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02/15/2017 11:01 PM

ArtFarm Presents Isaac Newton’s Little Apple Circus


Sir Isaac Newton is initially appalled that his one-man show has been crashed by Emilie du Chatelet, but he quickly discovers two minds are better than one. Photo courtesy of ARTFARM

ARTFARM presents the public premiere of its newest touring performance, Isaac Newton’s Little Apple Circus, on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. The performance will take place at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street in Middletown.

This 50-minute performance introduces the basics of Classical Mechanics through the skills, spectacle, and comedy of circus. In the show, Sir Isaac Newton is initially appalled that his one-man show has been crashed by the 17th century French physicist Emilie du Chatelet, but he begrudgingly shares the stage with her and the two quickly discover that two great minds are better than one. Through acrobatics, comedy, juggling, balancing, plate spinning, and lots of audience interaction, Isaac and Emilie share the fundamental physics concepts that are at play in the circus. The production seeks to entertain and maybe even educate audiences of all ages to one of the great, but little known, scientists, du Chatelet.

Isaac Newton’s Little Apple Circus has been touring elementary and middle schools throughout Connecticut for the past year, but this is the first public performance of the show. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids or $20 per family and can be reserved at www.oddfellows.org. Ticket sales will support circus programming for young people at Oddfellows.

Little Apple Circus features ARTFARM Executive Director Dic Wheeler as Newton, and Lead Teaching Artist Allison McDermott as du Chatelet. Wheeler and McDermott also perform with ARTFARM’s Circus for a Fragile Planet and lead the youth circus program Circophony, a collaboration between ARTFARM and Oddfellows and offers young people ages 12 through 19 year-round circus training and performance opportunities.

Schools, festivals, and clubs can book Isaac Newton’s Little Apple Circus. To find out more about ARTFARM programs and performances, contact info@art-farm.org. ARTFARM is a Middletown-based non-profit that cultivates high-quality theater and circus with a commitment to simple living, environmental sustainability and social justice.

Emilie du Chatelet, performed by Allison McDermott, is one of the great, but little known scientists of all time. Photo courtesy of ARTFARM