alto, taught dance classes for local park & recreation youth programs and performed in multiple musical theatre productions. Most recently, she has choreographed for various local theatre companies such as Sunnyvale Community Players, and Pacifica Spindrift Players.
Performance highlights for Christine include: Salesforce float dancer for Bebe Rexha at the San Francisco Pride Parade, Prelude SoCal competition with Groove Generation, Prelude Norcal competition with Side Piece Dance, and musicals such as Sister Act at Broadway by the Bay; Funny Girl, West Side Story, The Producers and the TBA-award-winning production of Cabaret at Hillbarn Theatre.