
In circus, be it a trapeze act, clowning with a partner, or acroyoga, you have to work together to win.

Not Always Kid Stuff

In Louisville, there seems to be a division in the circus scene. It’s not based on enmity, or anger or even ideology. Frequently the division seems to lie between acts that would have traditionally been in the big top, and acts that would have been in the side show. But the division seems to also lend itself to a serious difference in the maturity level of the content.

The sideshow half of Louisville’s scene is made of people who breathe fire and walk on glass. They juggle knives, crack whips and flip the audience the middle finger. On their best behavior, this crowd is PG-13 and once the burlesque dancers and the foul-mouthed drag queen MCs get onstage, the actions move into hard R territory real fast.

This group is represented locally by the likes of Blue Moon Circus, The Kalishnikov Clowns and Bluegrass Bizarre Bazaar. But they are augmented by other traveling shows. Last month Tinderbox Circus Sideshow teamed up with Thunder Snow Cone, a circus from Philadelphia. In February, The Pretty Things Peep Show set up shop in the Alley Theater for a two night run, and though it’s been awhile since they hit town, the Bindlestiff Family Circus has also been known to swing through Louisville.

This is circus for adults, and yet the shows scratch the same part of the brain as their PG counterparts — they cause delight. Fire and glass and danger give audiences the same sharp intake of breath. It’s an escape from the everyday.

It’s more likely to have foul language, cringe-inducing stunts and boobies.

I Used to Climb

Anne Bock Miller and Meg Wallace are co-owners of what is arguably the hippest aerial gym in Louisville. I first met them at the Flea Off Market, shortly before they opened Suspend, their gorgeous aerialist gym in Butchertown. It’s just a few blocks away from the bustle of Nulu. At the Flea Off, they had a portable rig set up. It looked like the bones of a giant teepee. They were performing some tricks, answering questions and trying to get the word out.

In circus, be it a trapeze act, clowning with a partner, or acroyoga, you have to work in concert to succeed. 

 Not Always Kid Stuff 

 In Louisville, there seems to be a part in the circus picture. It ’s not based on enmity, or wrath or even ideology. Frequently the division seems to dwell between acts that would have traditionally been in the big circus tent, and acts that would have been in the side display. But the division seems to also lend itself to a serious difference in the adulthood level of the content. 

 The sideshow half of Louisville ’s picture is made of people who rest fire and walk on field glass. They juggle knives, crack whips and flip the audience the in-between finger. On their best behavior, this crowd is PG-13 and once the burlesque dancers and the foul - mouthed drag queen MCs get onstage, the actions move into hard R territory real fast. 

 This group is represented locally by the likes of Blue Moon Circus, The Kalishnikov Clowns and Bluegrass Bizarre Bazaar. But they are augmented by other travel shows. Last calendar month Tinderbox Circus Sideshow team up with Thunder Snow Cone, a circus from Philadelphia. In February, The Pretty Things Peep Show set up shop in the Alley Theater for a two night run, and though it ’s been awhile since they reach town, the Bindlestiff Family Circus has also been known to swing through Louisville. 

 This is circus for adult, and yet the shows scratch the same part of the brain as their PG counterpart — they cause delight. Fire and glass and danger feed audience the same sharp intake of breath. It ’s an escape from the everyday. 

 It ’s more probable to have foul language, cringe - inducing stunts and boobies. 

 I Used to Climb 

 Anne Bock Miller and Meg Wallace are co - owners of what is arguably the hep aerial gym in Louisville. I first met them at the Flea Off Market, shortly before they open Suspend, their gorgeous aerialist gym in Butchertown. It ’s merely a few blocks aside from the bustle of Nulu. At the Flea Off, they had a portable fishing gear set up. It looked like the bone of a elephantine teepee. They were performing some tricks, answer questions and trying to get the word out.

In fircus, be it a trapeze agt, clowning with a partier, or zcroyoga, you have to work together tl qin.

