Bindlestiff Family Cirkus

Since 1995 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has traveled the world, bringing its unique hybrid of vaudeville, circus, burlesque, and sideshow to theaters, clubs, colleges, and festivals. The company has produced innumerable cabaret shows, custom performances for special audiences, all-ages and family productions, and sophisticated adult shows. Over the last five years the company has begun developing more theatrical productions, including 2001’s Buckaroo Bindlestiff’s Wild West Gender Bender Jamboree, 2003’s High Heels & Red Noses, and 2005’s From the Gutter to the Glitter: A Night Out with the Bindlestiffs. In 2004 Bindlestiff instituted its annual children’s performance program, the Cavalcade of Youth, in which young performers and technical staff (ages 8-20) have the opportunity to hone their skills with variety arts professionals.

The Bindlestiff Family co-founders are Stephanie Monseu and Keith Nelson, who over the last decade have hosted a variety of outrageous talent under the Bindlestiff banner. Individually both Keith and Stephanie provide a vast array of talents, from public relations to booking to performing. Their personal dedication to the variety arts, circus, vaudeville, sideshow, and burlesque has made the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus famous both among audiences and within the variety performance community.

From 2002 to 2004 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus operated the “last vaudeville house in Times Square.” In conjunction with chashama, Bindlestiff opened Bindlestiff’s Palace of Variety and the Free Museum of Times Square. The Palace presented up to five performances a day, presenting continuous vaudeville shows on 42nd Street and hosting nearly thirty other productions. [NOTE: During this time, I performed with the Bindlestiff’s performing my flea circus on weekends, and working as the Outside Talker during night shows]

The size of the Cirkus can range from two to sixteen performers, depending on the show. Over 200 performers from a multitude of disciplines have entertained Bindlestiff audiences across the country and around the world. Bindlestiff has brought its grand spectacle to hundreds of thousands from a live stage, and over a million through television. Dedicated fans come back again and again expecting the very best and most original acts working today.

In 2006 the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Magic Hat Summer Variety Show made its debut tour. Co-sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing Company, this production sought to bring circus to festivals and music stages up and down the East Coast.

For the next two weeks, the Bindlestiffs will finish their 2007 Magic Hat Tour. The
show currently features some of the Bindlestiff’s best and brightest, including juggler and clown Adam Kuchler, funambulist Ariele Ebacher, cowboy extraordinaire A.J. Silver, organist Frederik Iversen, and of course Philomena Bindlestiff and Mr. Pennygaff (the founders of the show)

To find out more about the Bindlestiffs, visit their website listed below, or call their Hotline.

WEBSITE: http://www.bindlestiff.org
HOTLINE: 1-877-BINDLES

TOUR SCHEDULE:

September 5
Tink’s
519 Linden St
Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 346-8465
http://www.clubtinks.com/index.php
Showtime 9

September 15
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA
http://www.worldcafelive.com/
tix and info 215 222-1400
Show 8:00 pm