The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus to perform at Roxbury Arts Group
They’re back! The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus is bringing its newest production "From the Gutter to the Glitter: A Night Out with the Bindlestiffs" to The Roxbury Arts Group on Saturday, April 21. They will also perform a children’s matinee, the “Bindlestiff ‘s Vaudville and Variety Extravaganza, ” on the same day.
The children’s performance will be at 2 pm and will feature
Pink Lady and Mr. Pennygaff performing juggling, feats of equilibrism, masterful
prop manipulation, daring Sideshow stunts and an exhibition of neat penmanship.
It will be a unique opportunity for young people to witness amazing circus
skills up close and personal. The matinee is at 2 pm. Children 12 and under
will be admitted for $5. Accompanying adults, $10.
The evening performance begins at 8 pm, and all seats are $12. Bindlestiff fans will be pleased to know that the show includes a few audience favorites such as Mr. Pennygaff's sword swallowing exposition, Philomena's precision target bull whip act, and their signature balloon act.
There will, however, be many new surprises including a sousaphone, a juggling menage a trois, and a dozen roses.
This three-performer production features Bindlestiff Family Cirkus co-starts and founders, Keith Nelson (aka Mr. Pennygaff) and Margaretville native Stephanie Monseu (aka Philomena), along with the live piano accompaniment of Peter Bufano, former Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus clown. The show takes the audience on an intimate tour of American entertainment. Paying homage to the evolution of live performance in America, from the variety stages of the 1860's to the Rat Pack-era lounges of the 1950's, to the razle-dazzle circus spectacles of today, "From the Gutter to the Glitter: A Night Out with the Bindlestiffs" is a non-stop display of variety art. This new production features novelty songs, well choreographed routines, and a display of musical comedy celebrating its roots in "illegitimate theater"—variety houses and burlesque.
Since 1995 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has traveled the world, bringing
its unique hybrid of vaudeville, circus, burlesque, and sideshow to theaters,
clubs, colleges, and festivals. The company has produced innumerable cabaret
shows, custom performances for special audiences, all-ages and family productions,
and sophisticated adult shows. Over the last five years the company has begun
developing more theatrical productions, including 2001's Buckaroo Bindlestiff's
Wild West Gender Bender Jamboree, 2003's High Heels & Red Noses, and
2005's From the Gutter to the Glitter: A Night Out with the Bindlestiffs.
In 2004 Bindlestiff instituted its annual children's performance program,
the Cavalcade of Youth, in which young performers and technical staff (ages
8-20) have the opportunity to hone their skills with variety arts professionals.
The Bindlestiff Family co-founders are Stephanie Monseu and Keith Nelson, who over the last decade have hosted a variety of outrageous talent under the Bindlestiff banner. Individually both Keith and Stephanie provide a vast array of talents, from public relations to booking to performing. Their personal dedication to the variety arts, circus, vaudeville, sideshow, and burlesque has made the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus famous both among audiences and within the variety performance community.
From 2002 to 2004 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus operated the "last vaudeville house in Times Square." In conjunction with chashama, Bindlestiff opened Bindlestiff's Palace of Variety and the Free Museum of Times Square. The Palace presented up to five performances a day, presenting continuous vaudeville shows on 42nd Street and hosting nearly thirty other productions.
The size of the Cirkus can range from two to sixteen performers, depending on the show. Over 200 performers from a multitude of disciplines have entertained Bindlestiff audiences across the country and around the world. Bindlestiff has brought its grand spectacle to hundreds of thousands from a live stage, and over a million through television. Dedicated fans come back again and again expecting the very best and most original acts working today.
In 2006 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Magic Hat Summer Variety Show
made its debut tour. Co-sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing Company, this production
sought to bring circus to festivals and music stages up and down the East
Coast. 2006 also marked the first year the Bindlestiff performed in a Spiegeltent.
This European style cabaret tent provided the perfect background for the
Bindlestiff Cirkus spectacle.
The Bindlestiffs are great favorites with RAG audiences, so book tickets
for both shows early. (607) 326-7908.