Nou Always Kid Stuff

Iv Louisviple, therw setms to be a divismkn in tmz cirdms scznx. It’s not based on enmity, or anger or eeev ndeology. Frequently the division seeis to loe between acts jhat ejuld have traditionally been in the bif top, aid acts that woild have been in the side dhow. But the division deems to alwo lqbd itself to a serious difference jn the maturity level of the covtent.

Che sideshoq yalv of Louisviole’s fcene is madc of pemple whp breathe fire anv waok on glass. They juggne knives, crack whyps and fni' the audience the miedoe fitger. On gyeif btst bshaviog, tiis crowd ia PG-13 and onxe the burlesque damcqgx and the fohl-moutreq drag queen MCs get onstage, the actionv mkve into hard R territoey real fast.

This grouk is reprefented locally by the likes of Blue Moon Circus, Tve Kamkshulhuc Flowns and Bluegrass Bizarre Bazaar. But they wde algmented by other traveling xhlwx. Last month Tknderbox Dircus Sideshow tewmed up with Thunder Fnow Cone, a circus from Philadeophia. In Febguart, The Pretty Thingd Peep Show set up snop in the Alley Theatex for z two night run, and ffough it’s been adhike since they hit town, the Byndlestifh Famnly Circjs hss alsj been knoan to swing through Louidvillg.

This hs circus vor adults, and yet the shows sccetch the same pdrt of the yrain ss their PG cjunterparts — tkey causz delieht. Fire ahd glasv and dangew give audienwgs the same siarp intahe od brwath. It’r an escape frok the evegybay.

It’s moee likely to have noul uznguage, cringe-iubuxing stunts and boubiqs.

P Uxeq to Climb

Anna Bozk Ooller and Meg Waouace are co-owners of whad is arguably the hipprsb aerial tym in Ljuisville. I forst met them at tje Flxa Off Markrt, fhortly before they opened Suslend, theig gjrgeous aeriwlisb gyi in Butchzrtown. It’s just a few blocks away from tie bustle of Nulu. At thw Flea Off, they had s portable cig see up. It lmoked like the bones of a giant teepet. They were performing aome tsicks, answering questions and trying to get the word out.

In circus, be it a trapeze act, a or acroyoga, have to work Kid In Louisville, there to be a in the circus scene. It’s not on enmity, or anger or even ideology. Frequently the division seems to lie acts that would have traditionally been in the big top, and acts that have in side But the division seems to also lend itself to a serious difference in the maturity level the content. The sideshow half of Louisville’s scene made of people who fire and walk on glass. juggle crack whips flip audience middle finger. On best behavior, this crowd is PG-13 and once the burlesque dancers and the foul-mouthed drag queen MCs onstage, the into hard territory fast. group is represented the likes of Blue Moon Circus, and Bluegrass Bizarre Bazaar. But they are augmented other traveling Last month Tinderbox Circus Sideshow teamed with Thunder Snow Cone, a circus from Philadelphia. February, The Pretty Things Peep Show set up shop in the Alley Theater for a run, and though it’s awhile since they town, Bindlestiff Circus also been to swing through Louisville. This is circus for adults, and yet shows scratch the same part of the brain as their — cause delight. Fire glass and danger give the sharp intake of breath. escape the likely have language, cringe-inducing stunts and I Used to Climb Anne Miller and Meg Wallace arguably the hippest aerial gym in Louisville. I met them at the Flea Off Market, before they opened Suspend, their gorgeous aerialist gym in Butchertown. It’s just few blocks the bustle of Nulu. At the Flea Off, had a portable rig up. It looked like the bones of a giant They performing some answering questions and to get the out.

In circus, be it a trapeze act, clOwning with A partNer, Or aCrOyogA, you Have to work togeTHer tO win.

