Circus Smirkus – Bon Appétit!

Circus Smirkus is an award-winning international youth circus that is back on the road with its 2015 Big Top Tour, celebrating a 28-year tradition of bringing joy and magic to towns all over the Northeast.

The traveling youth circus performs almost 70 shows this summer, from the mountains of Vermont to the shores of Maine, with stops along the way in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and upstate New York. Thirty stars, ages 11 to 18, bring youthful exuberance and polished skills from all parts of the country and the world.

The show is full of exuberant talent and dazzling spectacle, with aerials, acrobatics, wire-walking, juggling, trapeze, clowning, live music and an array of brilliant costumes. This year’s tour continues the tradition of theme-based shows with Bon Appétit!  

Get your tickets HERE.

 Volunteer Power:

Smirkus runs on Volunteer power – it is thanks to the teams of volunteers all over New England that they are able to do what they do. Volunteers in all 15 of the tour stops help on the day of the show – parking cars, ushering, ticket taking, program distributing.

The volunteer teams are made of parents of troupers, camp parents, friends and fans of Smirkus, employees of places like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and King Arthur Flour,  and the good and kind people like the girls at The Children’s Study Home that want to give back.

This year, a group of 13 teen girls from The Children’s Study Home is helping by postering and flyering for Smirkus all around the Cape. The Children’s Study Home serves children, adolescents, and families with special needs throughout the Pioneer Valley and Cape Cod areas. The children served are often struggling to cope with behavioral, psychiatric, and cognitive issues related to the experiences they have survived.

Want to become a volunteer? Sign up here.

 About Circus Smirkus:

Circus Smirkus is not your average “circus”. Circus Smirkus is the brainchild of Rob Mermin, who ran away to the circus himself at the age of 19. He performed as a clown for over a decade in the national circuses of Europe, studied with Marcel Marceau and became an accomplished and skillful performer with his own show on Swedish television. Along the way, Mermin developed a keen understanding of both how to move an audience and how to manage a small circus company. When he returned to the United States, he was ready to teach, serving as director of Ringling Brothers’ Clown College. He moved to Greensboro in 1987 to create a format for youth to experience some of the adventures he had enjoyed with a traveling circus.

In addition to the traveling circus, Circus Smirkus runs a residential circus camp for kids ages 6-18. The camp is located in Greensboro, VT. More than half of the members the 2015 performing troupe are Circus Smirkus Alumni. Additionally the acclaimed Smirkus School Residency program brings circus arts to schools throughout the Northeast during the school year.

Smirkus troupers often go on to successful careers in the circus arts. Smirkus graduates have performed with Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey, Big Apple Circus, Cirque Mechanic, Sept Doigts de la Main, Pan-Twilight Circus, and the Moscow State Circus, as well as other international touring companies. Two Smirkus alumni have been listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Smirkos have appeared in Hollywood films including Alice and Water for Elephants.

2014 Tour:

 Owen’s first Circus:

We were introduced to Circus Smirkus 2 years ago, after I had won tickets in a Facebook contest. I was expecting a typical circus, like the many I have been to before but that was not the case!

The Blue and white striped circus tent was set on the base of beautiful Wachusett Mountain. As we entered the one ring tent, I could tell that this was a show that we were was going to remember. The arena itself is a bit on the smaller side, it created a more intimate setting which I liked. The seating is bleacher bench style, so there was plenty of room for our family to sit and swap seats when needed. Concessions and lots of fun circus souvenirs are also available for purchase.

I was a little apprehensive about Owen sitting through the entire show due to his age. But once we found our seats I could see the excitement in his eyes. While we waited for the show to begin, he was waiving and chatting with the performers. When the lights dimmed and the show begin he didn’t take his eyes off all the excitement! Circus Smirkus is something really special not to be missed! Kids of all ages and parents alike will enjoy the show. At times I forgot the performers were children, there is so much talent, support and determination put into each show.  You can really feel the love and dedication that goes into the entire production. I couldn’t have asked for a better show for Owen’s first circus!