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Hideaway Circus Podcast

Hosted by creative producers Josh & Lyndsay Aviner, the Hideaway Circus Podcast features industry analysis and interviews with creators in circus, theater, and dance.
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Hideaway Circus Podcast
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 11, 2017
On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay talk about the new show Opium from Spiegelworld, an upcoming theme park in Miami from the founder of Cirque Du Soleil, the search for an executive director at New England Center for Circus Arts, and discuss recent changes and lawsuits relating to non-profit theaters and their artistic management. They also sit down for a chat with the co-founder and director of Circus Warehouse, Suzi Winson. Suzi recounts her time as a professional dancer and actor on Broadway, publishing a poetry magazine, finding her way to circus and running New York City's most professional circus training facility. If you like today's episode, please rate us on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends. Have a great week!
 
[14:57] Growing up in NYC studying ballet
[17:40] Suzi's first Broadway show and what made her stand out
[29:45] Her time running a poetry and literary magazine
[36:35] Suzi's introduction to circus through clowning and flying trapeze
[46:41] The growth of Circus Warehouse
Nov 30, 2017

On today's episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about new changes to Cirque Du Soleil, the Spongebob Squarepants Broadway musical, and recent rehearsals with a duo Cyr Wheel couple. They also sit down for an interview with Adam Krandle also known by his burlesque character's name The Evil Hate Monkey. Adam is award-winning acrobatic burlesque legend crowned Las Vegas king of burlesque in 2010, he also recently finished a tour with the Australian all-male cabaret Briefs. If you enjoy today's episode, please rate the show in Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Have a great week!

Nov 20, 2017
On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay talk about new bans on the use of wild animals in circuses and dissect the 2017/2018 Broadway musical lineup. They also sit down for an interview with the contortionist and handstand artist Elayne Kramer. Elayne is an eight generation circus performer and previous winner at the Monte Carlo circus festival; she's also one of the stars of the new Big Apple Circus show and we make sure to ask her what her take is on the new version of the company. If you enjoy today's episode, please rate us on iTunes and share the show with a friend or family member. Have a great week and Thanksgiving!
 
[10:39] Growing up in Argentina and the US in a circus family
[14:14] Learning contortion and handstands starting at age 4
[21:02] Competing in the Monte Carlo circus festival
[32:50] Adapting her act for different genres of circus (classical vs contemporary)
[38:45] The differences between the old and new Big Apple Circus
[44:00] Elayne's most painful trick
Nov 14, 2017
On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay recount their time at Bindlestiff Open Variety Night, discuss the New York Times review of Big Apple Circus and a talk about the future of the entertainment sector by TPG founder Jim Coulter (TPG owns a majority stake in Cirque Du Soleil). They also traveled to Philadelphia to interview Shana Kennedy the founder of Circadium and the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. Circadium is the first advanced training circus program to offer a vocational degree in circus arts in the U.S. If you enjoy today's episode, please rate the show on iTunes and share it with your friends. Have a great week!

[10:03] Growing up in suburban Massachussettes

[13:30] Traveling to circus school in Bristol, England
[19:35] Moving back to Philadelphia and starting Air Play
[25:31] The beginning of Circadium
[26:20] A day in the life of a Circadium student
[44:14] What's going on with circus in America these days?
[46:15] Circadium's upcoming auditions
Nov 6, 2017
On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay recount their experience at the newly revived Big Apple Circus, the 6th annual New York Boylesque Festival, and a recent performance by the dance troupe Pilobolus at the Queens Theater. They also sit down for an interview with Mark Lonergan, the founder of the three-time Drama Desk nominated physical theater company Parallel Exit. Mark also directed Big Apple Circus the past two seasons and Circus Smirkus this year. We talk about the differences between directing theater and circus, and compare the old Big Apple to the new one. If you enjoy today's episode, please rate us on iTunes and share the podcast with a friend. Have a great week!

[13:30] Growing up in "English Canada"

[19:08] Mark on moving to New York City for the first time

[21:41] The growth of Parallel Exit
[29:32] The first time Mark directed the Big Apple Circus
[34:40] On creative directing Circus Smirkus
[44:25] What the new Big Apple Circus is like
Oct 24, 2017

On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about new circus related laws in New York State, their recent virtual reality shoot in Montreal with Valerie Doucet, how to get tickets to the upcoming Harry Potter show on Broadway, and discuss the new Broadway musical The Bands Visit. They also sit down for an interview with the Australian juggler, Olivia Porter. They discuss her time growing up and working in the Brisbane circus scene, touring in America with Circus Oz, contemporary juggling and how to create new material and techniques, and Olivia's upcoming projects. If you enjoy today's episode please rate us on iTunes and share the podcast with your friends. 