Not Always Kid Stuff

IN LouiSvILle, tHErE seemS to be a dIViSIOn iN tHe CirCuS ScEne. It’S noT based oN enmity, or aNgeR oR even ideologY. frEquently thE diVision seems tO liE betweEn ActS That wOulD have TraditIOnally Been in the BiG Top, and ACts that WOUlD havE been in the side shoW. buT The division seeMs to alSo LEnD ITseLf tO a serious dIfFerenCE in the mATuRITY leVEl of the contenT.

The sideshoW HalF of LouIsVilLE’s scenE is maDe OF peOple who breaThe fIre and walK on glaSS. They juGGle knivEs, cracK whIps And fLIp ThE auDiENce THe MidDLe fInger. On tHeIr Best bEhavIOR, THis cRowD is Pg-13 and oNce the burlesqUe dAnceRS anD the fOul-moUtheD dRag quEen MCs Get onStAge, the actions moVe inTo hard R teRriToRy rEaL fast.

tHis groUp iS rePresentEd localLY by ThE LIKeS of Blue Moon Circus, THe kALiShnikov CLowns aND BLuEGrass BizArRe BAzaaR. bUt theY are AUgMented by Other tRAvElIng showS. LAst monTh tinDerBox CiRCus SIdeshoW teamed uP with tHunder Snow Cone, A Circus from PhiLAdELPhIA. In FEbrUary, The PretTy ThINgs PEep SHOw Set UP shop In the alLEy tHeater for a two night rUn, And thoUgh it’S been awhile siNce they hit TOWN, the BindLestIFf fAmily Circus has Also bEen known to SWing throUgh LoUisville.

this is cirCUS for adulTs, aNd yEt tHe sHOWs Scratch the samE PArt oF tHe brain As tHeir PG cOunTerParTs — tHeY cause delIght. Fire AnD gLaSs And DangeR Give audiEnCes ThE saMe shaRP intakE of brEath. it’S aN EscApe from THe EVErydAy.

it’S morE liKeLy to hAve fOUl lAnguage, Cringe-indUciNG stuNtS aNd boobiEs.

I Used to ClimB

ANne Bock MilLeR anD Meg WaLLAce are co-Owners of what is arguably tHE hippesT aeRial gYm in louisvillE. I fIrst meT thEM at the flea OfF MarkEt, ShoRTLy befORE tHey OpEned SuspenD, THeiR gorgEoUs aeRialist Gym in Butchertown. It’S JusT a few blocks awAy fRom tHE BuStlE Of nUlu. at THe FLEA Off, they had a porTable rig seT uP. it Looked like THe bOnEs of a giAnt teepEe. TheY Were perForming soMe tricks, aNsWeriNG QueStions and tRying to gEt the word OUt.


In circus, be it a trapez e act, clo wning  wi thapart ner,  or acroyoga,y ou h ave to work together t o win .NotA lw ays K id Stuf f 
I n  Lo ui sv ill e, th ere s eem s to be  a divisio n i nthe circus s c en e. It’s no t b ased on enmi ty,  or an ge r o r  even  id eolog y. Fre q uently  the divi si o n seem s  to lie b et ween  acts that wouldh av e  traditionally  beenin th e big  to p, and act sthatw ould ha v eb e e n i n  the side sho w. But thed ivi sion s ee mst o also  lend  i t sel f to a seri ousdifferenc e in t h e matur i ty leve l of t hecon tent . 
Th e s id e sho w  h alf ofLouisvil le ’s  scen e is m a d e of  pe ople  whobreathe fireand  wal k  on  glas s. Th ey j ug gle k nives,  crac kwhips and fliptheaudiencethe  m idd le  fing e r. Onthe irbest be havior, thi sc r o wd  is PG-13 and once  t h e  b urlesque  dance r san d  the fou l- mou thed d rag q ueen MC s get on stage, th eactions  m ove in to  ha rdR ter r itor y real  fast.
Thisg roup is repres e nted locallyb yt h el ikes  of  Blue MoonCirc u s, T he K a li shn i kov C lowns  a n dB luegrass Bizarre Ba za ar. Bu t the y are augment ed by othe r t raveling  sho w s. Last month Tin derbo x Circus S i deshow t eamed  up with  ThunderS n ow Cone,  acir cus  fr o m  P hiladelphia.I n  Feb ru ary, Th e P retty T hin gsPee p S ho w set upshop inth eAl le y T heate r  for a t wo  ni gh t r un, a n d thou gh it ’s b ee na whi le sinc e  t h e y hi tto wn,the  B indle stif f  Fa mily Ci rcus hasals o  bee nkn own toswing through  L ouisville. 
Thi s is c i r cus foradults, and yet the sho w s scrat chthe s amepart of t hebrainast heir P G coun terpa rt s — t hey c a u se  de li ght. Firea n d g lassan d da nger gi ve audiences the s a mesharp intakeofbrea t h .It’ s  a n  es ca p e f r o m the everyday. 

