Blending gravity-defying acrobatics with bawdy humor, illusionists, burlesque elements, dance, and spooky costumes, the Paranormal Cirque is full of thrills and chills. Audiences will be treated to an evening of creepy clowns, a comedy nun act involving audience participation, acrobats on high parallel bars, the Spiked Box and Fire Coffin illusions, a ballet dance, the Jigsaw Skit and the Wheel of Death.
The show will be held in a large tent in the parking lot of Southridge Mall, 5300 S. 76th St, near the Macy’s store entrance. Tickets begin at $10, and showtimes are 7:30 p.m. tonight and Friday, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Due to the adult nature of the performance, a parent or guardian is required for those under 18 to attend.
Cirque Italia creator Manuel Rebecchi founded the troupe in his native Italy in 2012. Rebecchi has been enthralled with the circus since he was young. As an adolescent, Rebecchi traveled with the Moira Orfei Circus, the most famous circus in Europe, founded by his aunt, Moira Orfei. The group now operates three shows: Paranormal Cirque, and The Silver and Gold units, which utilize water stages consisting of 35,000-gallon water tanks, of which there are only three in the world. Paranormal Cirque premiered last year in Palmetto, Florida, and has been going strong ever since.
The international cast of Paranormal performers come from families of circus performers, some even dating back eight generations. Cast members typically rehearse two to three hours a day and perform at venues across the nation 11 months out of the year. In addition to performing onstage, members also help ensure the show runs smoothly, working in vendor booths, ushering, setting up tents, and driving trucks.
Unlike traditional circuses, all Cirque Italia’s performers are human. According to a press release, Cirque Italia has “a strict no-animal policy” for its three shows, all of which “focus on testing the limits of human capabilities.”
Since its inception in 2018, Paranormal Cirque has amassed many fans who delight in being spooked and entertained simultaneously.
“It’s traditional circus arts with a dark horror theme,” said Cirque Italia and Paranormal Cirque public relations and media specialist Sarah Kessler. “It gets your adrenaline pumping—you’re on the edge of your seat the whole time.”
Event Details
Where: Southridge Mall parking lot near the Macy’s store entrance (5300 S. 76th St)
When: August 8-11
Tickets: Click here
View this post on Instagram
