Circophony Teen Circus starts next week

Circophony Teen Circus, a collaboration between Oddfellows Playhouse and ARTFARM, offers 11 weeks of circus training this fall for young people ages 14 – 20. No experience is necessary, but a background in theater, dance, sports, comedy, parkour or acrobatics can be helpful.

Training will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 6 – 8 pm, starting September 17. Students may sign up for one or both evenings. The session will culminate in a Fall Circus Showcase on December 6, and students will have the opportunity to audition for Circophony’s winter main stage circus production.

Both evenings will feature general circus training – conditioning, acrobatics, object manipulation, physical comedy and ensemble – but Tuesdays will also offer a choice of intensive training in either Juggling or Contortion and Flexibility. Wednesday focus will be on all things acrobatic – partner acrobatics, tumbling and pyramids, as well as other circus skills.

All classes are held at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street in Middletown. Instructors are professional circus teaching artists and performers. Lead artists are Allison McDermott and Naja Muller, plus guest teachers. This is a chance to build your skills or start from scratch in a rigorous, fun, safe and non-competitive environment.

Tuition for one evening per week for 11 weeks is $150, or $250 for two evenings per week. Financial Aid or work-study is available for anyone who needs it. To register, or for more info, contact info@oddfellows.org, call (860) 347-6143, or go to www.oddfellows.org.

Check out this short video by Lila Delaronde to get a sense of what Circophony training looks like!

Next week also marks the beginning of theater, music, dance and visual arts classes starting at the Playhouse for ages six and up (programs for preschoolers will start October 5). Offerings for teens include Intro to Filmmaking, Acting & Scene Study, Teen Hip Hop Dance Company, and auditions for the Teen Repertory Company Mainstage production of Checkhov's The Seagull.