The Secret Circus
At Bob Baker Marionette Theater
An Original Musical
by Chanel Samson and Holly Anne Mitchell
Friday, June 27
Doors & Pre-Show: 7 PM
Show: 7:30 PM
Welcome to The Secret Circus! When feelings have been outlawed, a gregarious rock-n-roll ringleader and their circus friends establish an underground Big Top, a place for freedom and self-expression that’s welcome to all identities—person, animal, or marionette.
Big feelings are safe under Bob Baker’s Big Top, where tight rope walkers, jugglers, and dancing ostriches channel their emotions into art, away from the clutches of the “feelings police.”
This family and LGBTQ-friendly show features live band GOOF, with both human and marionette circus acts. Original Book, Music, and Lyrics by Chanel Samson and Holly Anne Mitchell, featuring Bob Baker’s legendary marionettes. From the show’s creators: “This is the musical we needed as kids.” For adults too, The Secret Circus reminds the inner child what makes you strange is what makes you shine; find the tribe where you belong, and if you can’t find one, make one.
With ONLY two performances of The Secret Circus throughout the summer at BBMT, don’t miss your chance to see this one-of-a-kind musical! Arrive early at 7 PM to enjoy pre-show delights with talented circus folks entertaining guests!
About the Creators
Chanel Samson (they/them) cut their teeth in the entertainment industry in Liverpool, England at Paul McCartney’s music school and landed back home in LA. Chanel formed a queer and genderfluid variety show The Secret Circus, and toured in bands such as Chanel & the Circus and Praise Kink. Chanel’s brilliantly campy rock songs, potent melodies, and circus-themed cabaret are delivered with the true essence of clown—a provocative jester poking fun at society. Chanel is currently touring their musical ALL THE BOYS I BLOCKED in festivals across the U.S. and abroad.
Holly Anne Mitchell (she/her) is a multi-media writer and performer, mental health advocate, and LGBTQ+ ally. A two-time TEDx talker, Singer-Songwriter, Novelist-Poet-Playwright, and NYU Tisch School of the Arts Theatre grad, Holly’s prolific, dark, and ethereal works are birthed in response to her recovery from PTSD. Holly wrote, produced, and starred in her debut musical BLOOD SUPPLY: A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE LOVE STORY premiering in Los Angeles to stellar reviews, followed by her critically-acclaimed debut album HOLLY HOLLOWS, a theatrical indie pop rock journey to the afterlife. Holly is currently in pre-production for her new country musical OUTRO, the psychedelic unraveling of a marriage, set entirely in a recording studio in Nashville.
Learn more about The Secret Circus!