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ALLENTOWN, PA. (June 13, 2017) \u2014 The circus is coming to Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre this summer \u2014 but don\u2019t expect any elephants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what circus is really about anymore,\u201d says Noah Dach with a laugh.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s about telling a story. And<\/em> it\u2019s about doing spectacular, amazing things like juggling, aerial acrobatics and magic.\u201d<\/p>\n Dach is the writer and director of \u201cWild,\u201d a world premiere all-ages circus production opening June 28<\/span> at Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre. The hour-long show tells the story of a young boy who runs away on an adventure through the unknown, through acrobatics, clowning, juggling, dance, and magic. The cast of ten (only eight perform in any particular performance) are all Muhlenberg students and alumni, veterans of a growing circus movement on campus.<\/p>\n \u201cWild\u201d runs June 28 \u2013 July 29<\/span> in Muhlenberg\u2019s 100-seat Studio Theatre. Showtimes are Wednesday<\/span> and Thursday<\/span> at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.<\/span> and on Friday<\/span> and Saturday<\/span> at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.<\/span>\u00a0 The show fills a slot in the MSMT schedule typically reserved for a family musical \u2014 but Dach emphasizes that, while children will love the show, adults will, too.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is truly a show for all ages,\u201d he says. \u201cThe story of a kid out on an amazing adventure is one that I think appeals to us at every age. And this incredibly talented cast has so many spectacular tricks up their sleeves. I\u2019m blown away every single day by what they can do.\u201d<\/p>\n Every performance of \u201cWild\u201d is followed by a free 45-minute activity workshop. Daytime Adventure Workshops will be pitched to children ages 4 to 12, and will feature clowning and juggling alongside creative movement and storytelling activities. Evening workshops are meant for participants of all ages, and will focus on developing some basic circus skills. This is the third season for MSMT\u2019s summer workshop program, with more than 500 participants each year.<\/p>\n \u201cWild\u201d marks Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre\u2019s first foray into modern circus performance, although interest in circus has been growing rapidly among students in Muhlenberg\u2019s Theatre & Dance Department. The department has offered aerial acrobatics classes since 2011, and Dach, a 2016 graduate, was among a group of theater and dance students who cofounded a Circus Workshop group in 2012. The Workshop\u2019s performances grew more elaborate with time, until the group was producing full-scale sold-out circus productions in the college\u2019s major theater venues.<\/p>\n Dach and two of his collaborators, Henry Evans and Tommy McCarthy, co-founded the Atlas Circus Company, which has been developing performances in and around New York City since the trio graduated. McCarthy serves as assistant director of \u201cWild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lot of students who are quite talented circus performers,\u201d says Karen Dearborn, chair of the college\u2019s Dance Program. Dearborn choreographed a dance piece incorporating aerial acrobatics for last season\u2019s \u201cMaster Choreographers\u201d concert, which featured Dach, Evans and McCarthy in its cast of eight dancers. \u201cThey have brought a whole new dimension to the dance program. It\u2019s been very exciting to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWild\u201d is the fourth original world-premiere family production from Muhlenberg\u2019s summer theater series. For each of the past three years, MSMT has produced an original piece by the Doppelskope company \u2014 \u201cGruff!\u201d in 2014, \u201cGrimm!\u201d in 2015, and last season\u2019s \u201cGrowl!\u201d \u201cGruff!\u201d has since been produced in New York City and is headed for an Off-Broadway run at the Vital Theatre Company in August.<\/p>\n Doppelskope co-founder Christopher Scheer \u2014 and co-creator of those three productions \u2014 is on hand again this summer as clowning director for \u201cWild.\u201d Scheer, a 2007 graduate, plays one of the denizens of the woods that the young boy meets, and brings his clowning expertise to the show\u2019s several comedic sequences. He and the rest of the cast also juggle, hang from silks, perform magic, and create an elaborate sound machine.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a really demanding show,\u201d Dach says. \u201cThe cast goes full-tilt for the entire hour \u2014 and they\u2019re doing it 40 times. They\u2019re going to be in the best shape of their lives by the end of the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n Prodution Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWild\u201d plays June 28 \u2013 July 29<\/strong> \u2014 Wednesday<\/span> and Thursday<\/span> at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.<\/span>, and Friday<\/span> and Saturday<\/span> at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.<\/span> Tickets are $11 for the first week and $13 for the rest of the run. Groups of $15 or more are $8 per ticket, and non-profit groups are $6 per ticket.<\/p>\n Relaxed (sensory friendly) performances<\/strong> will be offered Saturday, July 8 at 10 a.m.<\/span>, and Thursday, July 13<\/span>, at 1 p.m.<\/span>, designed for children with Autism and other sensory processing challenges. Lighting and sound levels will be adapted to minimize sensory impact; patrons will have easy access to the lobby during the performance; and concessions will be available during the show. Patrons are welcome to bring sensory tools, cushions, and quiet manipulatives for use during the performance. Visual guides will be available for download by June 22. Event sponsored by ARCH of Lehigh Valley (Autism Resource Community Hub).<\/p>\n Audio Description<\/strong> for patrons who are blind or low vision will be offered Thursday, July 20<\/span>, at 1 p.m. Patrons who utilize this service will wear headphones, and will be able to hear a description of the action on stage as it takes place.<\/p>\n Tickets and information are available at muhlenberg.edu\/smt<\/a> and 484-664.3333<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Information Provided By: ALLENTOWN, PA. (June 13, 2017) \u2014 The circus is coming to Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre this summer \u2014 but don\u2019t expect any elephants. \u201cThat\u2019s not what circus is really … Continue reading All-ages circus production \u2018Wild\u2019 to premiere at Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre, June 28 \u2013 July 29<\/span>
\nScott Snyder<\/b><\/span>
\nMuhlenberg College
\nDepartment of Theatre & Dance
\nContact: Scott Snyder, marketing manager
\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"