Musicians Needed for Children's Circus Band

The Children’s Circus of Middletown, run by Oddfellows Playhouse as part of the Middletown Commission on the Arts’ Kids Arts program, is, once again, looking for musicians to play in its circus band. The band is open to all adult and teenage musicians willing to make the commitment to rehearsals and the performance on Friday, August 3 at 5:00 pm. Band director is well-known local musician, Dirck Westervelt.


 Percussion, horns, woodwinds, strings (electric or acoustic) are all needed. There will be an organizational meeting (and jam session) on Thursday, June 28 from 6-9 pm at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown, but it is not necessary to attend this meeting in order to participate. Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 pm, beginning July 7. Although attendance at all rehearsals is not compulsory, band members are expected to have consistent attendance and must be available for the dress rehearsal on August 2 and the performance at Macdonough School on August 3 at 5pm. Professional or highly experienced musicians are often able to “sit in” by coming to a few rehearsals before the show.

 This is the 24th annual Children’s Circus, a 5-week program for Middletown youngsters ages 8 to 14. Over 200 young people learn such skills as juggling, stilt-walking, clowning, unicycling, acrobatics, and dance and present the results in a stupendous outdoor show, accompanied by live music by the circus band. The show annually attracts an audience of over 1,200.  There are still spaces open in the program for interested participants.

    To sign up for the circus band, please call Oddfellows Playhouse at (860) 347-6143 or contact Dirck Westervelt at (203) 577-7548 or dirckwestervelt@earthlink.net.