42FT – A MENAGERIE OF MECHANICAL MARVELS | Celebrate the holidays with the family at the New Victory Theater

New 42nd Street Presents at New Victory Theater Cirque Mechanics’ 42FT A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels

Run away with the circus this holiday season and join the creators of Birdhouse Factory and Pedal Punkas they return to the New Victory Theater with an all-new contemporary circus spectacular

December 6, 2019 - January 5, 2020

Come one, come all to the New Victory’s high-flying hit for the holidays! The endlessly inventive Cirque Mechanics (Pedal Punk, New Victory 2015) upends expectations in a dizzying, dazzling array of acts that have never before appeared on the New Victory stage. Cirque Mechanics' New York engagement at New Victory Theater is just one stop on a 41 city tour across the U.S.Catch 42FT –A MENAGERIE OF MECHANICAL MARVELS this winter at the New Victory Theater from December 6 - January 5, 2020.

It’s hands down one of the best acrobatic performance circus themed show you can see in NYC right now. You can see all the amazing circus acts sans the animals (there’s a really cute mechanical horse though). There’s an amazing clown (Justin Therrien is really amazing), crazy jugglings - Horse juggling by Tatiana Vasilenko is dazzling, strongman (Battulga Battogtokh), trapeze artists, rope walking (Esther De Monteflores will floor you with her skills), sword swallowing (again Justin Therrien) and a lot more. It’s innovative, dazzling, funny and lot of fun. Being at New Victory Theater, it’s perfect for kids and families. Nothing better than that for the Holidays. You can get more details and buy your tickets right here

Tickets - 42FT @ The New Victory Theater

Inspired by the wonder that can fill the 42 feet diameter of a traditional one-ring circus (sans live animals), 42FT – A MENAGERIEOFMECHANICALMARVELSis staged on a rotating tent frame. Bright with light, laughter and good cheer, this stunning spectacle is aflurry of circus sights and sounds:

  • ●  Daring duo Nikki Unwin and Elijah Newton hang 15 feet above the stage from a single trapeze

  • ●  Tatiana Vasilenko juggles astride a cantering mechanical horse

  • ●  Four Acrobats swing on a 14 foot long revolving ladder

  • ●  Mongolian Strong Man Battulga Battogtokh juggles bowling balls and a giant log!

  • ●  Rare Russian Swing launches acrobats into the air

    Cirque Mechanics finds its roots in the mechanical and its heart in the stories of American industrial ingenuity. Boston native and German Wheel artist Chris Lashua founded the company in 2004 after the success of his collaborative project with the Circus Center of San Francisco,Birdhouse Factory (New Victory, 2008). Cirque Mechanics quickly established itself as a premier American circus, with its unique approach to staging, inspiring storytelling and innovative, mechanical set pieces. Stories are wrapped in circus acrobatics, mechanical wonders and a bit of clowning around.

    Creative Direction by Chris Lashua, Co-Direction and Choreography by Aloysia Gavre, Set Design by Sean Riley, Lighting Design by Anthony Powers and Joe D’Emilio, Costume Design by Caroline Rogers, Poster and Headpiece Design by Nata Ibragimov. Co-Produced by Aida Lashua. Production Direction by Janeen Johnson. Music composed by Michael Picton. Writing by Steven Ragatz. Mike Brown is the company’s bullwhip trainer.

    The cast includes Battulga Battogtokh, Brysen Bishop, Austin Bradley, Drew Fouarge, Wes Hatfield, Esther De Monteflores, Brooke Neilson, Elijah Newton, Michael Rubino, Taylor Stevens, Justin Therrien, Nikki Unwin and Tatiana Vasilenko.

    Learn more about 42FT – A MENAGERIEOFMECHANICALMARVELS at NewVictory.org.

