Gregangelo is a member of the
American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA)

 

 


G R E G A N G E L O

FOUNDER/OWNER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, GREGANGELO & VELOCITY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

Gregangelo is the founding and artistic director of Velocity Arts and Entertainment and Velocity Circus as well as an active board member and major donor of Velocity’s affiliate non-profit organization C.U.E. (Children United by Experience). A genuine San Francisco native, Gregangelo was born, raised, educated and established his professional world headquarters in San Francisco. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California College of the Arts and has over three decades of extensive training and performing experience in visual arts, dance, music, circus arts, costume and theatrical production design.

The persona of Gregangelo has become synonymous with the exceptional, the exquisite, the mystical and the magical in quality arts and entertainment. The San Francisco Chronicle once ranked him as one of "The Entertainers" and his work has been featured in numerous magazines, periodicals and television specials including HGTV's Offbeat America, Bravo and Cirque Du Soleil's Solstrom. His multi-media genius turned a single story structure of a house, over a twenty five year creative binge, into the 22 room Gregangelo Museum, a labyrinthine multi media wonderland of hand-painted frescoes, elaborately decorated tufted ceilings, layers of sensory rooms with secret passage ways, artifacts from every inch of the globe and original characters from every corner of the imagination from the ancient to the futuristic. One international visitor to the Gregangelo Museum seemed to say it all with the quintessential comment: "I will never be impressed again."

When not pushing the proverbial envelope of artistic innovation, Gregangelo finds time to be a guest lecturer on the arts at Stanford University and CCA and a mentor, teacher and advocate of youth and emerging Bay Area artists. He has professional memberships with American Guild of Variety Artists, California College of Arts Alumni, San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau, International Association of Fairs and Festivals, Association of Arts Presenters, Western Arts Alliance, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the International Special Events Society. His performances have been seen over 25 years throughout the US, Europe, Asia and Africa and have inspired millions of audience members worldwide.

Museum commissions include San Francisco's de Young Museum, Berkeley Contemporary Art Museum & Film Archive, Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History and the Museum of Oakland, in addition to California College of the Arts (CCA), San Francisco Symphony and Humanities West.

Among hundreds of private commissions for major corporate branding events are: Warner Bros TV, Univision, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco Systems, Lucas Film, Ltd., Lexus and Mercedes Benz, which featured Gregangelo's jaw-dropping feat of creating the Mercedes Benz logo with human bodies suspended in air.

Featured among Gregangelo's original public self-produced multi-media presentations are: Heliosphere at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center For The Arts, The Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Ohio and the Discovery Museum in Sausalito, CA; Heliopolis at the Marin Theatre Co and the Randall Museum in San Francisco; 1906, A Journey through the Mythical City (AKA San Frantasia), a commemorative show for the SF Historical Society at Theatre 39.

HEIGHT:5'9"             WEIGHT:150 lbs.
HAIR:Black & White    EYES:Hazel/Grey


 


 

Denise Adkins
SALES & EVENT DESIGN
denise@gregangelo.com


Denise Adkins brings a lifetime of achievement in the Event Services industry to Gregangelo & Velocity Circus.

With over 15 years of experience as a successful Director of Catering at various U.S. Hotels, Denise eventually moved to Carmel Valley, CA where she was part of an Executive Management Team which opened a high end resort from the ground up. Denise took root in Carmel Valley (where she still resides today) and for several years worked for a full service entertainment agency designing, securing, and producing various entertainment packages for major corporations and events at Pebble Beach and many other 5+ star resorts in the area.

In addition to graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Denise also pursued an extended education in family therapy. Denise is currently highly sought after in the Carmel/Pebble Beach/Monterey Bay area as a non denominational officiate for wedding ceremonies. She has also made her mark for bringing the unusual artistry of Gregangelo &Velocity into the mix of the event industry in the region. Denise’s impeccable service, creativity, and commitment to the arts make her a leader in the field.

From securing one act to full service event design, Denise knows the industry.

