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Fly School Circus Artspresents a
high-flying grand finale to their participation in the Philadelphia
International Festival of the Arts (PIFA). Tonight and tomorrow night, Fly
School presents two first ever flying trapeze shows within the boundaries of
Center City. "Daringly High" performances will take place on
Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26, 2013 at 8:00 PM in the University of
the Arts Parking Lot on Broad Street (between Spruce and Pine streets, across
from the Kimmel Center). Professional faculty and advanced students will
present works that celebrate a moment in time dating back to 1965 when model
Jean Shrimpton helped change the face of women’s fashion and challenged female
roles in society. Announced performers include Fly School Director Mary Kelly
Rayel, Caitlyn Larsson, Donovan Chandler and Christine Landon. All professional
performers will do tricks and exhibit skills without a safety harness as they
fly 25 feet in the air. Admission is $10.00 at the gate for a spot inside the
parking lot. Best viewing spots are expected to go early, and tickets are first
come, first served until they sell out. Trapeze shows come hot on the heels of
dozens of sold-out classes during the 2013 PIFA. As of today, all trapeze
classes are sold out through closing day. Over 750 adults and children have
come to enjoy trapeze lessons that celebrate empowerment, confidence and
freedom found in doing the unexpected.
Fly School celebrates the “If You Had a Time Machine…” theme
by jetting back to October 30th, 1965, when model Jean Shrimpton shocked the
Australian establishment by attending
Derby Day, a significant horse racing event in Melbourne, wearing a mini dress
with a considerably higher hemline than was acceptable in Australian society.
In doing so, she brought global attention to the fashion revolution already
underway in Europe, one that was changing the landscape of women's fashion from one of maternal imitation to one of
individuality, empowerment, and youthful domination.
Each performance will showcase both the incredible talent
and skills of the Fly School staff and the hard earned accomplishments of their
students. The student performance will present a variety of skill levels and
achievements, demonstrating how Flying Trapeze can enrich and empower the lives
of all people. Fly School staff will take it to the next level with a traditional
flying trapeze performance where they will astound audiences with professional
skill, style, grace, and beauty!
Brat Productionsreturns to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival for the first time since 2006’s sold-out Live Arts show EYE-95 Re-Tarred. All-star Brats Madi Distefano and Jess Conda set the tone for Brat’s 2012/2013 season “on the fringe” with Brat RockPile. This epic rock and roll double header features a remount of Popsicle’s Departure, 1989 and the world premiere of Eternal Glamnation.
RockPile runs September 7-26, 2012 at Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA. Previews nights include September 7, 8 and 12, 2012. Departure starts at 8:00pm (September 25 and 26 start is 9:30pm), followed by Glamnation at 9:30pm (September 25 and 26 is at 11.00pm). Package tickets are available through the Fringe Festival for $19 - $35. Individual tickets for Departure or Glamnation are available at Underground Arts for $12-20 each. For information visit www.bratproductions.org and livearts-fringe.ticketleap.com.
The corruption begins with Popsicle’s Departure, 1989, Distefano’s internationally award-winning solo tour-de-force and former LIVE ARTS show. Directed by Matt Pfeiffer, Departure is a collision course through the underground of Boston’s defiant punk-rock world. This shaggy dog tale is as twisted as it is surprisingly hilarious. Winner of the Edinburgh Fringe’s “Best Solo Show” and Scotsman Fringe First and garnering two Barrymore nominations, this fierce rock and roll fantasy played to rave reviews in Edinburgh, New York City, and Philadelphia.
A twenty minute break and a trip to the bar is the perfect interlude into RockPile’s next chapter. Conceived by and featuring Conda, Eternal Glamnation blends live music and theatrical spectacles in a Studio-54 blender cocktail of rock and roll mixed by renegade music director Andrew Nelson. Distefano directs rockers Bobby Fabulous, Kevin Jordan, Frances Distefano and Erik Ransom in this story of big vocals, secret selves and spandex. Expect selections from Bowie, T. Rex, Nick Cave, and Queen. This glam-rock fantasia makes its world premiere after first appearing in its workshop version as part of the 2012 Rock & Awe series.
Departure and Glamnation deepen the love affair between Brat and the Fringe. Brat has been a pioneer of Philadelphia Live Arts & Fringe Festival since launching EYE-95 and A 24 Hour The Bald Soprano in the first two Fringe festivals in 1996 and 1997. In 2006, Brat came back to its gritty punk roots with EYE-95 Re-Tarred in the LIVE ARTS FESTIVAL. In 2012, Brat is at the top of its game and making what Brat makes best – theatre that rocks. Popsicle’s Departure, 1989 and Eternal Glamnation solidify Brat’s status not only as Philadelphia’s top rock and roll theatre company, but also “The Perfect Example of Fringe” (FringeNYC Panelists).
For other Brat shows “on the fringe,” stay tuned for the 2012-2013 season with Brat Shit Crazy, The Diary of Lisa Q. and Saloon by Resident Artist Brian Grace-Duff. For more information, visit www.bratproductions.org and like them on Facebook.
The campaign I developed for Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) was honored with a first place "Pepperpot" award from the Public Relations Society of America, Philly Chapter. The event-led public relations campaign was developed for PSCA to promote circus arts activities during the Philadelphia area during the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts. The award was presented during a ceremony at the Franklin Institute in front of more than 100 public relations and business professionals.
Acceptance Video:
Acknowledgements:
Thank you to the PSCA staff, contractors, performers, volunteers and all partnering groups and consultants that helped execute the campaign. A special thanks goes out to Fly School Circus Arts and Executive Director Mary Kelly Rayel, Nina Zucker Public Relations, The Kimmel Center, Ticket Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation, PIFA staff, Ed Salvato, and Sarah Fergus.
