Mud, Myth, Magic, Mirth, and Mystery

by Rob Mermin

I ran off to join the circus as a young man, with the goal of learning the trade and someday creating a circus of my own. I founded Circus Smirkus in 1987 to provide a place where kids could follow their own dreams right into the circus ring. Smirkus embodies the capacity of individuals to dream and, with imagination and perseverance, to enact their vision.

An artist lives by pursuing dreams, and these dreams are hungry puppies! I am familiar with the compulsive hands-on work of the entrepreneur who pursues a vision, achieves it, and then in amazement struggles constantly to feed its demanding appetite.

Why circus? There are myths surrounding this subculture; one wonders how the mud of a tent show mixes with the mystery of the ring to make magic. Smirkus was to be a revival of the tradition of small tent circuses—known as mud shows—traveling to small rural towns that the larger shows no longer played. It was to be a place where experienced circus artists worked as colleagues with a younger generation of talented students, in an atmosphere where the discipline, customs, traditions, and lifestyle of the itinerant circus were respected and passed on through the apprentice model of learning. It was to be a show under a one-ring big top which incorporated the artistic style of classical European circus, combined with an exuberant American energy and youthful slapstick spirit.

I dreamed of bringing the best traditions of my European circus background to American kids, and that meant mud, magic, and mystery: the hard life of being on the road mixed with a grand spirit of adventure. What hungry dreams! I wanted Smirkus to have a transformative spirit that would affect all who encountered it.

And all these dreams were realized….

Since its founding, Smirkus has brought together circus folks and youth from 32 countries, with a touring company of 70 people—tent crew, coaches, performers, musicians, cooks, staff, technicians, 25 trucks and caravans—doing 80 shows in 8 weeks in a 750-seat European big top. With 100 seasonal employees, the company also runs an overnight Summer Circus Camp, and year-round Circus Residency programs in New England schools reaching 4,000 kids.

As a company, Circus Smirkus is ruled not by the book, but by the heart.

The Smirkus nonprofit business model, partnering with local nonprofits wherever the company tours, has raised over $2 million for other youth groups.

Want to see the show? Go to circus camp? Get a job at the circus? Check out the www.smirkus.org website for everything about the company!

Find out more by reading Rob’s first book: Circus Smirkus: A True Story of High Adventure and Low Comedy (ISBN: 0-9658076-06) written in 1997.

“Circus Smirkus, the book, is a fascinating description of why and how Mermin founded this amazing company, and what it’s like to become a part of it. It’s full of interesting anecdotes about Mermin’s own circus adventures, portrays the Circus Smirkus philosophy, highlights some of the kids who’ve been Smirkus Troupers, and introduces some very intriguing circus stars who share Mermin’s vision.”

Rob’s coffee table book Circus Smirkus: 25 years of Running Home to the Circus! — a comprehensive history of the company full of color photos, stories, anecdotes, interviews and the fun of the circus! (Co-authored with Rob Gurwitt)

“For the last 25 years, a small circus in the heart of Vermont has been changing kids lives and inspiring audiences wherever it plays. This is the story of how an intrepid company of teenagers and circus performers came to teach kids everywhere that each of us can be more than we think we are.” —Amazon