This Week — 20 November 2020

Published on by christiankloc

While you may not be spending the holidays with your extended family this Thanksgiving, you can definitely spend the week with your circus family! See below for more wisdom and wonderment than you can shake a drumstick at.

READ

  • Get pro tips for photography and videography from circus photographers Shamal Halmat and Dani Pierce in Tricks of the Light: Park Two, published today on The District Ringer. They also list some of their photographic inspirations, from the sublime acrobatic figures of Acey Harper to the poignant urban shots of the Baltimore-based artist Larry Cohen.

WATCH

TONIGHT (11/20)

  • Cirque du Cambodia is a stunning documentary that follows Cambodian circus artists Sopha and Dina as they go from training at Phare Ponleu Selpak (a social circus in their home country) to the École Nationale de Cirque in Montreal, then fulfill their lifelong dream of touring with Cirque du Soleil. The film is directed and filmed by Joel Gershon, who teaches at American University. Get tickets to stream the film today or tomorrow at this link. Donations benefit the film’s stars, as well as the circus program they grew up in.
  • The Battle Night USA Finals kick off tonight at 8:30 p.m. EST. This event showcases some of the greatest three-club jugglers in the United States as they go head-to-head to determine the grand champion. See what they can do with 30 seconds and three objects in this high-octane and good-hearted competition, judged by Matt Hall (Juggle Sensei) and Michael Karas. Visit the Zoom link or watch on the Unicirclo Laguna YouTube channel.
  • Enjoy a casual demonstration of airborne straddles, whips, gazelles and layouts during the TSNY Staff Flying Trapeze Demo from 7-7:45 p.m. on Facebook live. Visit the event page for more details.
  • Rise: A Virtual Performance will be streaming online starting at 7 p.m. EST tonight. This production comes from the imaginative minds of In the Wings aerial studio in Boulder, Colorado, and features performances that grapple with the hurdles we’ve faced in 2020. Get tickets at this link to view the performance from 11/20-22 or 11/27-29.

TOMORROW (11/21)

  • Marvel at some of Maine’s best performers in The Matt Tardy Benefit Show, a fundraiser for juggler and variety artist Matthew Tardy, who is battling Stage 4 thyroid cancer. The line-up includes Michael Menes, Fritz Grobe, Jason Tardy, Michael Miclon, George Saterial and Showtime Steve, sure to delight audiences of all ages. The show will be livestreamed from Johnson Hall at 7 p.m. Visit this link for tickets.

THROUGH SUNDAY (11/22)

  • See the online premiere of On Beckett/In Screen, an award-winning production conceived and performed by Bill Irwin, whose commanding acting and clowning skills bring playwright Samuel Beckett’s works to life on the digital screen. The show runs through November 22. Reserve your timed viewing spot at this link.

MONDAY (11/23)

  • The Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Show: Quarantine Edition starts at 8 p.m. EST. Watch on Facebook or YouTube. You can donate during the show at the links provided, or support their fantastic feats of circus anytime via the donation page on their website.

THURSDAY (11/26)

  • On top of unmissable appearances by Dolly Parton and Patti LaBelle, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature performances by the Big Apple Circus. Expect jugglers, acrobats and other surprises while you host a virtual watch party with your family (or your chosen family). The parade broadcast begins at 9 a.m. EST. Check out BAC’s Facebook page for any updates.

DECEMBER 1

  • Enjoy hysterical and awe-inspiring antics during the Jonathan Burns Comedy Variety Hour from 7-8:30 p.m. EST. Guests include puppeteers Alex & Olmsted, Shay Horay (The Famous Rubber Band Boy) and Ashley Brooke Roberts from NPR’s Ask Me Another. Magic, variety and laughter await! Get tickets at this link.

ATTEND

DECEMBER 4-6

  • Prop-aganda: The Circus of No Tomorrow is an online flow festival featuring live DJs, showcases, competitions and workshops organized by EPIC Spin Jams. A salve for any chaos the world throws at you. Check out this event on Twitch and Zoom, with more information at this link.