Cirque-It July 14-16

When one hears the word “circus,” associations can go in a number of directions: childhood memories, daring feats of physical strength, spectacular shows in 3 rings under tents, dancing elephants, tightrope walkers, clowns (scary clowns). That’s more of the Barnum and Bailey type of circus. This weekend, South Bethlehem will be celebrating a partnership that celebrates a growing performing arts genre called “Cirque.” The partnering organizations offer alternative times to catch all three shows throughout the weekend. The Southside Arts District will also have an Art Walk on Saturday from 1-4pm.

The genre goes back hundreds of years in Europe with the commedia dell’arte traveling troupe. The shows were character based, and included tricks like juggling, slapstick comedy (clowning), puppets. The art of cirque has been going through a renaissance of sorts. One might consider national acts like Cirque du Solei as an example of an updated performing art. Cirque companies have been sprouting up all over the world; developing shows and spectacles as individual as each artist’s imagination. There has even been a company that grew out of the Lehigh Valley and will be one of the performing acts in this weekend’s festival.

Hear how this festival came to be with a wonderful interview with two artistic directors on last Monday’s WDIY Lehigh Valley Arts Salon, Deb Sacarakis (Zoellner Arts Center) and JP Jordan (Touchstone Theatre). Deb has directed the presenting program at Lehigh University for thirty-four years and led Zoellner Arts Center for 20+ years. She has been instrumental in bringing many artist groups to the Lehigh Valley that have inspired our local artists and forged partnerships with other arts organizations.

JP has been with Touchstone for its last eleven seasons. He has helped produce over seventy productions since his arrival, serving in multiple capacities including director, designer, composer, actor, and playwright. JP also led Touchstone’s last two community-based productions (A Resting Place and Journey from the East) and his original series of musical comedies under The Pan Show title, which chronicles the misadventures of the Greek God Pan in modern day America and is co-written with Touchstone Ensemble Associate Christopher Shorr. Yes, this is the character that has evolved into Jakopa’s Punch. If you listen to the 28-minute WDIY interview, you’ll learn where the name came from (nope, no spoilers here)

Why is it important to know these people? Because they are part of the reason why there is this incredible cool genre available to audiences right here, in the Lehigh Valley. But there’s more to this Cirque-It story than these two superheroes. There’s also Atlas Circus Company, which grew out of a workshop course at Muhlenberg College in 2014. If you want to read the details of their origin story, it’s a good one. Now that you’ve dutifully read about the company, and see that they are in residence in the Lehigh Valley not ONLY for this weekend’s performance of “Lucky” at Steelstacks, they are also presenting a run of Wild as part of the Muhlenberg College Summer Music Theatre series. There will also be company members doing their “thing” before the shows at all three locations; Steelstacks, Zoellner and the Greenway block with the Chinese Pavilion.

ArtsQuests-Steelstacks – Atlas Circus Company Lucky
Lucky will be presented at Steelstacks on Friday (July 14) at 8pm and Saturday (July 15) at 11am during their Ps & Qs time. The show runs about 60 minutes. Tickets are $10 for both shows.

We mentioned that old-fashioned circus is character driven. Lucky is based on a character developed by one of the Atlas’ founders, Henry Evans. The Audience Guide believes in letting the art speak for itself as much as possible. Therefore, here’s a bit of the character:

Did you notice the “episode 9” in the beginning of the video? Head on to Atlas’ YouTube channel to see more of Henry’s work.

We heard one very special story about Henry Evans. When he was much younger and living in the New York City Area, he auditioned with the Pascal Rioult Dance company for a newly commissioned work called Small Steps, Tiny Revolutions. The production was a collaboration in 2007-08 with Zoellner Arts Center and Pascal Rioult. Deborah Sacarakis was the executive producer. Henry landed the main role of “Boy” in the production. Here’s a little video of that so you can see how he’s grown.

Yes, we’re oozing a bit of extra love for Henry. But there are two more performance in the Cirque-It festival worth mentioning.

Touchstone Theatre – Jakopa’s Punch Processional
(South Bethlehem Greenway Linear Park or Zoellner, if raining)
Jakopa’s Punch Processional will be presented on the Greenway on Friday (July 14) at 6:30pm and Saturday (July 15) at 6:30pm. The show runs about 60 minutes. FREE Admission.

Might want to bring a blanket or chair, a hat for the sun, sturdy shoes to walk with the performers….

….and DEFINITELY bug spray!!