  • [11:06] Growing up in Brisbane
  • [23:01] Leaving Brisbane thanks to the Adelaide Fringe
  • [24:10] Touring with Circus Oz and her first time in the U.S.
  • [34:57] Olivia on creating new shows, tricks, and material
  • [40:10] What happens when you drop while juggling?

Video of Olivia juggling

Oct 10, 2017
On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay chat about an amazing new dance piece from Justin Peck and the NYC Ballet, the magic show In & Of Itself, and Hideaway's recent performance at the Future of Storytelling Festival. They also call up the hilarious Amy Saunders to talk about her career as a comedian and sword swallower as well as her new show in Las Vegas, The Miss Behave Game Show. If you enjoy today's episode, please rate us on iTunes and share the podcast with your friends. Have a great week!

[13:10] Coming of age in London and the nightclub scene

[17:03] Learning how to swallow swords (or rulers)

[24:52] Amy set's world records on TV
[30:48] Going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time
[33:33] Amy on doing street shows
[39:31] The formation of La Clique (also known as La Soirree)
[47:47] The story of Miss Behave Game Show and what it's all about!
Sep 26, 2017
On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay recount their trip across the U.S. while working on a new show with Keone and Mari Madrid, update you on exciting news with Miss Behave Game Show, review Cirque Du Soleil's KA and discuss the closing of the CDS New York theatrical division. Josh and Lyndsay also call up Olympic athlete of the year, 7 time National Champion acrobatic gymnast, circus performer, entrepreneur and motivational speaker Christine Van Loo. They discuss her career, the transition between athletics and circus, working in special events, and running a circus school abroad. If you enjoy today's episode please share it with your friends and rate us on iTunes. Have a great week!

[14:51] How Christine got into acrobatic gymnastics (sports acro)

[23:11] The transition between athletics and performing

[27:54] Training circus for the first time and making a promo video
[33:59] Creating circus for television (NBC) and musical concerts (Paul McCartney, Britney Spears)
[39:15] Starting Airborne Arts in Costa Rica and getting into motivational speaking
Aug 22, 2017

On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay talk about a new circus school opening in Philadelphia next month, a New York Times article about the premiere Russian state circus school, and sit down for an interview with Trav SD. Trav is revered circus and variety critic, journalist, and playwright. We talk a lot in the episode about the history of circus and vaudeville and Trav's career as a writer. If you enjoy the episode, please share it with your amigos and rate us on iTunes. Have a great week!


[07:36] - Growing up in RI and falling for theatre
[15:22 ] - Working for Tony Bennett and Big Apple Circus
[20:20] - Writing career takes off
[23:10] - Defining Vaudeville
[25:51] - On writing No Applause - Just Throw Money and Travalanche
[29:25] - Trav on "When did the circus become un-American"
[46:35] - Trav's new show in development
Aug 17, 2017
On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay share more great news from Miss Behave Game Show, unrest with Big Apple Circus and Lincoln Center, and tease the upcoming Future of Storytelling Festival in NYC. They also sit down for an interview with theater producer and entrepreneur Randy Weiner. To name just a few, Randy's productions include the Donkey Show, The Box, Sleep No More, Queen of The Night, Seeing You and Cirque Du Soleil's Amaluna. If you enjoy the episode please share it with your friends and rate us on iTunes. Have a great week!

[12:10] - Growing up in New York City in the 70s

[20:33] - How Randy met his wife Diane Paulus in high school

[26:52] - Randy's first hit, a hip hop musical called Club XII
[37:57] - Back to NYC with the Donkey Show
[43:51] - Origins of The Box
[49:39] - Bringing Sleep No More to NYC
[54:23] - Josh & Lyndsay's Queen of the Night bad date story
[1:02:24] - Randy's creation process
Aug 3, 2017
On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about the 30th anniversary tour of Circus Smirkus, their Las Vegas show the Miss Behave Game Show, and the latest news on their virtual reality circus experience. They also sit down for an interview with Nat Brown, the highly regarded circus tent expert who's worked with Circus Smirkus, Big Apple Circus, Cirque Du Soleil, Cavalia, and many more. If you've ever been curious about how tents are set up and made, then this episode is for you. If you enjoy today's show please share it with your friends and rate us on iTunes. Have a great week!
 

