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BROOKLYN WEEKLY, MAY 26, 2019
A TIGHT BALANCE: The dazzling circus show “Brooklyn Abridged”
is inspired by the borough of Kings, but will debut across the river,
on the distant isle of Manhattan. David Lee
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BY AIDAN GRAHAM
They fl y through the borough
with the greatest of
A new show will use
live music, slapstick comedy,
and high-fl ying acrobatics
to take guests on a
journey through Brooklyn
— in Manhattan. The latest
production from Williamsburg’s
Bindlestiff
Family Cirkus, “Brooklyn
Abridged,” swinging
into the Connelly Theater
on the distant isle of Manhattan
on May 30, will pay
tribute to Kings County
through a spectacular circus
display, said the show’s
co-creator.
“We’re paying homage
to the do-it-yourself circus
scene that has grown out
of Brooklyn over the years,
which we were at the forefront
of for a long time,”
said Keith Nelson. “We’re
also paying homage to the
interesting individuals in
Brooklyn, from artists to
steel workers, as well as
the diversity that makes
Brooklyn what it is.”
DUMBO
ease!
Wellington, and local
indie-rocker Eli “Paperboy”
Reed — a familiar
face who will add a new
twist this year, said Schumacher.
“It’s always fun to hear
Eli Paperboy Reed live. I’m
particularly stoked he is
bringing his group of super
talented kids, the Harlem
Gospel Travelers, out
to open,” she said.
Another new aspect to
the fi fth annual summer
series is the Family Jam —
opening acts that will appeal
to kids and families,
including puppets shows,
circus acts, and ballet
dancers.
Last year’s Archway innovation
will also continue
— a weekly celebration of
visual art at the pop-up
Gallery Cubed, which offers
32 square feet for a different
creator to fi ll with
art each wiik.
“It gives our audiences
unprecedented access to
world class visual artists,”
said Schumacher. “Where
else can you get this intimate
with a piece of art?”
All performances at
the Archway Under the
Manhattan Bridge (155
Water St. between Adams
and Pearl streets
in Dumbo, www.
dumbo.is). All shows
start at 5:30 pm, unless
otherwise noted. Free.
June 13: Nkumu Katalay
and the Life-Long Project
Band, with Fogo Azul
NYC, plus students from
PS 307 and Dock Street
School.
June 20: Archway 10th
Anniversary Party! Celebrate
10 years of the Archway,
with performances
from Brown Rice Family,
the Maybelles, Young
Soon’s White Wave Dance
Company, hula-hoop
troupe Big Sky Works, and
more. Starts at 5 pm.
June 27: Avenida B, with
an opening performance
of “Rainbow” by Puppetsburg.
July 4: No show this
week! Go enjoy the fi reworks!
July 11: Eli “Paperboy”
Reed, with opening act
Harlem Gospel Travelers.
July 18: Kombilesa Mi,
with an opening performance
of “Pop Music,” by
Puppetsburg.
July 25: Caique Vidal
and Batuque, with opening
act Trio Rasteirinho.
Presented in collaboration
with Brasil Summerfest.
Aug. 1: Yunior Terry and
Son de Altura, preceded by
a fashion show presented
by the Center for Cuban
Studies.
Aug. 8: Dandy Wellington,
with opening act Miss
Saturn.
Aug. 15: Alsarah and the
Nubatones, with opening
act Konverjdans.
Aug. 22: Say She She,
with an opening performance
of “Splendid Elephant”
by Puppetsburg.
Under the arch: Local soul
singer Eli “Paperboy” Reed will
perform at Dumbo’s free LIve at
the Archway series on July 11.
Continued from cover
The show will feature
jaw-dropping acrobatic
performances, said Nelson,
including multiple
trapeze acts, a trip up an
unsupported ladder, and a
daring walk across an elevated
slack wire. The daring
young athletes perform
against a backdrop that
echoes some of the Brooklyn’s
most notable landmarks,
from its namesake
bridge to the iconic rides of
Coney Island, according to
Nelson.
“The show is based a
lot around the Brooklyn
Bridge,” he said. “It’s really
a strong piece of the
show. We also talk about
the 20-or-so people who
died in the construction of
the bridge, so we’re exploring
some darker elements
as well.”
Everything about the
show is intertwined with
Kings County, said Nelson,
except the theater hosting
to the performance.
“We couldn’t fi nd a
space in Brooklyn,” he
said. “Brooklyn has become
more expensive than
Manhattan — and I’m only
half joking.”
Nelson wishes the show
could have debuted in the
borough from which it
draws its inspiration, but
says that the 100-seat venue
provides a perfect setting
for this dazzling display.
“It is a really amazing
venue. It’s not quite dilapidated,
but it’s an old theater
with a ton of character,” he
said. “It’s also one of those
places that is still very accessible,
both in terms of
geography, and also in that
you’re not walking into
this giant palace. It’s more
intimate, so we can keep
ticket prices lower, and everyone
can experience the
art.”
If all goes well throughout
the show’s 11-day run,
Bindlestiff hopes they will
fi nd another home to keep
the show swinging.
“We’re hoping to get
a longer run, ideally in
Brooklyn, because that
would be more fi tting to
do ‘Brooklyn Abridged’ in
Brooklyn,” said Nelson.
“But you’ve got to take the
show to whatever venue
you can.”
“Brooklyn Abridged” at
the Connelly Theater (220
E. Fourth St. between Avenue
A and Avenue B in the
East Village in Manhattan,
www.connellytheater.org).
May 30–June 9, Wed-Thu
at 7 p.m., Fri at 8 p.m., Sat;
3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sun at 3
p.m. $35 ($30 in advance).
‘Brooklyn Abridged’ circus
show debuts in Manhattan
UP AND AWAY: Williamsburg’s Bindlestiff Family Cirkus will swing
from ropes and stand on ladders at its Brooklyn-themed circus
show, debuting in Manhattan on May 30. David Lee
/www.connellytheater.org
/www.dumbo.is
/www.dumbo.is
/www.connellytheater.org)