Phoenix Academy to Host ‘Le Cirque d’Halloween’

Phoenix Academy of Performing Arts of Pennsylvania’s circus arts group, Cirque Phoenix, will ring in the fall season with a Halloween-themed original production this weekend.

Cirque Phoenix’s latest show, “Le Cirque d’Halloween,” will premiere from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the academy located at 118 Hawbaker Industrial Drive, State College. The production will feature fire dancing, acrobatics and several aerial acts that hope to take guests into “a world of spook and entertainment.”

Phoenix Academy’s production will feature performances from staff members and directors, as well as a few student artists. Kai Phoenix, the creator of “Le Cirque d’Halloween,” said the academy’s talented cast ultimately guided the show’s development.

“I’m very excited to present ‘Le Cirque d’Halloween’ because it is a show I have been working on for more than five years,” Phoenix said in a statement. “Having Dmitry Myers for a lead soloist and our talented students in the show has really helped my creation come to life. I can’t thank them enough for the hard work, dedication, and creativity they have brought to the cauldron.”

Dmitry Myers, the academy’s circus arts program and creative director, said the Halloween-themed production represents the latest development in Phoenix Academy’s drive to provide accessible performing arts in the Centre Region.

“We are a unique blend of learning, performance, and entertainment. No other place in this region has that combination,” Myers said in a statement. “This area has never had a space dedicated to the performance and teaching of the Circus Arts, and this Halloween production is another way to show the skills we are teaching our students to learn and perform.”

Gillian Kinney, one of the production’s student performers, said she often needed to drive hours away for aerial circus arts training. Now, she’s excited to perform with peers without needing to travel far.

“I had to drive to Harrisburg to train aerial circus arts when I decided I wanted to learn. Much as I’ve enjoyed my time there, I was so excited for the opportunity to build on that closer to home,” Kinney said in a statement. “It’s an honor to debut with Cirque Phoenix alongside them and the talent of my fellow students.”

Tickets for “Le Cirque d’Halloween” are available online or at the door on Saturday starting at 6:45 p.m. Tickets for adults are $15 each, while tickets for seniors and kids 12 and under will cost $12 apiece.

For more information on Phoenix Academy’s fall production, visit its website.