Come one, come all to the Midnight Circus in a park near you!
Autumn is nearly here! Better enjoy the crisp cool air while you can before winter shows up on the city’s doorstep. If you’re looking for a way to spend a pleasant afternoon, why not a stroll in the park? Better yet, why not interlude that stroll with a free, open-air theater performance? [Featured image via Midnight Circus Facebook]
Midnight Circus has taken their show on the road, or more specifically, the park. The theater ensemble, based in Chicago, has been pitching tents in park all across the Windy City holding free open-air performances for adoring, socially-distanced, crowds!
“Midnight Circus in the Parks is an eclectic ensemble of artists with a shared vision that live performance has the power to engage and inspire our audience, our community, and our world,” the group writes on its website. “We bring world‐class contemporary circus performances to communities throughout Chicago and raise money for Chicago parks with the proceeds.”
Since 1995, the community-driven Midnight Circus has raised early $100,000 for local parks, as well as over $18,000 for Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts.
“Midnight Circus in the Parks does not just put up the tent, collect ticket fees and move on,” said Executive Director of Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Patrick Brosnan. “They work local community groups for the months leading up to the weekend of shows. They bring community leaders from all of the participating parks together to help share best practices in promoting, fundraising, recruiting and effectively utilizing volunteers to improve the park and surrounding neighborhood.”
Presently, Midnight Circus has four more shows lined up for the year, including performances in Foster Park (September 19), McKinley Park (September 26), Welles Park (October 3), and Frederick Douglass Park (October 10).
Performances are 45 minutes long at 1 pm and 4 pm in the afternoon and are free to the public, however, visitors must reserve their place beforehand. Children under the age of 2 do not require a ticket. When in attendance, spectators must wear masks and practice social distancing. Seating is broken down into pods, wherein attendants can lay blankets down and watch in groups of varying sizes. Folding chairs are not allowed.
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