- What is it that you do?
I’m a solo circus danger act, performing feats of strength, skill and silliness. My show has axe, torch and knife juggling, acrobatics, and precarious balance stunts, all wrapped around participatory comedy and occasionally lit on fire.
- Where are you located?
I’m based out of New Orleans, where I spend all my downtime from faires street performing in the French Quarter and eating enough gumbo to sustain me when I’m away from home.
- When did you start performing? In general or at Renaissance fests?
I’m an old hand at being ridiculous on stage, but I’m relatively new to renaissance faires! I’ve been performing since I was a little kid with a contact juggling ball busking on the paths of my local faerie festival (RIP Spoutwood in Maryland!) My circus performing has taken me all over the world, but it was only after I graduated from circus school and I was looking for outdoor opportunities during the pandemic that I stumbled over renaissance faires as a possible direction to take my show.
- Why Renaissance Faires or theme? What is it that made you so interested in this period?
While I’m fascinated by the history of the period (as a teenage bookworm fantasy nerd it’s hard not to be) it’s really the people that have my heart. The audiences I meet at faires are some of the funniest, sweetest, kindest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of being an idiot in front of. And you can double that for the vendors, workers, performers, show runners and producers.
- Describe your first experience with us or your best experience (could be worst experience if you want to share that)
My first faire was in Louisiana, just a few hours away from my home in New Orleans. I had no idea what to expect, but I spent a month crafting a new costume and writing a brand new show to fit the theme. For three weekends I found myself performing in a muddy field to mostly cast and vendors, squinting into direct sunlight as I juggled with frozen fingers. I was cold, wet and muddy the entire run, and I left thinking “Oh no, I absolutely love this. I absolutely have to do more of these.”
- At faire, what was your garb/attire is your usual go to?
Black, white and triangles! A sturdy pair of toe-curling boots from Medieval Treasure and a flower headdress that hasn’t gotten sweaty yet (dream big!). I’m actually in the process of redesigning my garb in a more androgynous direction and I’m having a blast incorporating my old costume elements into my new ones. I also have a secret upside down costume surprise you can only see if you catch one of my shows.
- What makes your act unique or different?
As far as I know, I’m the only nonbinary redheaded knife juggler currently working the circuit. While I love and have a ton of respect for the old school circus acts, I also love to see people of color, queer folks, nonbinary people and women taking up the mantle and bringing their own flavor of comedy and skills to these shows. There are so many voices we just haven’t heard enough from and seeing more unique and different acts taking to the circuit brings me so much joy.
- What education or training if any do you have that led to what you do?
I started out as a self taught juggler as a kid, which snowballed into running my college’s juggling club, which led me to training aerials at the studio where I first performed juggling, which got me into acrobatics, which brought me to seriously pursuing performing as a full time job. I’ve trained at circus schools in Brazil and Australia as well as the USA, and I graduated from the New England Center for Circus Arts professional 3 year program in 2020 (whenever I reference going to circus school in my show, that’s the one I’m referring to!)
- What is your go to for food at faire?
Mediterranean! I LIVE for good Tabbouleh at the end of a long hot day. Ali Baba and Jerusalem Cafe both have my heart (and my money) whenever we’re at the same faire together.
- Plug your website or fan page here (or both)
You can find my website at https://www.marvelousmarysia.com/ and I’m @marvelousmarysia across all social platforms: instagram, facebook and tiktok
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Author’s Note: Thank you to Marvelous Marysia for letting us into her world and finding out what it is she does, she’s fabulous!
If you ,your group, your troupe or I have interviewed authors if they have a book that is Renaissance themed would like to be featured on the blog, please reach out to us at http://www.facebook.com/renperfmerch.
