Annual Circus

For additional questions contact louisvilleturnerscircus@gmail.com 

2026 Circus Handbook

Circus 2027: “TBA”

Monday March 8th– Act 1 dress rehearsal 6:00pm

Tuesday March 9th – Act 2 dress rehearsal 6:00pm

Thursday March 11th – full run dress rehearsal 6:00pm

 Friday March 12th & 19th 7:00pm

Saturday March 13th & 20st 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Sunday March 14th 1:00pm & 6:00pm

Sunday March 21st 2:00pm

 

Click on link below for more information: (links will be up as needed)

Important Dates: 
Open House, Auditions, Circus registration,  Practice, Volunteer Sign Ups , Costume fittings, etc

Attendance for one of the two is required for all participants performing in a non-audition acts (see below for list of these acts). 

  • Sunday 08/23/26 @ 1pm – 3pm (anytime between these hours)
  • Sunday 9/20/26 @ 1pm – 3pm (anytime between these hours)

Open Act Assessments (Safety Auditions/Act Placement) at each open house and costume measurements. Please read handbook for all act requirements.

  • You must be a member by registration to receive the Member Circus rates.
  • Specialty Act Applications and fees due – September 6th
  • Final Applications with $10 late fee per audition- September 10th
  • Specialty Act Auditions – September 13th 3 pm
  • Specialty Act results mailed by- September 27th
  • Online registration will begin – October 1st
  • Deadline for registration – October 31st – All fees and forms are due. (Registration fee, Costume fees, and Volunteer deposits) Any exceptions made after this date will pay an additional $20 per act late fee.
  • Some Specialty Acts may start practice on November 1st (or earlier): Acro, Barhop, and Casting (Day and time to be announced)
  • First day of practice – January 3rd. Most practices are on Sunday afternoons (Begin 1/3/27 through the show).  Advanced / Specialty acts’ times may vary. Silks, and Webs practice on Wednesdays starting January 6th.
  • New Family Orientation & Volunteer meeting – January 3rd 1pm
  • Performance dates registration begins  – TBA
  • Last day to register for performance dates – TBA

Sign up now for Specialty Act Auditions

September 13th 10am

  • We estimate the process will take most of the morning / early afternoon (hoping to be finished by 3pm), so please be prompt and prepared to stay for the entire audition period.
  • No one will be allowed in the gym during the audition process.
  • Each performer must submit an online application in advance, along with a $10 application fee.
  • Application and fees are due September 6th.
  • We will accept applications through September 10th, but there will be an additional late fee of $10, bringing the total to $20 per performer.
  • NO applications will be accepted after September 10th.
  • The Specialty Act Audition Application can be filled out online beginning August 23rd.
  • If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Law at louisvilleturnerscircus@gmail.com

Again, no applications or fees will be accepted after September 10th.

 Performance dates registration

We will have performance dates registration starting on TBA and must be completed by TBA. Registration is for dates NOT available.  You will be asked to choose 3 preferred dates, but these are NOT guaranteed.  Our goal is to give each performer at least 3 shows with all of their acts.  There may be other shows that your performer may be requested or able to perform 1 or more of their acts, but not necessarily all. We ask for your patience with this process as there are 200+ performers, 20+ acts, including partners, families, and apparatus requirements, when working out the schedule. Once the schedule is complete, only changes made will be canceled dates and/or mistakes on our part.  Changing one performer can change multiple performers. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Standridge at mstandridge@spalding.edu. With the subject line SHOW DATES

How do I get involved?

  • Register for our newsletter at the bottom of this page. You will receive our newsletters with information regarding Circus, Classes, Workshops, and more.
  • Sign up for classes ASAP to prepare and condition your body for aerial arts. This is not a requirement for all acts, but it is for some.  The more experience you have in the air, the more your body is conditioned for strength and flexibility, the better your chances of making the act of your dreams.
  • Visit our Facebook site www.facebook.com/turnerscircus and YouTube channel to view some of our photos and videos of years past.
  • Become a member before registering.  You will receive the member discount for Registration & Training Fees.  More fees do apply.
  • Volunteer!  Our Circus cannot succeed with the volunteers from our Circus Planning Committee, Directors, Instructors, and performers.  We want to hear about your gifts, experiences, and abilities as well as how much & when you are able to volunteer.

How much does it cost?

  • $165/individual or $265/ family for Training & Registration Fees for non-members
  • $80/single or $130/family for Training & Registration Fees for Members.
  • 1 circus shirt is included with each performer’s registration ($5 to upgrade to a fitted Tee). All volunteers (floor crew, pole beaters, ladder pullers, web spinners, ect) on the floor are required to wear a circus shirt, which normally costs $10-$16 / each.
  • Each act has an Act Fee. (see handbook)
    •  $45 – Bamboo, Clowning, Dance, Flow, Kids Trapeze, Merry Go Round, Perch, Tight Rope, Tumbletrack, and Walking Globe
    • $ 60 – Mini-Tramp, Trampoline, Unicycling, Male Acro
    • $80 Aerial Sling, Female Acro, Bar Hop, Casting, Cirque Pole, Dance Trapeze, Fire, Ladders, Lyra, Silks, Stilt Walking, Triple Trapeze, and Webs.

Additional Cost (depending on the costume, this may or may not be needed)

  • Base costume –  Cost $25-$30, black biketard for the girls (worn every year). (You may try to find a used one from a circus performer who outgrew theirs. Black bike shorts or leggings for boys and a black tank. (We will order so that all are the same)
  • Nude tights $6 children, $8 adults (we will order so all are the same)
  • Some acts require additional equipment and, therefore, additional fees.  For example, last year, juggling balls were an additional $15-20 but are reusable.  Hoops are an additional $20-25. Fan veils are an additional $50-$75. These are examples and subject to change.
  • Tickets to the shows are not included in the Registration and Training Fees.  Tickets can be purchased in advance for a discount.  Pre-ticket sales are $10 for children and $15 for adults.  Tickets sold at the door are $20 for adults and $15 for children.  Passes are – 3 shows/$25 or all 9 shows/$60 (passes are limited to one person). Ticket Prices are subject to change at any time and are listed as a guide for new families unfamiliar with the process.

(All cost(s) are based on previous years’ total and subject to change each year.)

 Who can sign up?

  • Everyone!
  • We encourage the entire family to participate.
  • Performers can start as young as 3 to perform in our circus.  We try to offer something for children of all ages.
  • We encourage parents to get involved with performing in the act, help with running the show, decorating, assembling costumes, running concessions, working the spotlights, lift and drop equipment lines, move props, keep performers lined up, teach, plan, or even learn how to catch their children in mid air!

Volunteering:

  • Our program succeeds with volunteer support.
  • We require each performer/family to volunteer a minimum of 15 hours plus either setup or teardown.  We have volunteer positions for every skill set and can certainly fill as many as you have to give.  There is a volunteer opt-out fee that can be paid if unable to volunteer the minimum requirements.