BRATTLEBORO-The national touring company Cirque Us will perform their newest show, "Cirque Us Stories," at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m. Tickets for this family friendly show about the adventures inside the pages of books are available now at thecirqueus.com.
Company Founder Doug Stewart, a graduate of NECCA's professional training program, said in a news release that "Cirque Us Stories is a new, thoughtfully curated show that flips through the pages of our troupe's favorite stories to bring you a touching, thrilling narrative about community and identity."
Interweaving a collection of folktales, classic literature, children's stories, modern fiction, and more, this show features twists, flips, rewrites, and retellings of stories illustrated by "mischievous and acrobatic characters."
Aerialists, jugglers, acrobats, contortionists, clowns, and more "are all ready to fly off the shelf." The performers even spend time pre-show discussing books and distributing favorites into the audience.
As part of their mission to spread circus magic to all, Cirque Us says this new show was developed specifically with community in mind. Alongside their regular performance venues, they have partnered with a set of schools, libraries, and community centers to bring the circus directly to the people, and in Brattleboro, their partner is NECCA.
Since their founding year and very first production in 2016, Cirque Us has expanded to produce and tour original, full-length works, alongside educational experiences such as camps, workshops, and other events for people of all ages and abilities.
"It's lovely to have this company back at NECCA," says Producing Director Serenity Smith Forchion. "In 2018, Cirque Us was part of a residency at NECCA supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. We're pleased to have them return as an American circus company of note, with their signature, highly skillful, family friendly production."
The 2024 troupe of "Cirque Us Stories" includes several NECCA alumni. Contortionist and aerialist Maeve Beck grew up attending NECCA first in the Youth Performance Troupe, then in the Professional Training Program. It was during her time at NECCA that she met her aerial hoop partner, Maia Castro-Santos. "Stories" also features current NECCA ProTrack student Esther Van De Lagemaat with her acrobatic trick roping act.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.