Flynn Creek Circus returning to Capitola Mall
Proceeds will go toward storm relief
Those who enjoyed Flynn Creek Circus' “Winter Fairytale” at the Capitola Mall last December will have an opportunity to relive the magic and mind-blowing stunts once again when the company returns for two shows the afternoon of March 19.
This time around, the show will take on a spring theme and, more importantly, all proceeds will go to the Santa Cruz Community Foundation's Storm Disaster Fund to support recovery efforts following January's massive storms.
Blaze Birge, Flynn Creek Circus artistic director and cofounder, said Flynn Creek had received a request from location analytics company Placer. ai to do a show at the mall, as the company would be having a sales meeting in the area around the time and rent out a tent. Flynn Creek's management then suggested they join together for a fundraising show, where Flynn Creek, Placer.ai and the Capitola Mall could serve as cosponsors.
“It was just kind of lucky really,” she said. “It would be cost prohibitive otherwise to bring down the tent and do the whole thing.”
The Mendocino-based Flynn Creek Circus was founded in 2002 by Birge and her husband, David Jones, collectively known as the Daring Jones Duo. The two are renowned performers, having been trained by a fifth-generation Romanian circus family and brought their acrobatic skills all over the world, winning numerous awards and even competing on “America's Got Talent.” In 2014, they began traveling in their tent with a cast of performers, bringing their skills to towns throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The circus has performed in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley, but had never been to Capitola until last summer when it performed outside the mall as part of its “Balloons, Birds & Other Flying Things” tour. Birge said the cast loved it so much they returned for a winter show at the mall last December, leaving one day before storms hit the Santa Cruz area causing major damage.
Birge said all Flynn Creek shows raise funds for its Circus Mentors nonprofit, which aims to increase access to the arts in rural communities, and sometimes funds are raised for community projects,
but the Capitola shows will be the first to dedicate all proceeds toward a specific cause. Due to popular demand, a second show was even added for the day of the event.
As with all Flynn Creek Circus shows, “Spring Fairytale” will have a narrative weaved into the performances, one that draws largely from European folklore and Greek mythology. The story centers around the Snow Woman ushering in a winter storm as a Pegasus and a band of snow hares attempt to bring back the spring, meeting a Spring Sprite, fairy and group of woodsmen along the way.
Birge said the show will essentially be a minor rewrite of the winter show with largely the same story but with a few new acts.
“It just has not been long enough for us to write an entirely new show,” she said. “If anyone saw our winter show, I hope they will still come out and support this show, but please don't expect everything being radically different.”
The show will also have all the hallmarks of a Flynn Creek production, including aerial arts, acrobatics, a sphere wheel that was not included in the winter show, a contortionist, illusionist, juggling and “comedy all the way through,” said Birge. All of the acts will be performed strictly by humans.
Birge said the show should be a fun experience for all ages and allow audiences to take their minds off the negative news of the world for a few hours.
Given what the area itself has experienced recently, she also hopes it will provide a diversion for Santa Cruz County residents.
“Capitola and the surrounding areas have been through quite a difficult winter, so we're hoping this is a little bit of a levity in what has been a pretty difficult time for many people,” she said.
“Spring Fairytale” will be performed at 1 and 4 p.m. March 19 in the parking lot of the Capitola Mall, 1855 41st Ave. The 4 p.m. show is sold out, but tickets are still available for the earlier show. Parking is free. Lagunitas beer, hot chocolate and light concessions will be available for purchase.
For tickets and information, visit Circusmentors. ticketspice.com.