If you’re in the mood to see Halloween-themed feats of aerial acrobatics, check out the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts’ (PSCA) Haunted Circus on Saturday, Nov. 1, in West Mt. Airy. Both the family-friendly show at 5 p.m. and the spookier, more adult-oriented one at 8:30 p.m. will simultaneously delight and amaze audiences.
This year, the overarching theme surrounds Halloween-focused flicks. The Saturday afternoon, family-friendly set will reference kid-friendly films such as “Hocus Pocus,” “Ghostbusters,” “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “Coco” and “Coraline.” The show, hosted by PSCA staff member Zoe Stueck, will include PSCA’s Youth Performance Prep Class, PSCA’s Youth Troupe, as well as an amazing trio of PSCA faculty and staff members including head coach Rachel Lancaster, assistant camp and communications manager Melissa Mellon, and assistant head coach Eugenia Rincon. The remaining performances will feature entertaining solos and enchanting duos of aerial artists using various apparatuses from trapezes to silks.
The spookier evening performance, hosted by Mellon, will take inspiration from iconic horror films like 1990s teen thrillers (“The Craft” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer”), classic horror flicks (“The Exorcist,” “It” and “The Shining”), and films with cult followings (“28 Days Later,” “The Ring” and “The Lost Boys”).
During one of the Saturday rehearsals, the Local interviewed a few of the student performers. They all showed incredible enthusiasm for their craft. While the cast are at varying experience levels from professional instructors to longtime hobbyists, each artist enacted imaginative poses, executed dramatic death drops, and conducted amazing feats of strength while wearing gothic dresses, jack-o’-lantern costumes, and mad scientist coats.
One of the family-friendly performers, who performs under the name Jessica, has taken adult recreational classes for two years and will perform with an aerial hoop, known as the Lyra, which is her “favorite apparatus.” She spoke passionately on her piece about a young bride cursed to be “forever forgotten” as “the ghost who’s still alive.” Two-year student performer Anna-Rose Schenerman will showcase an Alien-inspired piece in the adult show and is excited to use “glitter blood” to enact the infamous chest bursting scene.
Mellon, who also serves as a host, cast performer, PSCA faculty artist, and production team member, joined the Haunted Circus production group in 2024 and revealed her pride in the collaborative environment and spoke positively for how they’re all working together despite varying schedules: “We had to really step up and get things going,” she said. She added that she’s very excited about the student performances.
Mellon loves the “creativity in the spirit of our students. I think they’re really into putting on a wild and fun show for both audiences.” While the circus school’s performance venue can accommodate 160 people, she says that both shows typically sell out early.
The 5 p.m. family-friendly show offers online tickets at $15 for adults and $10 for youth (that increases by $5 per ticket at the door). The 8:30 p.m. tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door. You can find them on the school’s events page, phillycircus.com/upcoming-shows-events/. Haunted Circus will take place at Circus Campus and PSCA at 6452 Greene St. Costumes are highly encouraged, especially your best horror flick cosplay.
