Blog du Wren

Mother Wrenger in the Nutcracker

On the juggling/performance front, 2023 was a year of saying "yes" to whatever opportunity arose. It led to some really great experiences not the least of which was my role as Mother Ginger in a 4-show run of the Nutcracker at Mount Baker Theater*.

Why did the dance studio approach a bearded middle-aged man for a female role in a performance with an otherwise 100% ? I wondered the same thing, but it was the year of "yes" so what could I do? It turns out that they needed a stilter to fill in the costume and stilting is something I can do! As an added bonus, I learn dance choreography at about the same speed as 8-year olds, so it was perfect!

After having my live performance world be only that within the circus context, I really appreciated the new perspective of working with the dance studio. We had tons of rehearsals, costume fittings, tech rehearsals, etc. I felt very prepared opening night, as opposed to many circus shows where opening night often feels like a dress rehearsal in itself. The experience of being in a big fancy theater (with my own dressing room!) was a step up as well.

Are the producers of the Nutcracker as happy with the experience of me as I was with them? Tough call. Everyone was very appreciative and generous with their reviews, but that's kind of how both Bellingham and theater people are. It turns out I am not an actor. I don't emote well, or ham it up or project with my body. This is something I've always known and

I tried to warn them of from the start. I can, however, walk on stilts like nobody's business. (The best compliment I received after the show was from a parent saying "I never once felt like you were going to fall on my child.") Even if they asked me back for next year (which I don't imagine they will because acting (and I hardly would blame them)), I don't know if I could say yes. While the experience was a wonderful one, it wasn't the wisest financially. I ended up having to turn down quite a few holiday gigs due to conflicting rehearsal times and my mileage for trips up to Bellingham and back are a little cringe-worthy. But who knows? I did have fun.

Anyway, without further ado, here's a little clip of me from the show*.

Oh, thanks to and credit for the photos to Gaby Cavalcanti Photography.

Tuesday March 5 2024

File under: circus, juggling

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2023 Performance Review

One of my favorite posts I used to make was me and Della's summer juggling recap posts where I would collect some of the fun performance pictures from the year to share (check them out here: 2017, 2018, 2019). And even though those that follow me over at @wrenthejuggler on instagram may find some of these repeats, I thought it was time for me to restart the tradition by sharing some of my favorite photos (and videos(!)) of 2023.

Some 2023 highlights...

Stilting as a tree-being, togaed Roman, Mother Ginger, and chicken man in addition to my standard cowboy and new sparkle pants costume*
Working with many new production companies like Cirque Cadia, CircusWerks, Vuelta La Luna, and Star Entertainment*
MCing Vaudevillingham as well as being a "Featured Performer" there
Being in the Nutcracker at Mt. Baker Theater (professional photos coming soon!)*
Performing at a rave(!), Climate Pledge Arena, a mega-church, a navy base, and the top floor of Columba Tower
A return of the Real Food Show, with 10 shows in Skagit and Whatcom schools
A super fun and successful act in BCG's Halloween show
Adding new fairs including Arlington, Stanwood, and Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden to the fairs I have done for years and love being a part of
Finally upping my professionality factor by making business cards and getting a website for just myself (www.wrenthejuggler.com)

Next year is shaping up to be more of the same, with lots of great repeat gigs and hopefully some new ones too. I feel exceptionally lucky to have a job that I enjoy so much and am so grateful to all those who have helped me be where I am.

Saturday January 6 2024

File under: juggling, circus

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Halloween Act 2023 - Dueling Banjos

The Bellingham Circus Guild's Beastly Frightful Unspeakably Spooky Circus of DOOOOM had its 6th incarnation this Halloween and I was stoked to be a part again (making it 6/6!) The show was a huge hit with so many sell out crowds we had to add a show (which itself went on to sell out.) Circus going regulars had high praise for it and it was a genuine pleasure to be a part of. I feel so lucky that doing this kind of shit is my job.

The video of my act is below. I'm really stoked both on how the act turned out and that the night the videographer came, we didn't have any drops*! In addition to this awesome video, we had a couple of super great photographers! Both Jason and Vitz caught some really fun shots.

As I mentioned, this marks my 6th appearance in the Halloween show. Here are the posts for previous years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. But without further ado, here's this year's act. I hope you like it!

Sunday November 12 2023

File under: circus, juggling

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New Stilting Costume

For a few years now, I've felt the need for a new stilting costume. My is always a hit, but after a couple of strolls through a fair, people have been-there-done-that. Being the giant isn't the same without my teeny weenie (a.k.a. lil smokey). And the is too dang hot for my summer fair gigs*. So I contacted a very crafty friend and put in an order.