Jakopa’s Punch origin story (yes, we at Audience Guide are fond of origin stories) starts with an idea from JP Jordan. He talked about it in the WDIY interview. But for a deeper dive into what he was talking about, here is a link to a blog post he wrote last October. After a rocking fund raiser in February, the band is back with more music and a story. Yodi Vaden created hand puppets and gigantic puppets to form the characters of the story. The band accompanies the show throughout; sometimes melancholy, sometimes rocking out with head thrashing moves. The entire production is amplified, thanks in great part to Jeff Roberts of The Lesson Center, and a few other sound engineer expertise (secret identities) of some of the band members.

We provide lots of dining ideas at the bottom of this post. But we wanted to share with you a special deal for 21+ at the Bonn Brewery. Get $1 off a pint when you say the secret code, “Jakopa sent me.” No extra discounts for pirate impersonations.

Since this is the premier of the show, there is no viable video. So we are sharing an album of images to give you some familiarity with what you will see at the performance.

Zoellner Arts Center – AcroBuffos Air Play
Air Play will be presented at Zoellner Arts Center on Saturday (July 15) at 5pm and Sunday (July 16) at 4pm. The show runs about 60 minutes. Tickets are $10 if you are under 17 years old or present college ID. $20 for “older” children (grandparents, favorite auntie, family friend who sees that mom needs a break during the summer once in a while….)

Acrobuffo’s Air Play will be presented on the Baker Hall stage. You may have only seen a few still images. This 4 minute video trailer will give you a much better insight into this show.

If you stayed until the end of that video, you may have read a credit that said the piece was developed at a number of different theaters, including Zoellner. If you’d like to look at other parts of Air Play, head over to the project website. This show will be presented at 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Might want to think about grabbing dinner after.

More Planning Resources and Ideas

Directions and Parking
Steelstacks
Zoellner Arts Center
Touchstone Theatre – The performances begin at the Chinese Harmony Pavilion on the 200 block of the South Bethlehem Greenway between Webster and Taylor Streets, and move one block east and west (100 block and 300 block of the Greenway).

• Enter 200 Mechanic St. Bethlehem, PA 18015 for directions.
• Look for volunteers and signs to guide you to the venue!

PARKING – FREE Parking
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Art’s Third and Taylor Streets Lot
(across from C Town on 3rd street) – thank you, Charter Arts!

Northampton Community College’s parking lots on Third St. on the west and east side of the building (be careful to check the signs, select spots in the West Lot are reserved for St. Luke’s) – thank you, NCC!

FREE Parking at Steelstacks for All shows there.
FREE Parking at Zoellner for the AcroBuffo shows only (Saturday & Sunday afternoon)

Metered Street Parking available on Mechanic St., which is parallel to the South Bethlehem Greenway and located North-South between Third and Fourth streets and East-West between New and Polk streets; and also, along Third & Fourth Streets and nearby side streets.

Metered Parking Lots
Lehigh Riverport Garage: a 10-minute walk, mostly along the South Bethlehem Greenway
Third St. Lot: this is a small lot and a 5-minute walk, mostly along the South Bethlehem Greenway
New St. Bridge Lot: this is a small lot next to Lehigh Pizza and a 10-minute walk, mostly along the South Bethlehem Greenway
Third & Webster St. Lot: this is a small lot and a 5-minute walk, mostly along the South Bethlehem Greenway

*Remember to check the maximum parking limit! The show will run approx. one hour. And yes, the Parking Authority will mark your tires. Check the Bethlehem Parking Authority Website for rules and to learn about the mobile parking app that helps you track your meter after you walk away from your car.

Recommended South Bethlehem Dining with Cirque-It
We recommend family dining in many South Bethlehem restaurants found close to all three venues. Each suggestion is linked directly to their menu. If you like what you see on the menu, you’re smart enough to find it’s address and figure out how close you are to the venue. Jenny’s Kuali, Molly’s Irish Grille and Sports Pub, La Lupita, Nawab, Lehigh Pizza, Sal’s Brick Oven Pizza, Shankara (Vegan), U & Tea Authentic Chinese Food (no menu online; Morning Call review as substitute), Southside 313 Bar & Grille, 24 Asian Bistro (Sushi). There’s also dining available in Steelstacks, and plenty of family friendly dining options inside the Sands Casino.

Other local news coverage of this cirque arts collaboration includes:
Morning Call on July 7th and again on July 12.
Lehigh Valley Style magazine (more on Henry Evans and Atlas)
Lehigh Valley Underground gave the Jakopa’s Punch Procession a little love.

You don’t need to travel outside the Lehigh Valley, but kids can still “run away to join the circus” this weekend.