Welcome to Rob Mermin’s Big Top

Rob Mermin’s Act 39

September 2024, prepare to embark on a profound theatrical journey as the Highlands Center for the Arts (HCA) presents the highly anticipated tour of Rob Mermin’s original play, Act 39

Following its sold-out premiere run at Goddard’s Haybarn Theater in the summer of 2023, this poignant production will grace stages in Greensboro, Burlington, and Woodstock from August 29 to September 14, 2024.

“Circle of Sawdust”

Circus Memoir of Mud, Myth, Mirth, Mayhem, and Magic

Circle of Sawdust is a personal story of the wild characters, remarkable histories, and behind-the-scenes world of traditional traveling circuses. It’s the true-life tale of a boy’s impulse to run off and join the circus and then — through doubt, failure, loss, and tragedy — pursue the implausible vision of starting his own circus. Rob Mermin, the founder of Circus Smirkus, writes about his life as a creative artist and the idealistic struggle to hold onto a dream.

Rob’s Act 39 is a play about end-of-life decisions, based on true events and told with humor and dignity

Rob’s ongoing project bringing mime and circus techniques to PD patients to manage symptoms with hope and humor

Check out our Gallery.  Also Rob Mermin’s Youtube channel for fun clips from the Smirkus Archives early years.