As you can see, it turned out ! And not only does it look spectacular, fit perfectly, and breathe enough that I'm not a [total] soggy pile of a man after a 45-minute stilting stint, the costume's creator used a bunch of Della's fabrics at my request so I could feel that she was there with me, notably a big star patch right over my heart*.

Feeling ambitious in the design phase, I had the costume be made a foot taller than my other ones in hopes of really upping my game. And while I love the extra height, it does offer all sorts of new skill challenges from feeling a little less stable to not being able to reach down to pick up a dropped club. But it gives great opportunities for !

So far, with a number of , , and under my belt, the costume has been a super hit! Since so many of my gigs are repeats from previous years, the regulars gush about the new costume. And even those seeing it for the first time seem to approve. I even made it to 's instagram feed!

Stilting season just about half over, so I'll have lots more hours in the saddle to get more comfortable, get some more awesome photos, and hopefully made lots more people smile. If you see me up there, come give me a really high-five!

Tuesday August 8 2023

File under: circus, juggling

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Halloween Circus Act 2022 - Space Pirates

Halloween time means Halloween circus show at the Bellingham Circus Guild. This year's show was, by all accounts, a hit. With new VIP tables, some new fun stage decorations*, and tons of the same magic that makes all Cirque Guild shows wonderful, 7 out of 7 shows sold out to smiling goblins, howling hot dogs, enthusiastic cowboys, and even some cheering regular people.

Behind the scenes always presents a little differently and this show was no different. It was a really hard show for me to be in for a number of reason that I don't need to go into. By the end of the run, though, I mostly worked through them, but probably not before my-feelings-worn-on-my-sleeve left a few people regretting putting me in the show. So it goes, I suppose. I don't know if the rollercoaster of

emotions I went though will preclude me from wanting to be a part of the BCG Halloween show in the future. I suppose you'll have to check back in next year to find out.

A few items of note regarding this year's act:

I started writing the act with a buddy who had to opt out with < 3 weeks until showtime due to time availability and medical issues. I was lucky to find a replacement who helped me get the act to a completed state, but with much less rehearsal time than I would have hoped.
In the act, I dance. And nobody forced me to do it. It was my choice (though you can tell here that I wasn't stoked). I couldn't help but think about Della and how thrilled she would have been to get me to do any dance in an act.
Though the theme of the act was space alien night club, I pitched a pirate based act since I have a closet full of very professional pirate costumes and it allowed for juggling knives which was fun.

Whenever Della's parents came to a Circus Guild show, we would
always do a cast photo with them. I like that we still do.

As I mentioned, it was a 7-show run. Some nights there were fewer drops than others. This run had a super-solid non-glow portion but with more drops than I like in the glow portion. Whatever the case, I think it'll give you the idea of the act. Hopefully you enjoy!

(As a side note: I just recently posted a post-dated post of 2021's Halloween act, since I left for Spain directly from the last show. That, with this, makes 5 BCG Halloween acts posted here, including perhaps the best act of all time, 2019's Ghostbuster's Act.)

Friday November 25 2022

File under: circus, juggling

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Glow Juggling in Circadia

One of the many things I attempt to archive here on this blog is my juggling. I don't post every single gig (just as I don't post about every TV extra role, every jumping picture, or every published crossword), but I do feel the need to stick in a performance post, esp. if a gig was notable, every now and again to remind myself and readers in the far distant future that performing was a part of my life. Hence this post.

Last weekend, the Bellingham Circus Guild, along with Hot Damn Scandal, hosted Circadia, a circus/play/concert show to celebrate the Equinox. I performed a solo juggling piece to the band's rendition of Haddaway's "What is Love" (complete with Night at the Roxbury head bobs and Will Ferrell inspired t-shirt/sports coat/gold chain attire). I programmed my fancy light-up clubs to change patterns to the music and lights such that the "club atmosphere" was well evoked. (The flashy clubs also served as a distracting enough gimmick that the perhaps less than inspired act still came across as fun.) The act was well received (even if I dropped more than I would have liked) and the show was deemed a success by all.

I've been in 2 other Circus Guild shows since I lost my better-half/cheerleader/backstage support/stage partner, and each of those times, I barely kept it together and spend the majority of the show hidden away in my car with my fingers in my ears. The experience this time was much improved, with a cast that I really felt included in and supported by. And while it was still hard (I snuck a picture of Della high above the stage so she could be looking down on me), it was maybe the first time that I felt stage performance could still conceivably be a part of my future and that's a good thing.

Anyway, since a picture is worth lots of words and a video is worth even more, here you go. Like I said, there were more drops than I would have liked in the act (esp. in this instance of it), but hopefully posterity will get the gist.

(If you want to keep up on my circusing with more regularity than this blog allows, the best place to do so would be Instagram where I can be found @WrenTheJuggler.)