[14:28] Nat's start with Smirkus's tent crew

[18:15] How do circus tents gets raised? And who does it?
[23:20] The differences between raising a small tent vs a large tent like Cirque Du Soleil
[27:21] Repairing broken tents and Nat's favorite 'horror' story

[32:40] Who makes the best tents?
[36:12] Nat's beautiful new tent, Charlotte

[42:05] How to run away with tent crew

 
 
Nat's crewing company: crewthat.com
Jul 21, 2017

On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay talk about the good news from the New England Center for Circus Arts, the bad news from Harvard University's acting program, some changes happening at Ecole Nationale De Cirque, and a new musical podcast. They also sit down the Corey Tabino, the artistic director of Circus Maine to discuss his career and the new school he's started in Portland. If you enjoy the episode please share it with your friends and rate us on iTunes. Have a great week!

  • [16:06] Growing up in Staten Island
  • [20:40] Dropping out of ENC in the 90's
  • [25:45] Touring with Saltimbanco and a generation of artists
  • [29:38] Teaching around the world
  • [35:40] The story of Circus Maine
Jul 14, 2017

On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay dive deep into the current drama happening in Brattleboro, Vermont with the New England Center for Circus Arts. They also discuss Cirque Du Soleil's acquisition of Blue Man Group, a new show from Spiegelworld and Steven Hoggett, Hideaway Circus's new show in Las Vegas: Miss Behave Game Show, and the changing demographics within the American circus community. If you like the episode, please rate the podcast iTunes and share it with you friends. Have a great week!

Jun 17, 2017
Episode 42- The Play That Goes Wrong with Rob Falconer and Greg Tannahill

On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about a new show from Cirkus Cirkor, new regulations about exotic animals in NYC, and sit down for an interview with Rob Falconer and Greg Tannahill, cast members in the Tony Award winning show The Play That Goes Wrong. They talk about the creation and running of the Broadway show, devising comedy work with an ensemble, how it played it different countries, and much, much more. If you enjoy today's episode, please rate us on iTunes and share the podcast with your friends!
  • [14:35] What is the Play That Goes Wrong?
  • [23:36] The creation the show
  • [29:35] The growth of Mischief Theater company
  • [34:48] Difference between Broadway and the West End
  • [44:35] Designing the set of the Play That Goes Wrong
  • [52:13] The future of the production
May 22, 2017
On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay recount their evening at the final performance of Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus, a new magic show at Atlantic Theater, and some casting news from Big Apple Circus. They also sit down with the very talented circus composer and clown Peter Bufano to talk about his career and writing music for the circus. Peter even takes a part one of his latest tracks and explains how he wrote it. If you enjoy the episode, please rate us on iTunes and share the podcast with your friends!
 
[16:00] - Growing up in New England
[19:10] - Torn between being a musician and a clown
[27:21] - Auditioning for Ringling Bros
[32:18] - Differences between composing for circus and for film 
[38:48] - Peter on finding his sounds and styles
[45:18] - Peter Song Explodes 'The Romantic'
[58:33] - Reflecting on the end of Ringling Bros
 
Peter's latest Cirkestra album online and on Spotify. Peter's podcast online and on iTunes.
 
May 8, 2017

On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about the final performances of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, their latest updates on the virtual reality Kickstarter campaign, lessons circus artists can take from playwright collectives, and finally Josh interviews circus artist and vlogger, Lea Toran Jenner. Lea and her partner are currently performing aduo cyr wheel act at the Moulin Rouge, she previously won a bronze medal at the Cirque De Demain Festival in Paris, and she creates daily Youtube videos about her day to day life. If you enjoy the episode please share it with your friends and rate us on iTunes. Have a great week!

  • [12:07] Discovering a passion for circus
  • [14:20] Switching disciplines in circus school
  • [17:22] Finding work after the Paris festival
  • [23:00] Working at the Moulin Rouge
  • [26:01] Going to film school during the day
  • [32:31] The #1 question all circus performers get asked

David Lewis Hammarstom's new book on the history of Ringling

Tickets to the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus: Cardboard and Ducktape Spectacular

Apr 18, 2017
On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about Cuisine and Confessions, Circus 1903, a compelling theory about Disney and Ringling Brothers, and sit down for an interview with the co-founder of the New England Center for Circus Arts, Elsie Smith. They also talk about Elsie's time in San Francisco, being on tour with Saltimbanco, and of course the journey of creating America's longest running professional circus training program. If you enjoy the episode please like us on Facebook and rate the podcast on iTunes. Have a great week! 
  • [16:12] Growing up 'in the middle of nowhere'
  • [25:45] Heading to San Francisco, the Pickles, and SF Circus Center
  • [29:36] On tour with Cirque Du Soleil's Saltimbanco
  • [35:00] Moving to Vermont and starting Nimble Arts
  • [38:50] Growing NECCA and their new professional training program
  • [46:07] NECCA's current fundraising campaign
  • [51:14] On creating new acts and new apparatuses

Did Disney Kill the Circus? 

