We featured this event in our list of things to do last weekend, so we thought we would check out a show and report back. If you are looking for a high energy, action-packed show that will keep your kids talking for days, this is worth checking out! If you can’t make one this year, don’t worry; they tour throughout New England every summer with a new storyline.

Photo Credit: Robert Sanson (link to flickr set)

This “Big Top” is actually a “Little Top”: it’s a 750-seat, one ring circus that is performed entirely by children 18 years old and younger. Risers surround the ring with only 6 or so rows, so there are no bad seats and you are up close to the action. Small children get the best seats in the house – they can sit on the ground around the ring itself. These seats are limited, so you will want to get there early. Novelties and food are sold in concession tents and there are vendors selling popcorn and drinks inside the main tent. Who doesn’t have room for popcorn at a circus?

This year’s theme is Smirkus Ever After and is set to various fairy tales including the ‘Three Little Pigs’, ‘The Tortoise and the Hare,’ ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ and many more. Characters from these stories, played by Smirkus troupers, weave together this 2 hour show with a 15 minutes intermission accompanied by original music performed by a two-man band. The show is full of juggling, acrobatics, various trapeze acts, clowning around, and many more amazing feats.

The show itself is very entertaining, but it is much more interesting when you know a little about the company. Circus Smirkus was founded in 1987 and is based in Greensboro, VT. They are a non-profit organization that raises money for other groups, like a non-profit youth or community organization. The one we attended was in Lawrence, MA, and was presented by the Lawrence Sons of Italy.

The purpose of Circus Smirkus, as stated on their website, is “to give kids the chance to run away to their own circus.” The troupers in the circus are kids!! Many of them begin their careers in a Circus Residency at their school. In cooperation with your child’s school, this program can run for one to two weeks and introduce the students to the skills used in the circus. A professional from Smirkus works with the students every day during the residency. The next step is to attend a summer camp, which is held at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vermont. There are different programs for children ages 6 to 18 and these are also one or two weeks long.

Auditions are held to choose the troupers that get to be part of the circus tour. The kids in the tour come from the Circus Smirkus camps as well as similar programs, and they have to audition every summer to be part of the tour. The circus also boasts performers from foreign circus schools! Many troupers have gone on to work for such prestigious companies as Ringling Bros., Cirque du Soleil, and the Big Apple Circus.

Mom Says: I want to give major props to all of the kids in the show - they were awesome!!! I can’t believe the tricks and stunts they were performing at such a young age! It’s nice to be young and have no fear

Dad Says: This is a different experience than the larger circus and gives your kids a great chance to see other kids performing. We’ll check this one out when it comes around next year for sure!

Circus Smirkus
www.smirkus.org

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