    Public Performance Schedule:

    Friday, December 6 at 7pm Saturday, December 7 at 2pm / 7pm

    Friday, December 13, at 7pm Saturday, December 14 at 2pm / 7pm* Sunday, December 15 at 12pm / 5pm Saturday, December 21 at 2pm / 7pm Sunday, December 22 at 12pm / 5pm**

    Thursday, December 26 at 12pm / 5pm Friday, December 27 at 12pm / 5pm Saturday, December 28 at 2pm / 7pm Sunday, December 29 at 12pm / 5pm

    Wednesday, January 1 at 2pm Friday, January 3 at 7pm

Saturday, January 4 at 2pm / 7pm Sunday, January 5 at 12pm / 5pm *Sensory-friendly performance **Audio described performance

42FT – A MENAGERIEOFMECHANICALMARVELS has a running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes including one intermission, and is recommended for ages 5 and up.

Lobby Activities

Before and after every show, check out the theater lobbies to participate in free arts activities! You’ll find creative content for kiddos inspired by the show’s themes and art forms.

Ticket Information

Full-price tickets for 42FT – A MENAGERIEOFMECHANICALMARVELSstart at $22. Tickets are available online (http://www.newvictory.org/visitor-info) and by phone (646.223.3010).

To purchase tickets in person, the New Victory box office is located at 209 West 42nd Street (between 7th / 8th Avenues). Box office hours are Sunday & Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm.

About The New Victory Theater

The New Victory opens new worlds to young people and families through extraordinary performances, education and engagement programs. Bringing kids to the arts and the arts to kids since 1995, this nonprofit theater has become a standard-bearer of quality performing arts for young audiences in the United States. Reflecting and serving the multicultural city it calls home, The New Victory is committed to arts access for all communities of New York to experience and engage with the exemplary international shows on its stages. A global leader in arts education, youth development and audience engagement, The New Victory Theater has been honored by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, by Americans for the Arts with a national Arts Education Award, and by the Drama Desk for "providing enchanting, sophisticated children's theater that appeals to the child in all of us, and for nurturing a love of theater in young people."

About The New 42nd Street

The New 42nd Street, which recently announced Russell Granet as the nonprofit’s next President & CEO, catalyzes the power of performing arts to spark new perspectives, incubate new works and create new opportunities for us all. Through our signature projects--The New Victory Theater, New 42nd Street Studios and The Duke on 42nd Street--New 42nd Street makes extraordinary performing arts a vital part of everyone’s life—from the earliest years onward. The organization also stewards seven historic theater properties on 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, ensuring the legacy and vitality of America’s most iconic theater district. Together with our supporters, we are opening access to performing arts that move us—as individuals, communities and a society.

The 2nd Annual Celebration of American Circus Awards with Evolving Circus Honoree Bill Irwin - Jan 5, 2016

To honor and spotlight the distinguished achievements in the American circus arts, Circus Now together with the Big Apple Circus, in association with Executive Producer and Director Jonathan S. Cerullo, JSC Theatricals, is proud to present the 2nd Annual Celebration of American Circus at the Big Top at Lincoln Center on January 5, 2016 at 8pm. Part ceremony, part performance, the Celebration of American Circus will honor four artists and/or organizations that have been prominent in the circus arts landscape in America, while spotlighting the thriving state of the circus arts across the nation, and will feature Emcee Thom Wall, with performances from a variety of breath-taking acts.  Tickets start at $25 and are available online at www.circusnow.org/CELEBRATE2016.

For the second year, the Celebration of American Circus presents a distinguished and impressive roster of honorees, all of which have spent decades furthering the appreciation of circus arts in America.  Sabrina Motley, director of the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival, will present the Community Impact Award to Circus Smirkus Founder Rob Mermin and Ed LeClair, Smirkus's Executive Director.  Duncan Wall of Circus Now will present the Elevating Circus Award to Dominque Jando, renowned circus historian and author.  David Shiner will roast and toast and present the Evolving Circus Award to his fellow clownical artist Bill Irwin. Andthis year we introduce a new award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented by the legendary Dolly Jacobs (Circus Sarasota) to the legendary Hovey Burgess!

  • Evolving Circus Award, presented by David Shiner

HONOREE:  BILL IRWIN

This award is given annually to an individual whose personal and/or professional contributions have made a significant and permanent impact on the circus field in America, with specific consideration of how the recipient's work has influenced the perception of the circus arts by the American public and the arts and entertainment industry.