New England Center for Circus Arts Indiegogo Campaign

 

Mar 27, 2017

On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay sit down with Sydney based circus producer and creator Lauren Eisinger. They talk about their experiences at the Adelaide Fringe, the differences between circus in Australia and the United States, and various challenges of independently producing. Also on the episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about news with Big Apple Circus and have a secret discount for the upcoming 7 Finger's show Cuisine and Confessions playing in NYC this April. If you enjoy the show, please rate us on iTunes and share it with a friend. Have a great week!

  • [22:00] Lauren's background in producing
  • [26:02] The Adelaide Fringe and five years of experience
  • [30:45] Redefining the term 'Classical Circus'
  • [36:21] Funding for circus in Australia 
  • [38:00] Performing animals in Australian circus
  • [46:38] Cutting through the noise among 1,200 shows at the Fringe
  • [55:30] Youth education in circus 
Mar 1, 2017

On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about the shows they've seen at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and government funding for circus in the U.S. versus Australia. Enjoy this week's mini episode! If you do, please share it with your friends and rate us on iTunes. Have a great week!

Feb 6, 2017

On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay sit down with circus and theater producer Ross Mollison. Ross founded the production company Spiegelworld and has produced hit shows including Slava Snow Show, Puppetry of the Penis, and his current production, Absinthe at Caesars Palace. Josh and Lyndsay also talk about Superbowl LI and the results of the Big Apple Circus auction. If you enjoy the episode please rate us on iTunes and share it with your friends!

  • [05:55] Ross's childhood in Melbourne
  • [15:35] On producing a tented version of the musical Cats
  • [19:52] Ross on Slava Snow Show and PoP
  • [34:33] Spiegelworld gets it start at the South Street Seaport
  • [38:20] Putting up a tent in Times Square
  • [41:07] Ross on Vegas Nocturne
  • [49:06] Josh, Lyndsay, and Ross discuss the current state of circus
Jan 29, 2017
On this week's episode, Josh and Lyndsay discuss the closing announcement of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the bankruptcy auction of Big Apple Circus, SLUMBER's upcoming run at the Adelaide Fringe, and their new VR circus experience. They also sit down for an interview with Ottavio and Naomi Gesmundo aka Mr. and Mrs. G. Ottavio and Naomi perform a breathtaking crossbow stunt act and have worked all over the world with many circuses, on Broadway, and in Las Vegas casinos. They also discuss Ottavio's new book "The Grand Gypsy" which chronicles the six generations of Italian circus performers. If you enjoy the episode please rate us on iTunes and share the podcast with your friends and family. Have a great week!
  • [24:58] Growing up in a circus family
  • [33:01] Meeting one another on the Dutch production of Aida
  • [41:32] Moving from NYC to Las Vegas
  • [43:15] How Ottavio and Naomi learned to shoot crossbows
  • [50:20] Ottavio and Naomi on the importance of their yoga practice
  • [1:01:05] Ottavio on "The Grand Gypsy"
  • [1:10:38] On Ringling and the future of circus
Jan 11, 2017

On this week's episode Josh and Lyndsay reveal their next show... hint hint it has to do with partying. They also sit down with one of Josh's closest friends, Sebastian Kann who is a writer, aerialist, and circus dramaturg currently studying in Holland. They chat about Sebastian's thesis on circus composition and movement as well as some of the conversations had about contemporary circus in academic environments. Josh and Lyndsay also chat about Atlantic Theater Company's latest show and new books they're reading. If you like the episode, please share it with your friends and rate it on iTunes. Have a great week!

  • [09:50] Sebastian and Josh meet as kids
  • [13:07] Sebastian on Smirkus and ENC
  • [24:10] Moving to Europe and getting injured
  • [32:15] Graduate school for circus dramaturgy
  • [36:44] Sebstian's first thesis and early lectures
  • [42:25] The relevance of story within circus
Jan 5, 2017

Happy 2017! On this week's podcast, Josh and Lyndsay sit down for an interview with the renowned juggler and clown Adam Kuchler. They talk about growing up in Wisconsin, joining the road with Ringling, working with Les Sept Doigts, act creation, and virtual reality. Also on this episode, Josh and Lyndsay talk about their successful Kickstarter campaign, Ottavio Gesmundo's new book "The Grand Gypsy," and about the shows they've seen recently. If you enjoy the podcast please share it with your friends and rate us on iTunes. Have a good week!

  • [09:58] Growing up in Wisconsin
  • [13:10] On the road with Circus Smirkus
  • [22:48] Adam's time with Ringling and Barnum & Bailey
  • [43:25] Audition for Les Sept Doigt's 'La Vie'
  • [52:57] Dream job with Circus Flora
  • [57:01] Creating virtual reality circus experiences
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