Annenberg Center Live Presents CIRQUE MECHANICS

Annenberg Center Live presents 42FT-A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels, the Philadelphia debut of show-stopping Cirque Mechanics, Sunday, February 17, at 2 PM. This brand new Cirque Mechanics show takes an industrial spin on traditional circus with acrobats on mechanical wonders, ageless stories spun in mid-air and astonishing theatrics for the whole family. Step right up ladies and gentlemen, and enter the Cirque Mechanics world of gears and canvas, pulleys and sawdust, all within 42FT. Visit AnnenbergCenter.org for ticket information.

A diameter of 42ft has been the measure of the circus ring for 250 years. Englishman Philip Astley discovered that horses galloping inside this ring provide the ideal platform for acrobatic feats. These equestrian acrobatics, along with clowns and flyers are a large part of what we've all come to know as the circus. The 250th anniversary of Astley's circus inspired Cirque Mechanics to produce a one-ring traditional circus show in their own modern mechanical way. 42FT - A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels follows the story of a down and out roustabout filled with wanderlust and enamored with the circus, willing to persevere in order to reach his dream of performing under the big top. 42FT displays life in a tent show by exposing the glamour inside the ring and the vitality of the back lot. To capture the authenticity of the traditional, Cirque Mechanics has assembled a veritable menagerie of circus acts worthy of the ring, including the strong man, the Russian swing, the trapeze, the ladder, slack wire and juggling. And, to celebrate the important role animals played in circus throughout its history, 42FT features a captivating performer riding on a stunningly life-like mechanical horse. In 42FT, Cirque Mechanics dares you to let your imagination run away and jump inside this remarkable ring full of the lore, the beauty, the grit and the thrill of the circus.

The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts serves as a major cultural destination and crossroads connecting Penn and the greater Philadelphia region through innovative human expression in theatre, music, dance, and film, serving an annual audience of almost 50,000. The Annenberg Center also serves as a key resource for the arts at Penn, connecting master artists with Penn students in support of and as an enhancement to the arts curriculum. Student performing arts groups are also key users of the Annenberg Center's multiple performance and rehearsal spaces, while also staffing many operational roles throughout the academic year. In reflection of Penn's core values as a world-respected academic institution, the Annenberg Center emphasizes artistic and intellectual excellence, diversity, and rigor in its presentations; prioritizes broad inclusiveness in the artists, audiences, and groups it serves; manages outstanding performance, conference, and meeting facilities; and stresses comprehensive event planning, production support, and customer service. The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a major provider of performing arts access for school children and actively engages a broad range of primary, secondary, and post-secondary student audiences and inclusive constituencies from the campus, community, and greater Philadelphia region. Visit www.AnnenbergCenter.org.

Photo Credit: Maike Schulz