Our next zany and original youth circus production will take place on January 30 and 31, 2027 at the Madison Youth Arts Center! We will spend about 12 weeks creating and polishing original circus acts. We will include aerial silks, trapeze, stilts, physical comedy, theater, juggling, German Wheel, tightwire, acrobatics, maybe some other disciplines. We use a collaborative format that allows participants to learn about choreography, creative process and performance skills as they combine their ideas with mentorship and guidance from professionals in the field. Proceeds will benefit our Wild Rumpus Circus Scholarship fund.
Who: Kids (10 and up) through adults, with prior wild rumpus circus experience (min. 2 weeks of circus camp or two prior weekly class sessions, or equivalent), and consent of directors.
When:
- SATURDAYS Oct 10-Nov 14 and Jan 2-23, tentatively 12-2 p.m. at the Rumpus Room for clowns, 2-3:30 p.m. for aerial/acro group.
- SUNDAYS Oct 4-Nov 15 and Jan 3-24, 2-3:30, 3:45-5:15 or 5:30-7 at the Goodman Community Center for aerialists, stilt walkers, acrobats and jugglers. Our Nov. 15 rehearsal will take place at Madison Circus Space, and times will differ somewhat.
- MONDAYS Oct 5-Nov 16 and Jan 4-25, 4-5:30 at Madison Circus Space for wire walkers and German Wheelers.
Tech rehearsal will be Thursday Jan. 28 (Arrive by 5:30) and dress rehearsal will be Friday, Jan. 29 (Arrive by 5:30). There will be matinee and evening performances at 2:30 and 7 p.m. on Jan. 30 and a matinee performance 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 31. Participants must be available for all tech/performance call times, and a minimum of ten (out of 11 scheduled) weekly rehearsals between Sept. 26 and Jan. 31.
We hope to offer some additional practice times between pre-Thanksgiving and New Year’s, but these aren’t yet scheduled, and will be optional.
First-year performers are usually cast into one act or group, returning performers might be cast into more than one act. Plan for one rehearsal/week for each act the performer is cast into, and when you apply, please mention in the notes field which rehearsal blocks will and will not work for you. We will try to take all of that info into account when finalizing our casting and rehearsal schedules.
Where: Goodman Community Center, Madison, the Rumpus Room, AND the Madison Circus Space.
Cost: $325. Partial scholarships and work-study positions are available (thanks to past winter circuses!). Please inquire.