Circus Smirkus!

The youthful spirit, enthusiasm and joy in performing of the teenage troupers is contagious and exhilarating for audiences of all ages. In 2007, Circus Smirkus celebrates its 20th birthday!

Based in tiny Greensboro VT, this acclaimed international youth circus began as no more than a fun idea in the mind of Rob Mermin, a professional clown and onetime head of Ringling Brothers' renowned Clown College.

After graduating from university, Mermin had vagabonded around Europe performing in a variety of small traveling circuses, an experience he came to cherish. He wanted to bring this rich and joyous experience to American youth.

Starting 20 years ago with a handful of local kids and a one-week tour of a few local parks, the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour has grown into a professional-quality company giving 70+ circus performances in a 750-seat European-style chapiteau (circus tent) in towns across New England, delighting nearly 50,000 cheering fans each summer.

The young circus troupers, aged 12 to 18, are all amateurs, but passionate about circus-arts. Professional coaches, program planners and costume designers help them make high-quality shows featuring top-notch artistic direction, tailor-made costumes, and live music.

Their youthful spirit, enthusiasm and joy in performing is contagious and exhilarating, no matter what your age.

Circus Smirkus is a non-profit educational organization. Part of the proceeds from many of its performances goes to local charities that help to stage the shows in their towns.

For details of Circus Smirkus's late-June through late-August touring schedule, see the Circus Smirkus website. Buy your tickets in advance if at all possible—many shows sell out!

If your child is interested in learning circus arts, you should know that Circus Smirkus also operates a summer circus camp in Vermont for kids (toddlers through teens), and a family camp. Many of the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour troupers honed their skills at Smirkus Camp. More...

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Circus Smirkus Website Vermont's Northeast Kingdom Northern Vermont Vermont Homepage