LOVE OF CIRCUS WINS LOCAL TEEN SPOT ON SMIRKUS BIG TOP
TOUR
Thirteen-year-old Dylan Biedrzycki of Amherst, New
Hampshire is running off to join the circus this summer – with his parents’
blessing. Dylan’s tumbling and juggling skills have won him a spot on tour with
Circus Smirkus, the award-winning, international, traveling youth
circus based in Vermont. From early July through mid-August, the troupe will
travel with its European-made Big Top tent to 15 venues throughout the
Northeast, and will perform nearly 70 individual shows. Circus Smirkus will be coming to the Cheshire Fairgrounds in
Swanzey, New Hampshire from July 15th-16th. After submitting an audition tape to Smirkus headquarters in Greensboro,
VT, he was called for a live audition in January. Dylan and 29
other performers ages 10 to 18 were selected for the 2014 Big Top Tour.
As a “Smirko,” he will join his fellow troupers in doing such tasks as taking
care of props, selling tickets and popcorn, and working cooperatively with the
tent crew, light and sound technicians, equipment riggers, costumer, musicians
and others who travel with the one-ring show. Even though it will be hard work,
Dylan says, it will still be fun. This
year’s troupers hail from 9 states – California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Texas and internationally from Mexico.
Troupers’ skills include juggling, wire-walking, clowning, acrobatics, aerials
and unicycling, and acts involving the diabolo, trapeze, cradle, Spanish web and
lyra. Over the years,
Circus Smirkus has become known for its theme-based and “story” shows. Themes
have included Pirates, the Wild West, and Superheroes, while stories have
included original circus versions of “Alice Through the Looking Glass” and
“Pinocchio.” This year’s tour continues the tradition of theme-based shows with
“ANCHORS AWAY FOR ATLANTIS” a circus-style journey on the high seas, as we set
sail for adventure.
Shows will be on Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 and 6.
