Circus
 Circus Juventas
For ten years I was the set designer, set painter, and script writer for Circus Juventas, a performing arts school for youth in St. Paul, MN. Every summer, Circus Juventas presents a breath-taking show in the tradition of Cirque Du Soleil which highlights their most advanced students. There is a new theme and story-line every summer demanding a new script, new sets, new costumes, props, and new music. For the script, I worked with the Artistic Director and her assistant to incorporate circus acts into the theatrical narrative. For the sets, I worked along side many talented circus parent volunteers and made many life-long friends doing the things I love: writing, drawing, painting. In many ways it was like writing and illustrating a picture book, except on a grand scale with unbelievably talented performers as the characters!
Scroll down for some behind the scenes and highlights from the shows I am so happy to have been a part of. I no longer work with Circus Juventas, but circus will always be in my blood-- or at least in my family. My son, Cooper trained at Circus Juventas for ten years and is now training at the École nationale de cirque in Montreal. His main art form is the cyr wheel. To see a short clip of him performing on the cyr wheel, go here. |
Lauren's latest illustrated children's book is The Shape of the World, A Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright. The story of a little boy who loves to find shapes in nature grows up to be one of America’s greatest architects.
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Neverland 2014
This summer childhood reigns as audiences fly high over the rooftops of London with the capricious Pan, his naughty fairy, Tink, and the carefree Darling children to the magical island of Neverland. Circus magic will leap and twirl through lush jungles with flowing waterfalls. Be enticed by the siren song of bewitching mermaids and dance to the pulsing drums of the fiery princess, Tiger Lily. Find yourself where shimmering fairies play and lost children lead a rule-free life in enchanted forests. But beware the inevitable showdown with the murderous Hook and his bloodthirsty pirates as they unfurl the black sails of the Jolly Roger in the final clash and slash of swashbuckling swordplay that turns into a high-flying, death-defying aerial acrobatics that threatens the very existence of "Neverland 2014"! To view a short video of Neverland's performance go here.
The making of Neverland
In January, before the performer's summer show meeting, I build small models of the sets, so they can begin to imagine what it is going to be like to perform Neverland in the circus arena.
Neverland is in the works. The witch's castle from Oz has transformed into the Lost Children's hideout and the pirate ship is built!
The set for Neverland was magical- opening with the enormous window into the Darling children's bedroom from which they would all fly to Neverland with Pan. Hook's ship filled the arena from back to front and was filled with diabolical pirates- the worst being Hook, himself.
Oz 2013
OZ opened with a gypsy circus and magic show in the center
arena until a Kansas-sized twister sweeps it away and hurtles young Dorothy's house over the
rainbow to a fantasy dream called Oz! Contorting Munchkins and a glittering witch in
a bubble welcomed Dorothy and her little dog, Toto. Wearing the infamous ruby slippers, Dorothy journeyed down the Yellow
Brick Road and met a ruminating scarecrow with no brain, then a spinning tin man with no heart, and finally a quaking lion with no
courage. The four friends made it past the poppy spells set by the Wicked Witch to the dazzling Emerald City, where zany gate-keepers and acrobatic crowds greeted them. The great Wizard would grant their wishes only
if they accomplished the impossible! Enduring aerial attacks from flying monkeys,
battling castle guards, and confronting the evilest Witch of the West, the foursome finally found their brains, heart, and courage to make it back to Kansas! It was the first time we used set changes in the midst of a show, and it worked spectacularly! Watch it happen along with highlights from the show, here.
The Making of Oz
I loved writing the script for Oz, along with the character descriptions-- it is always challenging and creative to add roles and scenes to accommodate the circus acts. But my favorite thing of all is when the sets start to come together and working along side dedicated parent volunteers. The perfect way to spend the summer.
From initial drawings to the actual set is a magical thing.
Showdown 2012
SHOWDOWN had audiences kickin’ up their boots and spurs as Circus Juventas headed out to the wild and wooly past of the American Wild West! They saw somer-saulting outlaws, lasso-twirling cowboys, aerial spinning dance hall belles, contorting card players, and a calamitous prospecting family that struck it rich! What an amazing show! It was worth the hundreds of hours painting the set for the town of Tumbleweed. I loved writing the script-- the research alone into the history of the Wild West and the rush for gold was fascinating, maybe it stirred up my Montana roots?
If you want to see clips from the show, go here!
If you want to see clips from the show, go here!
The Making of Showdown
 Set model for the town of Tumbleweed.
Beginning first with an idea of a story set in the wild west, that turns into a script with character descriptions and act orders, the next thing to do is the set design.
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Once the uber-painting is done, Tumbleweed gets its character.
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Grimm 2011
Five fairytales by the Grimm Brothers came to life under the Circus Juventas Big Top in their production of GRIMM.Cinderella’s palace was built along the back wall complete with a drawbridge. Rapunzel’s tower hung from the high wire. Hansel and Gretel’s gingerbread cottage was turned inside out by the contortionists into the witch’s hut. Little Red Cap met the wolf in a woods haunted by creatures on silks. And Snow White hand-balanced with the huntsman in a powerful duet. The audience were lead through woods and palace balls by the Grimm Brothers in hopes of finding happily ever~afters for all the beloved characters. Re-reading all of the Grimm stories and imagining a story that would tie them all together made writing this script one of my favorite endeavors. Then imagining and painting the world of fairytales for the set was magical.
If you would like to watch a short excerpt from GRIMM, go here.
If you would like to watch a short excerpt from GRIMM, go here.