 

 

  

 

 

Jacqie Loia
SALES & EVENT DESIGN
jacqie@gregangelo.com


 
Originally from the East Coast, Jacqie relocated to Los Angeles and began working at the Comedy Store in Hollywood, answering phones for Mitzi Shore and serving drinks to the likes of Sam Kennison, Louie Anderson, Rosanne Barr and Arsenio Hall. From there, she moved to San Francisco and found employment as a production coordinator with Cardinal Productions, a music and entertainment agency in the Bay Area. While receiving her M.A. in Literature at SF State, she was part of the team that provided backstage hospitality and craft services for all Bill Graham show's at the San Jose State Event Center. Upon graduation, she traveled throughout Europe and returned to the Bay Area and the world of special events as a producer and talent buyer with Premiere Productions and most recently, as a senior event coordinator and project manager for JSP (management team for The Cheeseballs, Wonder Bread 5, Notorious and Pop Rocks.) Jacqie has developed a reputation among a wide variety of career professionals, clients and local vendors as someone who not only gets the job done, but does so with creativity, integrity and sincerity. Welcome Jacqie we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship!  

 

 

  

 

 

Laura S. Fraenza
SALES CONSULTANT
laura@gregangelo.com


Ms. Fraenza brings a lifetime commitment of strong entertainment production and management experience to Gregangelo and Velocity Circus. Her professional background includes: Production Office Director for the European touring division Cirque Du Soleil, Producer and Talent Buyer for Two Visions, Inc., a world-class event production company. Personal Artists Manager for Bill Graham Presents, Inc. managing headliner acts such as the Gin Blossoms, Neville Brothers, and Aaron Neville. We are excited to have Ms. Fraenze lead the way in band and headline entertainer procurement. Additionally, in her role as sales director she will have the perfect arena in which to exercise her experience in the European market and command of the Spanish language as Gregangelo and Velocity Circus expands its services into the international marketplace.

 

 

  

 

 

Rita Abrams
COMPOSER/ LYRICIST/ WRITER
rita@gregangelo.com


Rita Abrams brings a lifetime of excellence and achievement to Gregangelo & Velocity Circus and CUE. Rita Abrams is the creator of the musical stage version of John Gray's MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS, represented by Columbia Artist Theatricals. In addition to been awarded a Master of Arts Degree from Boston University, Rita's many honors include two Emmy Awards, and twenty-plus ASCAP special awards; and for her work in children's recordings, video and film, she has won awards from Associated Press for Best Video, New York TV and Film Festival, and CINE, to name a few. Her San Francisco Bay Area theatrical collaborations have earned her three Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle awards. Her international hit single "Mill Valley" topped the charts in the '70s, securing her place in the annals of Americana-not to mention Life Magazine and Rolling Stone.Rita's newest CDs with Dr. Elmo, of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" fame have just sold over 130,000 for BMG Entertainment (second only to Elvis in the Christmas category!) and Clear Channel radio programmed her songs on 1,200 stations during the Christmas season.

From touching ballads to side-splitting comedy, Rita’s songs and sketches are a perfect compliment to our “Spectacle and High-Impact” productions. We are excited to present her incredible abilities in customizing songs, scripts and shows to the public, corporate, and special event markets!

 

 

  

 

 

Rachel Stegman-Ware
AERIAL COACH / CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING/
SALES
rachel@gregangelo.com


 
Rachel Stegman-Ware has been with Gregangelo & Velocity Circus for nearly 8 years.  In addition to becoming an Aerial Performer and Instructor for Gregangelo & Velocity Circus, Rachel extended her talents to Administration, Sales, Management, PR, and Bookkeeping for the company.  
 
Rachel, will be opening and directing “The Velocity Circus School” of Arizona in 2007 in association with Gregangelo & Velocity Arts & Entertainment.
She had her first taste of Circus Arts at the young age of 8 years old while on a family vacation at a Club Med.  After her initial experience, Rachel had haunting dreams of becoming a Circus Aerialist. 