Thursday March 24 2022

File under: circus, juggling

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Halloween Circus Act 2021 - Somebodys Watching Me

[This is being posted 11/7/2022, over a year after it should have been. As it turned out, I left for the Camino mere hours after this show wrapped. I'm posting it now for our old friend posterity.]

When people ask me about shows at the Bellingham Circus Guild, I always tell them that there are 2 highly produced shows per year, Valentine's Day and Halloween. Valentine's Day has been going for 10 or more years now. You've probably seen some of me and Della's acts for that here, here, or here*. Halloween is a bit newer, with this year only being the 4th Beastly Frightful Unspeakably Spooky Circus of Doom, Della and I having had acts in all the previous 3 (here, here, and here). And while I don't know if the Valentine's Day show is ever in the cards for me again, I thought I'd give Halloween a try.

Instead off diving into trying to describe it and point out what I liked or didn't, I'll just let you have a look at the video. Also, here are a . I hope you enjoy it!

(Interesting note from the future: we ran this act on the main stage at 2022's Sh'Bang. We totally flubbed the round-about, but NAILED the glow club part, so at least there's that.)

Monday November 8 2021

File under: circus, juggling

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Skagit County Fair 2021

Ten years ago, I was not a performer. Anyone that knew me knew not only was I not a performer, but I was emphatically not a performer. Then I met Della. Then I learned to perform and really grew to enjoy it. Then came the Wren and Della brand and performing became my livelihood. Then it was all taken away and I was faced with the daunting decision of rebuilding a performance life or not. This question was tested recently at my stint at the Skagit County Fair.

I've done a few little gigs earlier this year: a in Leavenworth, a in Kendall, a in Bellingham, and the In show at the Bellingham Circus Guild. But the Skagit County Fair was different. For one, it was a gig that Della and I have done for years together. The people there know us as, well, us. For another, the booking required me to cover 7 30-minute stage shows, something I've never done without Della. Thirty minutes is a long time. And me and Della's show evolved over years to become what it was. The Skagit County Fair was the first real test of the daunting decision of whether I was going to embark on the path of rebuilding a performance career.

The verdict: hard but good. It was hard because memories were everywhere, I didn't have my partner to help make the work less worky, and I had to share the news about Della to so many people who hadn't heard yet still keep an entertaining facade. It was good because everyone was so super supportive—from the fair staff and volunteer to the other performers that Della and I have performed many times with to the booth vendors who saw our roving enough times to learn our tells to the fairgoers who came to my show just so I would know I could do it. The stage shows were hard; I lost about 2 gallons of sweat running around in the sun with the stress of "is this good enough?"* The roving was good; I posed for , wowed people with my , and even got quoted by the .

Getting back on the horse seems like an apt analogy to my time at the Skagit County Fair this year. It was scary and daunting, but I did it. I'm a different guy than I was 10 years ago and maybe one of those differences is that I am a performer now. For four days at the Skagit County Fair I was, at least. As for the future, only time will tell.

Sunday August 22 2021

File under: circus, Della

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The Real Food Show Video

Last year, I posted about the Real Food Show, the elementary assembly show that uses the fun and magic of the circus to teach about healthy eating and lifestyle. (If you want to know more, check out that post or visit www.therealfoodshow.org.)

Well, needless to say, Della and I aren't performing the Real Food Show (nor almost anything else) these days, so we've got a bit of time on our hands. And since a lot of schools are doing the whole virtual thing, at least for the time being, which we only imagine isn't easy on the parents, teachers, or students, we got an idea. We decided to record the Real Food Show and make it available for all for free as a video on youTube. That way, when a kiddo needs a break or a treat but still needs to log those educational hours, they can watch us juggle junk food, balance protein blocks, and ride unicycles, all the while learning about healthy eating in a fun, engaging way! Our hope is that the show will reach millions of little eyeballs spreading the important message of health while causing smiles on both kids', parents', and teachers' faces alike, so by all means, if you know someone who might find it helpful, please feel free to pass it along: http://www.tinyurl.com/realfoodshow

And since I know you, loyal BdW reader, want to see what all the health fuss is about, I'm proud to present the Real Food Show. Enjoy!

Monday September 28 2020

File under: circus, food

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2018 Halloween Circus Show

Bellingham Circus Guild's second annual* Beastly, Frightful, Unbelievably Spooky Circus of Doom was a rip roaring success. Della and I had a great time being a part. Through sheer persistance of will*, we created a brand spanking new act, one that we both like very much (despite it being incredibly difficult).

In addition to some awesome video (courtesy of Bellingham Access TV), we got some really fun photo booth shots. And, as a super fun surprise, I ran across a video of myself doing some pre-show fire juggling to entertain the crowd on Instagram! With all the video, pictures, and more, it's like you are there in person! Enjoy!

Thursday November 15 2018

File under: circus, juggling

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