Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater to Present TIME FOR CIRCUS in Middletown

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater and Middletown Commission on the Arts presents The 28th Annual Children's Circus of Middletown: TIME for Circus.

This one-time-only show will be performed at 5 pm, Friday, July 29, at Spencer School, 207 Westfield Street, Middletown, CT. In the event of rain, the show will be at 5 pm, Saturday, July 30th. Tickets are available on the day of show, cash only at the gate, $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors.

The Children's Circus is an all-day five-week program involving 128 children ages 8-15. Participants learn a variety of circus skills, such as acrobatics, juggling, unicycling, stilt walking, clowning, and visual arts, while they build confidence, friendships, creativity and teamwork. The campers' hard work culminates in the main event on July 29, which also features a live circus band of local musicians led by Eric Kuhn, costumes by Marion Imbruglio, and scenic and prop design by Andrew Murdock.

TIME for Circus is an original theme created by Circus Director Jason Leinwand in collaboration with the MCA and Oddfellows Staff. The TIME for Circus theme reflects this year's change from a half-day circus program to an all-day program.

"TIME for Circus is a celebration of our new full-day program," said Leinwand. "With more time, our performers have been able to collaborate more, play more and learn more. With all this time, it only seemed fitting to explore time as a theme. Will we have time for breakfast? How will we kill time? Or will time just fly? These questions and more will be answered if you give us your time!"

The Children's Circus is part of the Middletown Commission on the Arts Kids Arts program. Stephan Allison, Coordinator of the City Arts Office said, "The Children's Circus has been a mainstay of the City of Middletown Commission on the Arts programming for over a quarter century. It has proven its success through its sustainability over the years. One constant is the joy the Circus brings to the participating children and the audiences who witness the finale. The Children's Circus gives new meaning to 'running away to the Circus' and it is embraced by the parents who send their children 'away'."

Parking for the performance is limited to street locations -- carpooling is recommended. Handicapped and elderly parking is available at Spencer School - call 860-347-6143 to reserve a parking spot or handicapped seating. Tickets are cash only at the gate, $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.

The circus is made possible by the City of Middletown Commission on the Arts, the Middlesex United Way, the Community Foundation of Middlesex Country, the Middletown Board of Education, and Oddfellows Playhouse's many generous supporters.

For more information, email info@oddfellows.org, call Oddfellows at (860) 347-6143 or visit oddfellows.org.

Founded in 1975, Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown, supports youth development and advances social justice by creating opportunities for all young people, ages 3-19, to directly participate in the performing arts. Our programs are fun, challenging, and educational and led by experienced teaching artists. Oddfellows offers plays, circus and theater classes, after-school and on Saturdays. Oddfellows has a generous financial aid program and after-school bus transportation is available to The Playhouse for children from Middletown Public Schools. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations to help us realize our mission. Though a modest fee is charged, 50% of our participants are living at or below poverty level and attend on scholarship -- no interested child is turned away.