She grew up in Arizona with no access to the circus world until her parents sent her across country to attend a performing arts camp in New York at the age of 16.  There she received training from retired performers from Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey Circus.  From age 16-23 she again had no contact with the circus world, but continued to dream of her aspirations. At the age of 23 she decided to follow her heart and sought further aerial training.  Since then, she has studied with numerous Circus Performers from many different circuses including The Pickle Family Circus and Gregangelo & Velocity Circus.  She trained at the San Francisco School of Circus Arts, now called Circus Center, as well as at Trapeze Arts, Inc. in Oakland, CA. 

 

 

  

 

 

Lorna Zilba
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION CONSULTANT
lorna@gregangelo.com


Founder and Artistic Director of LifeDance Theater and co-founder of Metro Arts International, Lorna's professional performing arts and theatrical production career spans classical, contemporary and ethnic genres and has graced the stages of four continents.  

Her original concert presentations have brought hundreds of world-class artists to millions of audience members through stage and multi-media venues. Lorna graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Arts Degree from John F. Kennedy University. She has a passion for arts-in-education and the healing arts and is involved in providing a professional platform for emerging artists. 

Lorna's long-term relationship since 1987 with Gregangelo and Velocity Arts has become a mutual exchange of creative endeavors. Her multi-faceted expertise in performance arts, production, stagecraft and theatrical promotion is an invaluable asset to Velocity's development directive. Lorna’s goals are to generate novel markets for Velocity's artistic experiences and enhance community relations with the arts.
 
 

 

  

 

 

Jeffrey Ferns
MANAGING PARTNER, GREGANGELO & VELOCITY CIRCUS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
jeffrey@gregangelo.com
 

Top that off with an imposing sense of spirited life and a passion for preserving and promoting exceptional and enriching learning experiences for children of all ages. Jeffrey Ferns' is Executive Director and Founder of Children United by Experience and Director of Business Relations and Communications for Gregangelo & Velocity Arts and Entertainment . Holding both reins is a comfortable and familiar position for Ferns with his genius for translating conservative options into masterminded opportunities for both insightful corporate events and inspired youth enhancement experiences.
 

 

 

  

 

 

Daria Schwarzschild

ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER


The information wizard of Velocity Arts and Entertainment and Gregangelo's left brain "keeper of the books" is Daria Schwarzschild. A native San Franciscan and a graduate of San Francisco State University with a bachelor of arts degree, Daria was employed with the City of San Francisco's Recreation and Parks Department prior to joining the team at Velocity Arts & Entertainment in 2006 She originally met Gregangelo in 1983 when they performed together in a local drum ensemble. At that time, she offered to help the fledgling high school student launch his career by managing the emerging artist's growing popularity and bookings.

The rest is history. Gregangelo and Velocity Arts & Entertainment went on to become one of America's premiere custom production companies and Daria is still the "keeper of the books", the grand lady of analysis and troubleshooting and the queen of accounting and creative finance.
 

 

 

  

 

 

Hiromi Yoshida

MEDIA ARTS DIRECTOR


Born in Ibaraki, Japan, Hiromi moved to the US to study film and liberal arts. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in filmmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute and was an intern production assistant and editor for a documentary and independent fims. She began her professional career with Gregangelo and Velocity Arts and Entertainment as a film and media special effects editor for theatrical and corporate branding events.

Hiromi's expertise as an innovative media specialist blended seamlessly with her love of theatrics and fantasy. Her innate instincts for creating original film montages became a signature backdrop for Gregangelo's vanguard productions. Hiromi has segued into the digital world with a new found infatuation with web design.

You can find her meticulously editing endless film clips in the company media studio or choosing the perfect font for Velocity's labyrinthine website.
 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

THE ARTISTS AND ACTS

 

CREDITS

 

 

  

 

 

 

GREGANGELO /
Velocity Circus Troupe
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Gregangelo at
velocitysf@prodigy.net