Archives
1994
’94 Houdini Lives! features guest artists from Russia and Mongolia. Smirkus featured in Chronicle of Philanthropy. Smirkus 1993 show video receives Dove Foundation Award for Family Values. FamilyFun magazine rates Smirkus as one of “America’s Best Circuses. ” Actor Michael J. Fox visits the tour.
1993
’93 The Princess Who Wouldn’t Laugh is Smirkus’ first “story circus,” featuring classical music, Russian artists and 10 Native American performers (in collaboration with Ringling Bros.). Vermont Chamber of Commerce names Smirkus a “Top Ten Summer Event.” Cover story in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine.
1992
’92 East Meets West Meets East, with guest performers from Russia, Moldova and Kazakhstan, plus 12 teens from California’s Great Y Circus. Smirkus receives Vermont Arts Council Award of Excellence.
1991
’91 The Toy Circus tour is first circus ever on Nantucket Island, and includes Latvian Youth Circus and Moscow Circus members. Smirkus co-produces Soviet/ American Youth Circus-on-Ice in winter. Russian and American coaches begin long collaboration.
1990
’90 The Magician’s Apprentice marks historic collaboration with Moscow Circus School, leading to Soviet/American Youth Circus joint tours (3 weeks in Russia/ 3 weeks in New England), awards at International Festival on the Black Sea, and performances in Yaroslavl and Moscow. Coverage in Scholastic News and Sesame Street’s Kid City magazines, and on network TV. Smirkus Summer Camp begins.
1989
’89 Running Home to the Circus tour reaches Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. First collaboration with Project Harmony; guest troupe from Tblisi, Georgia, USSR. Coverage in Yankee and People.
1988
’88 Smirkus hits the road for statewide summer tour: 28 shows, 11 towns, 3 weeks. Coverage in USA Today. Smirkus coaches begin 12-year stint creating an outdoor circus in Connecticut every fall. Winter school residencies begin.
1987
’87 Rob Mermin founds Circus Smirkus in 150-year-old farmhouse in Greensboro, VT. “First Vermont-based traveling circus in over 100 years”(Boston Globe). Tour: one week! Media coverage in The New York Times. Vermont cows bemused by all the commotion.