Author Archives: Circus Smirkus
Houston, we have a staff.
Big things are happening here at Camp, friends! Did you hear that the staff is here? THE STAFF IS HERE! We had assembled little by little over the past few weeks but on Sunday we all officially landed for our week of training and orientating. Done your typical get-to-know-you games, learning about our stances on Harry Potter and such. We had a glorious hike on Beeler Mountain with some spectacular views. Not that it’s been all work though, we’ve had some time to get to know each other as well, walks to Willey’s and enjoyment of the beautiful surroundings and…
Heating Up
Dear Smirkus Friends and Family, It’s been cold here in Greensboro for the Trouper’s first week but things are quickly heating up for the Big Top Tour. We are 13 days away from opening as of today, Sunday 12th. Every day gets busier but the Troupers have persevered through the cold and have been hard at work rehearsing their skills. It’s not all hard work though. The Troupers had a bonfire complete with s’mores earlier in the week. We had a silent movie night on Thursday where Greg Desanto, one of our clown coaches, taught the Troupers about a few famous clowns…
Signs Point to Smirkus
The signs of the season are all around us. The grass is liberated from its icy white sleep, the leaves have begun to reach for the sun, a warm wind brings the air of summer, and Circus Smirkus is up and running again. Yes, perhaps my favorite sign of the summer is the white and blue tents that dot the various skylines of New England. I’m Aaron, the PR Intern at Smirkus Camp this summer; a Smirkus super-fan, I’ve seen the Smirkus tour every year since 2000. I was five when I discovered Smirkus, my mom took me a town…
Yokefellows
Dear Smirkus Family and Friends, Greetings from Keene, NH! We arrived in our sister state July, 10 and played six wonderful shows in Hanover, NH at the Fullington Farm Field. We had so many great Smirko family members, alumni, volunteers and board members that made this show special and I would like to take a minute to thank them. First, thank you to our incredible Hanover team of volunteers who poster, flyer, recruit volunteers and recruit homestays made up of Tamra Biedrzycki (parent of Trouper Dylan Biedrzycki) Rob Gurwitt and Karen Harris (parents of former Troupers Sam and Sonya Gurwitt)…
On The Road Again
Dear Smirkus Family and Friends, Well, we are on the road again! We have just bid adieu to St. Johnsbury and are enroute to our next tour stop, Hanover, NH. But we can’t go down the road without filling you in on all the excitement and fun that was had in good ‘ole St. J. We had four fantastic shows and the crowds were phenomenal! Thanks to all of you who attended and speaking of attendance, special shout outs to Alla Youdina, former Circus Smirkus coach who attended the July, 8 Matinee, our very own Circus Smirkus Camp, as well…
Sunshine
Dear Smirkus Friends and Family, After a rainy day of set-up upon our arrival to Saratoga Springs, NY, Sunday, July 4, 2015, we have basked in beautiful sunshine for our two days of shows. The Tent Crew worked tirelessly to set up the lot and per usual everyone pitched in to make the magic happen for our second jump (what we call moving from one tent site to the next). Our presenting organization, the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, have been so welcoming and even provided pizza for the crew after our final show! The crew and I would like…
Goodbye Greensboro, Hello Essex Junction
Dear Smirkus Friends and Family, What an exciting weekend and start to a week! Sunday, June 28, we opened our 2015 Big Top Tour, Bon Appétit! with a bang and a packed house. The hard work Troupers, Coaches, Directors and support staff put in during rehearsals really shined through and what an extravaganza of wonder and whimsy the entire day was! I could go on and on, but instead here are my favorite shots from the show! I hope this little taste has you hungry for more when Bon Appétit! comes to a town near you! …
Smirkus Camp Session I: Through the lens of Head Counselor, Pheylan Martin
Smirkus Camp Session I has come to a close! For our very first official week-long Session at our brand new permanent home, we will recap the week for you via a very special guest. Head Counselor Pheylan Martin, from East Granville, Vermont, first came to camp in 2002 (through 2010) as a camper. Now in his fourth season on staff, as Head Counselor, you can find him around campus juggling, unicycling, and (this week) taking magnificent photos–sharing his talent behind a camera for all of us to enjoy! Pheylan studied Engineering at the University of Vermont, and will be returning…
You Can’t Fall
Dear Smirkus Friends and Family, As Opening Day closes in on us (2 days left!), I would like to take this time to talk about the importance of nutrition and health and how we emphasize this to Troupers and the whole crew. We are fed incredibly well, my mantra everyday has been, “I’ve never eaten this well, nor will I ever again,” and that has quite a bit to do with our amazing Pie Boss, Chef Andrew Levy and cooks Sarah Hartman, John Shaw and Maddie Pryor, a special thanks to them for cooking delicious and healthy meals! Moreover, our…
Never Goodbye
Hello Smirkus Family and Friends, In the circus we never say goodbye, instead we say “see you down the road,” and we would like to extend this one to our very talented 2015 Big Top Tour Hula Hooping coach, Timea Zimmerman! Timea, or Timi as we lovingly call her, was responsible for teaching and coaching a six person hula-hooping act for the 2015 Big Top Tour, Bon Appétit! this year. Timi saw Smirkus for the first time last year during our 2014 Big Top Tour, Anchors Away for Atlantis, with her family and simply fell in love and expressed interest…