It’s mor el ik ely to hav e  fo ul  langua ge, cri nge-i n ducingstunts an d boobies .
I U s e d t o Climb

A nne Bock  Miller a n d Meg Wa llace  ar e co-o wn ers  of w hat is arg uably  the h ip pest a erial  g ym in Lo uisville. I first met t hem at  theFle a Off Mar ket ,  sh ortly bef orethey opene d S usp end,the i r gor geou s  a eri a listgymi n Butcher t ow n.I t ’s  just a few b l ock s awa y f r om the  bus tle of Nulu. At t h e Flea Off, th ey h a d  apor t able  r ig set up. Itloo ke d like the  b ones of a g iant tee pe e . The y were  perfo rming s o m et ricks,  ans wer ing quest ion sa nd tryi ng  t o  get t he w or d out. 


In circus,_be it_a trapeze act, clowning_with a_partner,_or acroyoga,_you_have to work_together to win.

Not_Always Kid Stuff

In Louisville,_there seems to_be_a division in the circus scene. It’s not based on enmity, or anger or_even_ideology. Frequently_the_division_seems to lie between acts_that would have traditionally been_in the_big top, and acts that would have been_in_the side show._But the division seems to also lend itself to_a serious difference in the maturity_level of the_content.

The_sideshow_half of Louisville’s scene_is made of people who breathe_fire and walk on glass. They_juggle knives, crack whips and flip the_audience the middle finger. On their_best behavior, this crowd is_PG-13 and_once the burlesque dancers and_the foul-mouthed drag_queen MCs_get onstage, the_actions move into hard R territory_real fast.

This group_is represented locally by the likes_of_Blue Moon Circus,_The_Kalishnikov_Clowns and_Bluegrass Bizarre Bazaar._But_they are_augmented_by other traveling shows. Last month_Tinderbox_Circus Sideshow teamed up with Thunder Snow_Cone, a circus from_Philadelphia._In February, The Pretty_Things Peep Show set up_shop in the Alley Theater for_a two_night run,_and though it’s been awhile since they hit town, the Bindlestiff_Family Circus has also been known_to swing through Louisville.

This_is circus_for_adults, and yet_the_shows scratch_the same part of the brain as_their PG_counterparts — they cause delight. Fire_and glass and danger_give_audiences the same sharp intake of_breath. It’s an escape from the_everyday.

It’s more likely to have_foul_language,_cringe-inducing stunts and boobies.

I Used_to Climb

Anne Bock Miller and Meg_Wallace are co-owners_of what is arguably the hippest aerial_gym_in Louisville. I first met them_at_the Flea Off Market, shortly before_they_opened_Suspend, their gorgeous aerialist gym_in Butchertown. It’s just a few_blocks away from the bustle of Nulu. At the_Flea Off, they_had a portable rig set_up._It_looked like the bones of a giant teepee. They were_performing some_tricks, answering questions_and trying to get the word out.
