Opening Day Logistics
Rehearsals are well underway here at 1 Circus Rd. The Troupers are hitting their marks, the band is playing music for all to hear, the coaches are working through every fine detail, and tech is right on cue. Truth is, there’s a truckload of work going on behind the scenes to get this tour in motion! Concessionaires are popping popcorn and hanging tutus, while tent crew is putting down gravel in the backstage tent, so that both crew and Troupers are safe, and won’t slip on the mud. Everyone is doing their part to get ready for the big opening day…
Arrival Of The Troupers
Another summer, another Big Top Tour from Circus Smirkus! This year, our 30th Anniversary tour, began like every other – with the whirlwind arrival of troupers in early June for three weeks of rehearsal at Smirkus World Headquarters in Greensboro, Vermont. It was a whirlwind of farewells, joyful reunions, and introductions to the counselors, coaches, directors, staff and crew! With the Big Top in view, along with Charlotte and the Academy (the names of the accompanying tents and rehearsal spaces), it was a homecoming for all involved in preparing the Big Top Tour, and all were eager to get started on the journey…
30th Anniversary Banquet
On the Saturday before opening day of the Big Top Tour at Circus Smirkus, each year all of the people involved in putting on the show enjoy a fabulous meal and “No Talent Talent Show” on the grounds of Smirkus World HQ in Greensboro, Vermont. Enjoy the pictures below for a peak into our celebration. Banquet is a annual opportunity for Troupers, staff, and crew to celebrate the impending opening of the Big Top Tour on the last Saturday before the show opens. Featuring phenomenal food lovingly prepared by the incomparable Pie Boss Andrew Levy and Pie Car staff, the meal was followed by speeches…
Circus Season Begins
I often get the question, “How in the world do you guys put together a circus?” I don’t know how other people do it, but here at Smirkus we keep it simple. I tell staff, “Start by recognizing that you are a part of something larger than yourself. Encourage each other to take pride in all our combined efforts. Be kind, funny, and imaginative. Welcome every new person you meet. Feed whimsy whenever you can. Everything else will take care of itself.” Right now it’s hard to hear yourself think around here. There is a constant staccato of hammers and…
Best of CV Profiles Smirkus
Editor’s note: This piece written by Corey Burdick was originally published in the print edition of the Best of Central Vermont, June 2017 issue. Come one! Come all! It’s the excitement of acrobatics, juggling, and live performance for the whole family! Where? Right here in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Circus Smirkus is celebrating its 30th anniversary in style with Midnight at the Museum, the 2017 Big Top Tour. From the opening of the tour in early July to its mid August finale, Circus Smirkus will perform 69 shows in five states. The theme-based shows will include aerial acts, wire walking, clowns, and…
Kids VT Profiles Ariana Wunderle
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in the May 30, 2017 edition of Kids Vermont and was written by Sarah Galbraith. Born Performer: A Vermont Teen Spends Her Summers in the Circus Name: Ariana Wunderle Age: 13 Town: Chester Circus Smirkus, Vermont’s award-winning international youth circus, trains kids as young as 5. But Ariana Wunderle started practicing with the troupe when she was just 3 years old. The tall, wiry 13-year-old has a special connection to the organization — her parents help run it. Over the years, they’ve had various positions there. Her dad, Troy, is currently its artistic director; her…
Smirkus at the Smithsonian
Circus Smirkus has been invited to participate in The Smithsonian Folklife Festival that includes a program which spotlights the Circus Arts and will feature intimate workshops, full-scale performances, and learning opportunities from master circus artists. At the Folklife Festival, founder Rob Mermin will be joined by “Smirko” alumni to showcase their role in propagating the values and culture of the traveling circus and its place in circus education in America. Co-creator of the CircusSecrets methodology Jackie Davis and youth development researcher Jen Agans will also demonstrate how the skills and allure of the circus can impart learning strategies that meet the needs…
2017 Trouper Patrick Chikoloma of Circus Zambia
Name: Patrick Chikoloma Age: 17 From: Lusaka, Zambia Training: Circus Zambia It was an exchange program between students of Van Lodostov Family Circus in Hartford, Vermont and Circus Zambia last summer that made Patrick Chikoloma’s first visit to the United States possible. Coming to perform around the Vermont for Circus Zambia, he also attended his first Big Top Tour show and visited the headquarters of Circus Smirkus. We’re now eagerly awaiting Patrick’s arrival to the Circus Barn for training as a trouper in the 30th Anniversary Big Top Tour – almost a year to the date that we first met him….
École Nationale de Cirque Accepts 3 Smirkos
We’re super proud to announce that the École Nationale de Cirque (National Circus School) in Montreal has accepted three Smirkos into its fall 2017 program. Internationally renowned for the quality of its training programs, the school is dedicated to the education and training of professional circus artists. Congratulations to 2017 Big Top Tour troupers Sam Landa (left), Sarah Norden (center), and 2016 trouper Sam Hollis (right)! Below are some pictures of troupers performing on various Circus Smirkus Big Top Tours – click on an image to see it big and pretty!!!
PODCAST: Rumblestrip Interviews Rob Mermin
Rumblestrip is a popular podcast produced by Erica Heilman. In this episode, “The Last Chapter”, Heilman interviews Circus Smirkus founder Rob Mermin. This is a story about the friendship between Rob and his friend Bill Morancy, and the months, days and moments leading up to Bill’s death. Bill Morancy toured with Smirkus one season as a concessionaire. He wanted to experience running away to join the circus — when he was 65 years old — and he bunked with Big Top Tour musician/composer Tristan Moore, who became one of his closest friends. In the final stages of terminal illness, Bill opted to use…