Staff Report
Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m.—RUTLAND — The circus is coming to town, but not just any circus. The Paramount Theatre in Rutland will host a high-flying, family-friendly spectacle presented by the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA). The show, titled “Thank You for Waiting,” features America’s next generation of elite circus artists in a performance blending aerial feats, acrobatics, storytelling, and comedy.
Created as part of NECCA’s Circus Springboard program, the show follows seven strangers trapped in a waiting room who decide to stop waiting and start turning their world upside down—literally. “This specific show is about making connections, communicating, and patience,” said NECCA co-founder and producing director Serenity Smith Forchion. “The main character is a clown named Agatha who leads the audience through a theatrical journey filled with trapeze, acrobatics, juggling, partner aerial acts, and dance.”
Tickets are just $10 to $15 for this one-night-only performance, which begins at 7 p.m. NECCA and Paramount partnered with a shared goal of making family-friendly entertainment accessible to all ages. “We want our audiences to feel joy, have a fun time, and learn something,” Forchion said.
NECCA, based in Brattleboro, is the largest circus school in the country, offering programming to thousands of students annually with over 60 staff and coaches. Forchion and her twin sister founded NECCA. The pair are former Cirque du Soleil performers and love giving people the opportunity to learn this art form. Their flagship 3-year ProTrack program has produced graduates who go on to join Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Bros., and other elite circus troupes.
This show marks the first visit by the Circus Springboard troupe to Rutland.
“Our third-year graduates connect with an American director and take this new show to rural communities across New England,” said Forchion. “We’re thrilled to bring it to Rutland. When we were looking for exciting venues for our Circus Springboard tour, I reached out to the theater about a collaboration. Their executive director, Eric Mallette, was very welcoming of the idea to expand their family entertainment and encourage people of all ages to have a fun activity together.”
With an enthusiastic community response, NECCA hopes to make Circus Springboard an annual occurrence at the Paramount Theatre.
In addition to the mainstage performance, NECCA will host creative circus workshops at the Boys & Girls Club and Rutland Rec Center earlier in the week, offering community members a hands-on experience with circus art.
Local sponsors, including Baja Burrito of Killington and The Lakeside Studio in Tinmouth, support the Rutland performance. NECCA continues to seek additional local support to expand its inclusive, family-friendly performances to more communities.
To purchase tickets, visit: paramountvt.org. For more about NECCA, visit: circusschool.org.
The New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) will present a family-friendly, high-flying performance titled “Thank You for Waiting” at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, featuring aerial feats, acrobatics, and comedy, with tickets priced at $10 to $15, alongside creative circus workshops in the community earlier in the week.
