Circus Smirkus Announces New Executive Artistic Director
Circus Smirkus Comes Full Circle FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Greensboro, VT The Circus Smirkus Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rachel Schiffer as Executive Artistic Director – a role that provides strategic and artistic oversight for the entire Smirkus organization. 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…
A New Vision for Circus Smirkus
With new artistic leadership at the helm of Circus Smirkus, a new vision for the future is emerging. Key to this vision is collaboration with a broad range of artistic voices, opening up opportunities for artists with different perspectives, experiences and abilities to explore new ways of creating Smirkus magic in tandem with our coaches and troupers. Because of this shift, Smirkus will look to a new directing team for next year’s Big Top Tour production. Troy Wunderle and Mark Lonergan have enjoyed five successful seasons together, creating shows that have brought joy and wonder to audiences all over New England. These…
Circus Smirkus Names Steve MacQueen as Executive Artistic Director
PRESS RELEASE Contact: Michele Levy President of the Board, Circus Smirkus 617-645-6672 mlevy@caravanbrandpartners.com Circus Smirkus Names Steve MacQueen as Executive Artistic Director After an extensive search process led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG), nationally-known youth circus organization Circus Smirkus has named Steve MacQueen Executive Artistic Director. In this new role, MacQueen will provide strategic and artistic oversight for the entire Smirkus organization and promote a culture centered on excellence, innovation, diversity, equity, and inclusion. MacQueen was most recently Artistic Director at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. Over the course of his 24 years as an arts administrator, he…
New Leadership. New Roles. New Adventures.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Steve MacQueen as Circus Smirkus Executive Artistic Director — a new leadership role designed to provide strategic and artistic oversight for the entire Smirkus organization and promote a culture centered on excellence, innovation, diversity, equity, and inclusion. After an extensive national search, we found Steve right here in Vermont! For the past 10 years, he has been the Artistic Director at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, one of Vermont’s leading arts organizations. Over the course of his 24 years as an arts administrator, Steve has been the Director of Florida State University’s Opening Nights festival,…
Ben Scheff
Ben Scheff, Tour General Manager and Composer Ben Scheff is a sound designer and composer for theatre, dance, and circus. Selected credits include Off-Broadway: Only Human (Jesse James Films), Kennedy: Bobby Kennedy’s Last Crusade (LDK/New Circle Theater), Red Roses, Green Gold (MWM Live). Touring: ’Twas the Night Before… (Cirque du Soleil), The Great American Road Trip and Carnival (Circus Smirkus). Regional: The Secret in the Wings and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (South Coast Rep Youth Conservatory), No Room for Wishing (Company 1/Central Square Theater). Assistant/Associate Sound Design: Roundabout Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theater Workshop, Cherry Lane Theater, Primary Stages, Playwright’s Realm, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Rep, The Geffen Playhouse,…
Chase Levy
Chase Levy, Smirk-o-Vision Director of Photography and Editor Chase Levy is a longtime Circus Smirkus Camper and, between the summers of 2016 and 2019, he performed with the Circus Big Top Tour as an acrobat, juggler, and clown. During this time, he also created the tour trailers for the 2017, 2018, and 2019 shows, as well as other promotional material. In 2020, Chase was the Smirkus Camp Intern and Assistant Director for Smirk-o-Vision. Chase in his second year at the École Nationale de Cirque in Montreal. At school, he studies hand to hand and diabolo. Loving both filmmaking and circus equally, Chase seeks to…
Kyran Walton
Kyran Walton Coach Intermediate & Advanced Camp Kyran was raised in St. Louis, Missouri and has been a very energetic child since he could walk. He played a few sports before the age 8 but none of them were engaging enough for him. Circus Harmony performed at his school around the time that he was 8 and he immediately begged his mom to sign him up for classes. Since then Kyran has been in the circus for 12 years now along with dancing for 6 of those years. Around age 11, Kyran was made a member of the circus Harmony’s…
Nick Ng
Nick Ng Aerial Coach Session: Intermediate/Advanced Camp Nick is a pirate captain, space tiger, and aerialist that prides himself on gravity-defying technique that some would call “falling with style”. He loves balancing dynamic sequences with still moments, combining awe-inspiring movement with physical storytelling. Starting his career in Austin, TX, Nick has won awards and hearts while traveling across the U.S. in the before times. He has spent years working with internationally renowned instructors and performers, Dolly Parton, Acrobatic Conundrum, Cirque du Soleil artists and choreographers, and now brings his experience to Circus Smirkus Camp! As a mover and teacher, Nick specializes in beats and momentum,…
Justin Durham
Justin Durham Acro Coach Sessions: All Around Circus Camp, both sessions Justin Durham began circus when he was three years old in Chicago where he currently resides. After graduating the National Centre for Circus Arts studying handbalancing and hand to hand, Justin has traveled with a variety of different companies from Midnight Circus and the Cirque Us in the United States to Circus Aotearoa in New Zealand and Aida Cruises in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. Justin has kept up his handbalance training in the pandemic and has also delved into making free little libraries and raised garden beds supporting the community around him.
Joel Baker
Joel Baker Clown Coach All Levels Circus Camp, Sessions 1 & 2 Joel Baker is a professional performer, circus arts coach, and director, with over two decades of industry experience. After graduating from San Francisco’s Circus Center and their Clown Conservatory program in 2002, Joel launched his career as an acrobatic clown by joining the legendary San Francisco New Pickle Circus. Joel went on to perform in shows across the globe including LOFT by The 7 Fingers and the award-winning Cirque du Soleil production, The Beatles LOVE, the latter with an additional role as Artistic Coach. Joel’s passion and enthusiasm…