Situation Analysis/Intro Summary from Award Application:
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts transformed itself into the Philadelphia region’s center of circus arts through an event-led campaign during the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA). PSCA grew from being a one-year old,Germantown-based school to become the high-flying star of a month-long international festival celebrating Paris 1911-1920.PSCA brought the circus from Germantown to the region – and the world – through two high-profile events. “The GreenFairy Cabaret” and “Fly City” were created to develop new audiences, increase interest and awareness in circus arts, buildname recognition and generate revenue. PSCA also achieved these goals by providing performers and resources for othercircus-inspired festival events. PSCA utilized primary and secondary research to develop the events and the campaign topromote them, which included partnerships, media relations and social media. As a result, PSCA achieved all objectives,including selling 1,043 tickets for “Green Fairy” and 641 tickets for “Fly City” lessons, exposing 11,634 people first-handto circus arts, generating millions of media impressions as a result of 10 newspaper articles and image features, 4 televisionstories, 2 radio stories, 48 blog posts and 53 online calendar listings. PSCA increased mailing lists by 546 individuals,attracted 612 new Facebook followers and increased website visitors by 42%. PSCA’s campaign generated at least 120stories and listings for PIFA itself.
Evaluation Summary from Award Application:
PSCA successfully launched and met all objectives of the event-led public relations campaign. PSCA sponsored two mainevents and participated in four additional events. “Green Fairy” sold out all six performances to 1,043 people, includingextra seating added by the venue. The show generated XX over goal. Despite a rainy month producing cancelledclasses, “Fly City” attracted 641 students and generated XX net profit. In total, PSCA exposed 11,634 people to circusarts, including more than 2,700 traditional arts patrons. Additionally, PSCA developed first-time relations with at least threearts organizations, and received mentions in 16 stories with prominent arts organizations. PSCA increased brand awarenessand positioned itself as the region’s center for circus arts through event coverage in 15 major media outlets (10 newspaper,5 television and 1 radio). Additionally, PSCA secured coverage in 48 blog posts and 53 online calendars. PSCA createdfestival buzz by securing 120 media mentions. PSCA’s social media growth included a 612 person increase on Facebook.PSCA increased website traffic by 42%. PSCA, and partner FSCA, received many benefits from an increased interest incircus arts. PSCA attracted 55 new students, up from 11 in 2010. Demand for classes grew, as 35 new classes were added.PSCA generated 427 ticket sales from post-PIFA performances (Fringe and Circus Soiree), with three shows in the future.FSCA attracted 20 new students that took their first lesson at PIFA. Additionally, 39 fall sessions have been sold to studentsfrom PIFA, and 12 students from PIFA purchased new six-session class cards.
Philadelphia Citypaper named "Intro to Circus Arts" workshops at Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) one of the season's best gifts -- and we agree! Forget about the fruit cakes, bad ties, ill-fitting clothing and expensive toys...this year, give the gift they will remember FOREVER with the gift of circus (arts).
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts(PSCA) offers an exciting and unique list of options to send your party hosts, kids, family members, friends, co-workers, and signficiant other to the circus.
Give the gift of circus by your kids to PSCA during Winter Break Week. Intro workshops will introduce them to age-appropriate activities, including climbing ropes, hanging from trapezes, walking the tightwire, juggling scarves, plate spinning, tumbling and more. Workshops include: Youth Circus (7-10 yo), Kinder Circus (5-6 yo), Tots Circus (3-4 yo) and Gymfoolery (New walkers -2 yo). Sign-up today at https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=21875
Gift Tip #3: $100 Gift Certificate (NO SHIPPING/PROCESSING FEES)
Circus arts are at the top of your wish list! Drop Santa a hint by sharing this link on his/her wall. Enjoy PSCA all year long with $100 gift certificates valid for any class, workshop, private lesson, party, summer camp or special in-house event. With our new gift card system, Santa can buy and print your certificate right from his/her workshop for FREE! Available at: http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ws.asp?studioid=21875&stype=42
Holiday Gift Tip #4: Fly with the Music of the Green Fairy!
The wildly successful "Green Fairy Cabaret" might be over, but the music lives on forever. Composer Eric Michaels created and performed original music for PSCA's circus arts performance during the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts. For only $5, you can give this beautiful music to circus, music and arts enthusiasts. Samples are available at http://www.theericmichaels.com/greenfairy
Today, from 11:30am - 1:30pm, Philadelphia Theatre Alliance will host "Casting Couch," at the Comcast Center outdoor plaza, 1701 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia, PA. At 12:30pm, John Jarboe will serve as the celebrity theater host, interviewing contestants and onlookers. Jarboe represents Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. He will use the couch to promote PSCA, and the upcoming, "The Green Fairy Cabaret," in which he is the emcee. "The Green Fairy Cabaret" is presented as part of the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival/ Philly Fringe.
About the Casting Couch
The Philly Theatre Casting Couch, now in its second touring season, uses a talk show format to engage theatre fans in conversations with celebrity interviewers about what theatre means to them. Imagine seeing a red couch parked in the middle of a plaza or a park – or even on a street corner - with a Philadelphia theatre celebrity is sitting there comfortably chatting with an average Joe/Jane (our contestants) about the magic of theatre! The Theatre Alliance stages these couch appearances to find out what our audiences get from their experiences at the theatre. Each interview is considered an audition for a PSA that we will cast out of clips from the day’s videotaped interviews which will then be posted on YouTube. Contestants also get entered into a ticket giveaway contest. It is a lot of fun, and a great way to meet your audience and build a little buzz for your show.
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