The Making of Grimm
I loved writing the script for Grimm, imagining the set and how it would be used by the performers with each act. The design team for Grimm was two people, Susan Furr and me. After initial brainstorming, a model is built. To the left is the model for Cinderella's Castle. And below are a few photos of its painting and construction to full size.
Circus Juventas visited The Red Balloon Bookstore to celebrate Grimm and Reading!
Sawdust 2010
SAWDUST: Fame, Fortune, Glitz, Grit was an action-packed show telling the tale of two young men, Willie and Tony, with big dreams, who hop a train and runaway with the circus during the Golden Age of Circus. The grit and sweat of behind the scenes daily life of a circus with prima donna divas, hardworking roustabouts, daredevil strongmen, a cruel ringmaster, and a wandering lovesick clown becomes their new life. Sawdust astounded audiences with the spectacle of the Wheel of Steel, death defying leaps from the flying trapeze, frolicking-rollicking clowns, and even exotic animals that leapt and twirled. Researching the history of circus in America to write both the script and design and paint the sets was a great love affair.
To see a short excerpt of the performance, go here.
To see a short excerpt of the performance, go here.
The Making of Sawdust
Once again the script is finished and the set design begins! Susan Furr and I brainstorm ideas and then build a model after researching circus in America during the Golden Age of Circus!
Yulong 2009
Yulong: The Jade Dragon was a spectacular show of dazzling costumes, breathtaking physical feats, battles, dances and drumming that brought the ancient tale of Mulan to life. In a tiny rural village, Hua Mulan, a brave, boisterous, and ingenious young woman defied tradition and disguised herself as a soldier to take the place of her elderly father in the ranks of the military. The powerful Huns were threatening to take over the peaceful Chinese Kingdom of Emperor Tianzi. Hua Mulan overcomes incredible odds to earn honor for her family as well as the respect of an entire nation. From papier mache dragons to ancestral cupboards, building and painting the sets for Yulong was a colorful adventure.
To view a short video of highlights from the performance go here.
To view a short video of highlights from the performance go here.
The Making of Yulong
The two set designers at work, painting the papier mache dragon that welcomed the audience at the entrance to the arena.
Raven's Manor 2008
Ravensmanor was a tale of wicked sisters, dead grooms, lovers parted for two hundred years, and a curse that had to be broken! The set was an eerie, haunted mansion in the bayous of Louisiana. Lots of ghosts, zombies, gargoyles and other spooky creatures flew through the air, hung from chandeliers, and leapt in and out of the haunted mansion’s windows! There is nothing better than painting a spooky set with lots of cracks and spooky eyes glowing in the forest.
The Making of Raven's Manor
The script finished, the roles cast, and the set model for the haunted Raven's Manor is complete.
Atlanticus 2007
Atlanticus was a fast-paced circus-adventure-”Indiana Jones-style” with two explorers racing against their opponents in the search for a magical orb that would grant them the power to rule the earth! By accident they stumble across the lost continent of Atlantis and all kinds of troubles ensue. Mythical creatures abounded including a Kraken, mermaids, and Poseidon with his royal family. Painting this fantasy underwater kingdom was utter magic!
The Making of Atlanticus
First colored sketch for the set of Atlanticus.
Brainstorming the first ideas for the set is always my favorite thing. I love collaboration. Then seeing the initial drawings turn into the actual sets is always magical.
The sets are never complete until the lighting is set and the performers take action.
Pazzanni 2006
Pazzanni, was an enthralling fairytale, set in the twisting, turning alleys and canals of Venezia, during the Carnivale. A poor street urchin was transformed like Cinderella by the mask of a compassionate mask-maker. A love story unfolds interwoven with stunning acrobatic and aerial performances. This show featured masks made by Venetian master artists, Massimo and Sergio Boldrin fromLa Bottega dei Mascareri, their mask shop beneath the Rialto Bridge in Venice. Massimo Boldrin and his wife, Rita, stayed in residency with Circus Juventas for three weeks demonstrating mask-making, selling their beautiful Venetian masks, and even performing in Pazzanni! Using wood, styrofoam, and a lot of paint, we dramatically transformed the entire Circus Juventas arena to look and feel like Venice, complete with a gondola!
The Making of Pazzanni
And with the first dress rehearsal, Venice begins to come to life.
Dyrnwych 2005
Dyrnwych began in an idyllic hamlet whose inhabitants lived simply and happily, until the day three mischievous hags from the mythical Otherworld intruded to curse their quaint existence. A bungled spell by one of the hags accidentally sends several young villagers across the threshold of the Otherworld, where, an ancient Druid wizard emerges from his slumber within a sacred oak tree and permits fate to run its course, sanctioning their passage across the threshold into the enchanted forest that is the primary setting of Dyrnwych. Once across, the wide-eyed young villagers meet with creatures beyond their wildest imaginings: playful Bogie-Boes, quixotic Ghillie Dhus, hideous Trolls, shimmering Faeries, verdant Fir Bolgs, fierce Banshee-Viragos warriors, the ethereal Gatekeepers, and the menacing shape-shifting hags, who continue their mischief-making throughout the show. By the breath-taking Flying Trapeze finale, the villagers have befriended the creatures, and must decide whether to return to their simple lives or remain forever in the enchanted forest.
The Making of Dyrnwych
Dyrnwych was the first show I volunteered for. The beginning of a fantastic relationship with Circus Juventas and the families that make it a wondrous place. I started by picking up a brush and saying,
"I can do that." And they let me.
"I can do that." And they let me.
