MARIETTA — Flotsam River Circus is a troupe of musicians, puppeteers, and circus artists who travel on a ramshackle raft, giving free performances in riverfront towns along the way. They are bringing their whimsical craft to Marietta on Aug. 24.
The family-friendly show takes place at the Marietta Levee in Riverfront Park at 6 p.m. and lasts a little over an hour. They will be mooring along the river just below the Lafayette Hotel. Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and to carpool if possible. The performance is free to attend, but donations are accepted and appreciated and help support this ambitious project.
Inspired by the American showboat tradition and recent floating art projects, Flotsam is captained by accordion troubadour Jason Webley.
“Ever since I was a kid,” explains Webley, “I’ve dreamed of floating slowly down the river and being part of something magical.”
The crew of internationally renowned artists includes aerialist, acrobat, and self-described “giant ham” Sadye Osterloh, and illusionist and mime artist Matthew “Poki” McCorkle. Punk rock circus pioneer Tanya Gagne adds her innovative flair, while Henson Grant recipient Kalan Sherrard brings a touch of the absurd with his puppetry. Percussionist and composer Sari Breznau serves as musical director, with Malayali-American fiddler Miriam Oommen filling out the band. Balance artist and choreographer Amber Lian Gibson of Taiwan is the newest addition to the troupe.
Flotsam’s inaugural voyage in 2019 took them down Oregon's Willamette River to Portland. Subsequent trips included Seattle’s waterways in 2021 and the Sacramento River into San Francisco Bay in 2022. Last summer, the crew realized their dream of navigating a major river, delighting thousands of audience members along the Mississippi from Minneapolis to St. Louis.
Marietta is just one stop on their 2024 Ohio River tour as they journey all the way from Pittsburgh to Paducah. The tour also includes stops in Wheeling, Parkersburg, Huntington, Cincinnati, Louisville, Owensboro, Evansville, and dozens of smaller towns.
Flotsam River Circus is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading whimsy, wonder, and a spirit of possibility. Future plans include a trip along the Erie Canal and Hudson River from Buffalo to New York City next year, and aspirations to bring their floating stage to the rivers and canals of Europe and eventually all around the world.
More information about Flotsam River Circus, their crew, and a full list of their tour dates are available at www.rivercircus.com
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