Our next zany and original youth circus production will take place on April 11 and 12, 2025 at the Madison Youth Arts Center! We will spend thirteen 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 tend to use a collaborative format that allows participants to learn about choreography, creative process and performance skills as they combine 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 Jan. 10-Apr. 4, tentatively 12-2 p.m. at the Rumpus Room for clowns, 2-4 p.m. for aerial/acro group.
- SUNDAYS Jan. 11-Apr. 5, 2-3:30, 3:45-5:15 or 5:30-7 at the Goodman Community Center for aerialists, stilt walkers, acrobats and jugglers.
- MONDAYS Jan. 12-Apr. 6, 3:30-5 at Madison Circus Space for wire walkers and German Wheelers
Tech rehearsal will be Thursday Apr. 9 (Arrive by 5:30) and dress rehearsal will be Friday, Apr. 10 (Arrive by 5:30). There will be matinee and evening performances at 2:30 and 7 p.m. on Apr. 11 and a matinee performance 2:30 p.m. on Apr. 12. Participants must be available for all tech/performance call times, and a minimum of eleven (out of thirteen scheduled) weekly rehearsals between Jan. 10 and Apr. 6.
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 (map), the Rumpus Room, AND the Madison Circus Space.
Cost: $325 for the 13-week workshop. Partial scholarships and work-study positions are available (thanks to past winter circuses!). Please inquire.