A unique brew of theater, circus, and cabaret, Paranormal Cirque is unleashing fun and fear upon Miami through Monday, January 21. The production, created by Cirque Italia, an Italian entertainment company that also runs a water circus, debuted last summer in Palmetto, Florida, and has been engaging audiences across the nation via its fear factor.
What happens when circus performers decide to frighten a grown-up audience
Putting a terrifying spin on traditional wonderment are 15 performers, a cast of international talent from countries such as Belarus, Italy, Mexico, Romania, and Senegal. Gergana Georgieva, a former Bulgarian gymnast, plays a showgirl and the movie character Maleficent in the spectacle and, like the other artists, also works in other capacities around the tent, including the ticket, vendor, and face-painting booths.
"This is special because there are unusual elements, something you never see in other shows," says Georgieva, who's been a circus performer for 12 years. "It is thrilling, wicked, sexy. There are no animals and a lot more theatrics, and the audience's participation makes sure that each show is unique."
Sarah J. Fish, who quit her job at a medical marijuana dispensary in Sarasota last year to run away with the
"Some people want to be scared, others chased," she says. "Some like to scream; others want to laugh. We respect boundaries, and it's all done in a smart way. We know when enough is enough."
Her partner, Josh VanDwelle, whose mad-doctor character chases people offstage, says that by delving into horror territory, the show taps into an audience that might otherwise not be motivated to go see a circus performance. "Our show is paranormal, adult-themed, and made not only for people who grew up loving the circus but also the sexy, the scary, and the unexpected. They enter a haunted house and can only go all the way in or get out."
Paranormal Cirque. Through January 21 at 1860 NE 123rd St., North Miami; paranormalcirque.com. Tickets cost $20 to $50 for adults and $10 to $50 for ages 13 to 17.