What goes on behind the scenes at the circus? Rob Mermin, a performer and founder of Circus Smirkus, will talk with journalist Rob Gurwitt about traveling, clowning, and chasing a dream.
Circle of Sawdust: A Circus Memoir of Mud, Myth, Mirth, Mayhem, and Magic is a uniquely personal story of the wild characters, fascinating personalities, remarkable histories, and behind-the-scenes world of traditional traveling circuses. Here is a true-life tale about a boy's impulse to run off and join the circus and then—through doubt, failure, loss, and tragedy—pursue the implausible vision of starting his own circus! With humor and passion, the founder of Circus Smirkus, Rob Mermin, writes about the precarious life of a creative artist, the ups and downs of taking risks, and the idealistic struggle to hold onto a dream.
Rob Mermin ran off to join the circus in 1969. He clowned with European circuses for a decade and studied the art of mime with Marcel Marceau. An accomplished performer, entrepreneur, author, lecturer, playwright, and director, Rob founded the award-winning international touring company Circus Smirkus in Greensboro, Vermont, in 1987.
Rob Gurwitt has worked as a journalist writing about state and national politics and how communities grapple with change. He currently publishes Daybreak, a weekday morning email newsletter covering all things Upper Valley.
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This event is co-hosted by the Yankee Bookshop.
Free and open to the public. Reservations appreciated, but not required.