DNA Theatre

About Daydreams + Nightmares Aerial Theatre

The Mission

Daydreams + Nightmares Aerial Theatre (shortened to DNA Theatre) is a movement theatre company focused on bringing traditional and invented circus work to a new audience. By telling stories with movement, music and circus arts, DNA Theatre strives to expose audiences to a new type of theatre that defies definition and traditional performing boundaries.  Our company of performers, designers, technicians, artists, and developers are a diverse team. While some of our company members are gymnasts, artists, and acrobats, others are equestrians, scientists, and chefs. DNA Theatre as a whole does not have a single choreographer or designer, but instead relies on the entire company's collaboration guided by Artistic Director Kel Millionie.  

DNA's Origins

DNA Theatre was founded by Kel Millionie in 2002 while attending college at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA.  Formalized in 2004 by repertory company members: Mandy Tenly, Peter Pugulise, Eric Robinson and John Flannery, DNA's first official public performance was "Look Up: The Story Of The Fall of Icarus," at Baltimore Theatre Project.  "Look Up" premiered to a sold out Labor Day weekend in 2004.

DNA Today

The theatre company currently holds a performance residency at The Maryland Institute College of Art's (MICA) BBOX theatre. DNA Theatre also performs around the city and region. Bringing together individuals from the local theatre scene, MICA community and theatre hobbyists, DNA Theatre is a diverse team.  Training weekly, our performances are visceral, visually engaging, and physically demanding.

DNA Theatre strives to reinvent circus using traditional apparatus, invented aerial structures, and unorthodox themes.  Our goal is to introduce audiences to our unique interpretation of theatrical arts.

Our Performance History

In the past, we have produced numerous shows, most notably "12: An Aerial Performance Piece for Twelve Actors" (2011) , “Look Up: The Story of The Fall of Icarus,” (2004 and 2008) and “Pandoras Box” (2006). Our work has been called “dazzling,” “stunning” [Rep Times], “like nothing you've ever seen”, "overwhelmingly stark" and "oddly alluring" [The City Paper], "compelling", and "powerfully brave" [The Baltimore Sun].  You can find more information about DNA Theatre's prior shows by visiting the "Performance History" section of our website.