Shannan Calcutt Comedian/Actor from Zumanity

Known for her keen sense of timing, razor sharp wit and extraordinary rapport with an audience, Shannan Calcutt has played an eclectic range of venues worldwide from Saskatoon's Wash 'n Slosh Pub to the Sydney Opera House. She is best-known for performing her iconic breast implant routine - Scotch Baggies - for millions of spectators at Cirque du Soleil's sensual sensation, Zumanity. Currently, audiences can catch Calcutt’s signature shenanigans as a featured comedic performer in Cirque du Soleil’s latest Vegas production, MAD APPLE.

A multi-award winning funny lady, Calcutt made a name for herself performing in the internationally-acclaimed Izzy trilogy: Burnt Tongue, It's Me – Only Better! and Out of My Skin, co-written and directed by Sue Morrison. Calcutt played to sold-out audiences and received standing ovations across Canada and the United States. Her performances repeatedly won 5-star reviews and her play Burnt Tongue has been broadcast on CBC Radio and Canada's Bravo! network. Her work is profiled in “Clowns: In Conversation with Modern Masters, 2nd Edition a collection of conversations with 20 of the greatest clowns on earth”. CBC declared her "a national treasure".

Calcutt has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Dramatic Media (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance (University of Victoria) and is a graduate of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. She studied the art form of Clown with master teachers Philippe Gaulier, Sue Morrison, Mooky Cornish, Jan Henderson, Michael Kennard and Caroline Dream; Bouffon with Philippe Gaulier and Sue Morrison; Improvisation with The Second City; and Physical Comedy with John Towsen and Bill Irwin.

Shannan is fluent in English, sarcasm and sophisticated silliness.

Trilogy Tour Highlights:

Vancouver International Comedy Festival, Comedy Arts Festival, Nakai Comedy Arts Festival, UNO Festival of SOLO PERFORMANCE, Intrepid Theatre, Neptune Theatre, The Grand Theatre, The Belfry Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects playRites Festival, Lunchbox Theatre, 25th Street Theatre, The Globe Theatre, Maurice Young Millennium Place, Harbor Theatre and the Canadian Fringe Festival Circuit

I. BURNT TONGUE

Burnt Tongue Gallery

"...a spell-binding, comic/poignant tour-de-force performance."

-The London Free Press

"I have never had such a strong emotional connection to a character on stage before. This show is going to become one of those we'll probably talk about 10 years from now."

-CBC Radio, Edmonton

"There is nothing so funny, sad, and purely entertaining as a highly skilled clown, and Shannan Calcutt is that, to be sure. Her charming, radiant alter ego, Izzy, is so thoroughly developed she is unequivocally, as she says, "prepared to be spontaneous" - no matter what the audience may offer up, a five-star performance."

-The Georgia Straight, Vancouver

"Shannan Calcutt is an absolute darling of an actor, and I defy you not to fall under her desperately fragile spell."

-CBC TV, Winnipeg

"Izzy is a seamless mix of pathos, vulnerability and sharp understated wit. Calcutt is a Jedi master of improvisation and she can work a crowd with spellbinding ease, effortlessly including the audience in the performance - like she said, she's always prepared to be spontaneous."

-The Edmonton Sun

"Calcutt does have a gift and the technical skills to work a crowd in an interesting, sometimes inspired manner. It's no easy feat - the theatrical equivalent to walking a dental-floss tight rope sans safety net. Calcutt is truly an adventuresome performer who redefines the audience/performer relationship in a thought-provoking way."

-The Victoria Times Colonist

II. IT'S ME, ONLY BETTER!

It's Me, Only Better Gallery

"Calcutt's work with the audience is brilliant, and the riffs she runs on her journey into and then away from the religious life are inspired. The show I saw was flawless, both in writing and, especially in performance. Don't miss Izzy; she could make humor a religion."

-CBC TV, Winnipeg

"She's a national treasure."

-CBC Radio

"Subtlety isn't really Izzy's forte. Erratic, zany humour, complete character commitment and keeping the audience in the palm of her hand certainly are; from the moment she enters, Izzy had every set of eyes in the room glued to her every shift, sway and step, truly hilarious."

-VUE Magazine, Edmonton

"Her rapport with the audience is always the highlight of her shows. Izzy is full of surprises, something in short supply in theatre today, highly recommended."

-The Winnipeg Free Press

III. OUT OF MY SKIN

Out of My Skin Gallery

"Calcutt's greatest stage triumph yet."