Submitted by Dic Wheeler.
Oddfellows Playhouse and ARTFARM are excited to announce the premiere of Circophony Youth Circus’ new film, “Planet of Circus!”. The film will premiere on Facebook Live on Friday, March 12. Opening Night Red Carpet pre-show begins at 6:30 pm. “Planet of Circus “ will premiere at 7 pm. This unique and visually stunning combination of circus, dance, animation, music and visual art is offered free of charge. “Planet of Circus!” is an original film created, performed and filmed by the students of Circophony, a youth circus ensemble based in Middletown, CT.
Planet of Circus! is born out of an 8 week production schedule, primarily on zoom, where students wrote and rehearsed scenes and then translated them to a small screen. It is the story of the peaceful Planetians, a harmonious species of circus creatures from Madeupplanetia! They live in balance with their planet, their circus skills and one another — that is, until aliens arrive! Follow our heroes as they dance, contort and juggle their way out of danger and put their planet back in balance.
Directed by Oddfellows Circus Director Allison McDermott, the movie features technical direction and animation by Brooklyn-based artist and puppeteer Andrew Murdock. Costumes are designed by Marion Imbruglio, set and prop design by Robin Leet, sound design and original music by Rowan Trowbridge-Wheeler, and additional circus and movement coaches for the production include Leah Maille, Naja Muller and Pablo Puente.
The cast is made up of teen circus artists from all over, including Aislinn Carroll, Mike Colombo, Asera Holley, Breanna Stielau, Artemis Trowbridge-Wheeler and Rowan Trowbridge-Wheeler of Middletown; Grace Darby and Lila Delaronde of Portland; Emily Brainerd of Chester; Haylee Weglarz of Deep River; Maya Cooper of Meriden; Ellie Kelly of New Britain; Patience Armstrong of New Haven; and Kayla Robinson Smalls from Dacula, Georgia.
Circophony Teen Circus is a training and performance program for ages 12- 20 run in collaboration by Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater and ARTFARM. Spring training in acrobatics, juggling and contortion will be offered outdoors this spring from April 13 to May 29. Circophony training is open to all young people 12 – 20; previous circus experience is not required. For more information about the March 12 performance or outdoor classes this spring, contact Oddfellows at info@oddfellows.org, call (860 347-6143 , or go to www.oddfellows.org [1].
Circophony’s Planet of Circus is made possible with the generous support of the Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; Middletown Commission on the Arts; The Fund for Greater Hartford; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Evan Boyd Knoll Memorial Fund; Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Thomas J. Atkins Memorial Trust Fund; Middlesex United Way; CHEFA Cultural Relief Grant; New England Foundation for the Arts New England Arts Resilience Fund; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; and many generous individual donors.
