Miniball 2022
Mainstage Programming & Events
With shows that do everything from queer contemporary circus, to celebrate the artistry of sex workers, to compost our present apocalypse, Miniball is not to be missed!
We will also be joined by organizations including Project Safe and PennEnvironment for artist talkbacks, panels, and community extension programming.
Of course we have to kick off Miniball with a wild, experimental, loose, delicious PARTY:
Cast-off! The Miniball opening night celebration and benefit for Cannonball Festival.
See the whole line-up below, and if you would like to support grassroots, artist-to-artist presenting in Philadelphia, consider making a donation today!
Scroll to the bottom of this page for downloadable calendar views of all things happening at Miniball.
Mainstage Shows
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Surface Tension by Company To X For
Creating vulnerable connection through sincere juggling, Surface Tension is an intimate and daring circus show about a queer friendship.
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Sophie Sucre: A Study in Sensual Performance via the Humanist Gaze by Danielle Currica
Meet Sophie, as she explores her most authentic erotic sensual self as a Black Women leveraging the erotic as power through a long-form, 45-minute burlesque performance.
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DIRT TRIP by Alex Tatarsky
A decomposing performance on clowns, dirt, and apocalypse feelings by Alex Tatarsky.
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Whale Fall by Iris McCloughan and Mike Lala
A multimedia meditation/monologue on mourning, ecology, human-cetacean relationships, and possibilities for organized life after capitalism.
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Out of Eden by Inversions
A provocative polesque show that will take you on a journey from the heavens, into the fall, Out of Eden, and through the depths of hell.
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Happy Hour by Almanac Dance Circus Theatre
Almanac Dance Circus Theatre’s score for uncertain times when we want to prioritize our humanity.
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Artifacts of No Consequence by Jeff Evans and Bayla Rubin
This interactive exploration and solo show invites you to an effort of self-construction and archivism. Not your own self, someone else’s.
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Miniball Full Festival Pass
Want to make the most of your Miniball experience?
The MINIBALL FULL FESTIVAL PASS includes a Cannonball T-shirt, a free drink before or after every show, admission to CAST OFF! on Sunday, April 3rd and, of course, tickets to each of our seven Miniball shows.
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Special Events
Keep scrolling to learn more about our community programming!
Special Events
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CAST OFF! Miniball opening night celebration and benefit for Cannonball Festival
Sunday April 3rd, 6:30-8PM
Join Miniball artists, Cannonball producers, and fellow supporters of risk-taking independent artists for a delicious event supporting Cannonball Festival. Enjoy small plates, bubbly wine, and live entertainment while mingling in the beautiful Maas Garden, and hear about the exciting festival in store for this September, when Cannonball returns to Maas and expands to the Icebox Project space!
Admission included in the Full Festival Pass! Individual tickets also available NOW -
Performer Chat: Art, Identity, & the Erotic
Tuesday April 5th, 5:30-6:30PM
Miniball is thrilled to be presenting the work of a rich assembly of artists from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds, including work that uplifts the experiences of sex workers, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC creators. Join Miniball artists as they discuss how the intersections of their identities relate to or inform the work they create, and share their visions for a future of artistic, social, and political liberation.
This event is free and open to the public and will be followed by showings of Surface Tension and Sophie Sucre.
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Climate On Tap!
Thursday April 7th, 4:30-6PM
PennEnvironment is taking over the MAAS Garden for Climate On Tap! Join Miniball artists and PennEnvironment advocates to dive deeper into the ecological narratives presented in some of the Miniball shows, discuss local climate change impacts and solutions, and create positive change. It'll be a great chance to make your voice heard, meet other folks who care about environmental action, and have fun at interactive action stations throughout the garden!
This event is free and open to the public and will be followed by showings of Happy Hour, Whale Fall, and DIRT TRIP. -
Write Back Atcha! with thINKing Dance
Tuesday, April 5th, 7:30PM directly following Surface Tension
Our friends at thINKing Dance will be facilitating this writing-focused talk-back for the Tuesday showing of Surface Tension! A tD writer will guide audience members through an exercise to capture their experiences of seeing the show. You can even choose to share your writing with tD and have it published on the site!
Written feedback and reviews are incredibly valuable to independent artists, so this is a great way to support their growth as risk-taking performers and share your thoughts with the larger arts community!
This event is a free, optional, additional programming offering for audiences of the showing of Surface Tension on Tuesday, April 5th, at 6:30pm. -
Arts Advocacy, Mutual Aid, & the Decriminalization of Pleasure
Friday April 8th, 5-6PM
Join Miniball artists, Project Safe volunteers, and Red Umbrella Alliance advocates for a panel discussion and interactive workshop on the importance of arts advocacy, mutual aid, and decriminalization efforts in Philadelphia!
This event is free and open to the public and will be followed by showings of Whale Fall, Surface Tension, DIRT TRIP, and the one and only performance of Out of Eden.
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About Ready
Sunday, April 3rd, 5:30-6:30PM
Wednesday, April 6th, 6-7PM
Ready About! Prepare to Tack! Batten down the hatches, hearties: these works-in-progress are About Ready. Featuring short works, excerpts of new performances, and ideas that don’t fit anywhere else, About Ready is the place to go to find something new. Circus, dance, and theatre should all be expected. You decide if these ideas will sink or swim!
These events are free and open to the public!
Make sure to grab your Full Festival Pass to stick around after the show and enjoy all that the incredible Miniball artists have to offer!
Thank you to Ed Wagner for the scheduling design!