  • Irwin and Shiner will appear together next in Old Hats. Called "one of the funniest shows of the past few years" by the New York Post, and selected as a Critics' Pick by The New York Times and Time Out New York, Old Hats will entertain audiences January 26 through March 3, 2016, with a Thursday, February 18 opening night at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Tickets start at $45. To purchase tickets for all Signature productions, including Incident at Vichy by Arthur Miller and Night is a Room by Naomi Wallace, call Ticket Services at 212-244-7529 (Tues. - Sun., 11am - 6pm) or visit signaturetheatre.org. After an extended, sold out run in 2013, Signature welcomes back Bill Irwin and David Shiner in their award-winning, critically acclaimed production of Old Hats. This production reunites the clowns with original director Tina Landau and introduces their new songstress and comic foil Shaina Taub, hailed as "a young Judy Garland meets grown-up Lisa Simpson" by the San Francisco Chronicle. Using music, technology, and movement, Irwin and Shiner combine their inimitable magic and slapstick to create an unforgettable outing that's fun for the whole family.


  • Community Impact Award, presented by Sabrina Lynn Motley, Director of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Rob Mermin

HONOREE: CIRCUS SMIRKUS
This award is given annually to a circus artist or organization that has succeeded in harnessing and demonstrating the power of the circus arts for community engagement and social good, and in bringing diverse audiences together through quality programming. 

Circus Smirkus is Vermont's own award-winning international youth circus. Since 1987, the company has promoted the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus, inspiring youth to engage in life-changing adventures in the circus arts.

  • Elevating Circus Award, presented by Duncan Wall, Creative Director of Circus Now

HONOREE: DOMINIQUE JANDO
This award is given annually to an individual or an organization who has made a lasting contribution to increasing public awareness about the beauty, artistry, creative potential of the circus arts through their body of work, with particular attention paid to interdisciplinary collaboration or expression.

  • Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Dolly Jacobs, Founder & Associate Director of Circus Sarasota

HONOREE: HOVEY BURGESS
This award is given to an individual artist, troupe, or company whose overall contributions to the field and community are substantial, undeniable and significant.

For more information, please visit:

Big Apple Circus Embraces Autism! Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 11am

Big Apple Circus has joined with world-renowned Autism Spectrum Disorders experts to adapt The Grand Tour for families with members on the spectrum and create a joyful experience for all. The adapted show includes the same world-class artistry as the full performance with a shorter running time, adjusted lights and sound, a calming center, pictorial social narratives, and specially trained staff and volunteers to assure a memorable event for everyone! 

The Grand Tour transports audiences to the Roaring 1920s, the advent of the modern travel era, when the most adventuresome began to tour the world in ships, planes, trains, and automobiles. With every seat less than 50 feet from the stage, audiences will be awed by the world-class entertainers as they perform breathtaking acts from the four corners of the globe. Clowns, jugglers, acrobats, and aerialists from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America appear with ponies, puppies and more; the troupe sets off on its own whirlwind adventure, accompanied by the live, seven-piece Big Apple Circus Band at each of more than 100 performances. 

This special performance, a 75-minute abbreviated show, will take place on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 11am. All tickets to this performance are half price ($12.50-$37.50). For tickets, please visit: www.bit.ly/BACEA15.

"Thank you so much for taking the time to alter the regular show to accommodate children with
special needs. This was the first circus that we were able to take my niece Gianna to and it was all thanks to Big Apple Circus! Thank you again!" - Preston House
"I did notice some of the changes, like the house lights and the clown doctors, but I was really impressed with how subtle the other adjustments were. I felt like nothing was lost in the performance quality, so for some acts I actually wondered how it was different from the standard show. Congratulations!" - Ladan Hamidi Toosi, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

For wheelchair or special seating needs, please call customer service at 800.922.3772.

For more information about accessibility at every Big Apple Circus performance, please visit:  www.bigapplecircus.org/accessibility.

The Grand Tour runs from October 21, 2015 to January 10, 2016. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.bigapplecircus.org