On Wednesday, Nov. 2, Dr. Ante Ursic hosted a Zoom discussion about how Circus Amok makes glamour strange while simultaneously queering circus. Ursic is an assistant professor in the ETSU Theatre and Dance Department.
Circus Amok is a New York City based circus-theater company. They are known for providing free public art that addresses contemporary issues in America. The group was founded and is directed by Jennifer Miller and has been around since 1989.
According to the Circus Amok website, “Traditional circus skills — tight rope walking, juggling, acrobatics, stilt walking, clowning — are combined with experimental dance, life-size puppetry, music old and new, gender-bending performance art and improvisational techniques, creating new meanings for circus while continuing to entertain crowds of all ages throughout the city streets, gardens, parks, and playgrounds.”
While the group started doing performances at P.S. 122 in 1989, they then decided to start developing and performing free outdoor performances in 1994. They can be found in public parks in the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Circus Amok specializes in dealing with political and sometimes controversial issues in a comedic way. Jenny Romaine, a performer and musical director for more than 20 years, spoke on this topic for the BKReader, and Brooklyn-based newspaper.
“I think with comedy, you get to re-center what’s normal. You can pull back frames that are considered “natural” and get a new perspective,” said Romaine.
The group changes the titles and content of their plays every four years. In the past ten years, their shows have been titled, “Moo,” “At the Crossroads,” and “Enough is Enough.” The circus will be set to have a new title in 2023.
The Zoom was recorded and will be released on YouTube in the coming weeks.
