Who’s Who: Smirkus Staff

Year Round Staff

 

Rachel Schiffer, Executive & Artistic Director

A Vermonter and Middlebury College graduate, Rachel joined the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour in 1995 for the first of her ten years (!) as a trouper. She later worked as a Smirkus Residency Coach, and on the Big Top Tour as House Manager and Trouper Head Counselor. She was also an active member of the Smirkus Alumni Committee for many years.

Rachel traveled the world as a circus artist — working in France, Denmark, England, Wales, and the United States. Highlights include a 4-year tour with Le Cirque Poussiere in France, NoFit State Circus in Wales, and a creative project Laws Of Motion : The Third Law, developed in Denmark and Sweden.

In 2022 she was hired as Smirkus Camp Director; since spring 2023 she also served as Smirkus Co-Interim Executive Director. Rachel loves bringing her performance and circus administrative experiences back to Greensboro and under the Smirkus Big Top where she now serves as the Executive and Artistic Director.

Michelle Gudorf, Administrative Director

Michelle joined the Circus Smirkus in 2022. While her educational and employment background have been in geospatial/wildlife science, research, and land stewardship administration, she shares a love of the arts and has spent over 20 years planning and managing all things backstage, primarily in dance and theater.


 

 

Genevieve Martineau, Marketing Director

Circus Smirkus is the third leg of Genevieve’s career. After graduating from University of Toronto, Genevieve spent 15 years working as a Product Manager at the onset of the online services and Internet technologies boom. During this time, she also earned her MBA from Northeastern University.

To satisfy her creative passion, she left the tech sector to open her own retail bead store. As one of the largest bead stores in New England, in addition to selling jewelry making supplies, she created a curriculum with over 300 classes and taught thousands of people each year.

After 12 years in retail, Genevieve closed up shop right as Genevieve’s daughter joined the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour. After volunteering for a summer, Genevieve joined the marketing department in 2017 and has been loving it ever since.

Tracy Goldfine, Director of Development

Alan Lambert, Tour General Manager

Alan has been active in the performing arts from an early age, singing, playing piano and horn, folk-dancing and acting.  After beginning his arts management career in New York, Alan enjoyed working in the corporate sector internationally.  He began volunteering in schools before becoming a teacher himself, and spent the last several years as Director of Visual & Performing Arts in large, urban school districts. Alan holds Bachelor and Master degrees in music and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, and he is thrilled to be part of the Circus Smirkus family!

Joshua Shack, Big Top Tour Show Director

Josh decided to become a clown when he was just three years old. As a teenager, he spent his summers performing with Circus Smirkus, and then toured nationally with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. He is a co-creator and performer of The Piccolini Trio and directed their critically acclaimed stage show Circus in a Trunk.

Other directing credits include Out of Orbit at The Theater at Saint Peter’s in New York City, and Nothing but Nonsense, a variety musical comedy at Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI, and 17 productions for Theater in the Open in Newburyport, MA. He is a teaching artist-in-residence for Circus Smirkus and has worn many hats at Smirkus including Production Manager, Director of Programming, Associate Artistic Director, and Interim Co-Executive Director.

Jeff MandellCamp Director

Jeff Mandell, MS, is a seasoned camp director, circus artist/educator, and conflict resolution professional. He performed in his first circus show at the age of 5 as a “strong man” and magician. At the age of 7, his dad taught him to juggle 3 balls. But it wasn’t until at 34 years old that he fulfilled his dream to run away and train circus professionally.

Throughout his professional and, at times, unprofessional adventures, Jeff has circled the globe, teaching, problem-solving, clowning, and directing summer camps. Renowned for his highly effective and creative approach to community-building and tackling seemingly intractable problems, Jeff excels in fostering trust in challenging situations, including disputes across cultures and religions.

A dedicated advocate for peace, joy, and collective liberation, Jeff finds immense joy in working with children of all ages.

Carson Anderson, Business Office Manager

June Mumley, Staff Accountant

June brings over 30 years of accounting experience from a wide-variety of well-known and loved Vermont companies; from chocolate to beer to ice cream to motorcycles – June has done it all!