January 27, 2025 • 30 mins
Community DC Host Dennis Glasgow visits with Founder and Executive Director Lisa Lewis of Omnium Circus. Described as A Bold New Circus is a first of its kind: a singularly inclusive and accessible Circus that is multi-abled and representative, highlighting and celebrating that disability and diversity shine through the joy and excitement of Circus arts.The Omnium Circus comes to Washington DC and the Warner Theater on Saturay, February 22nd.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Community d C.
I'm your host Dennis Glasgow.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
This morning we get a chance to talk about the circus,
specifically the Omnium Circus which is coming to the Warner
Theater on Saturday, February twenty second, with the founder and
the executive director, Lisa Lewis. Described as a bold news circus,
It's the first of its kind, a singularly inclusive and
accessible circus that is a multi abled and representative highlighting
(00:33):
and celebrating that disability and diversity shine through the joy
and excitement of circus arts. Here's Lisa to talk all
about it and how you can attend. I hope you
enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Good morning, Lisa,
Good morning. Well listen, I'm thrilled to talk to you
about Omnium Circus. Where did the idea come from it?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
And of course we're going to talk about the circus
the Warner Theater February twenty second, the ninety minutes show
all the cool things when it comes here to DC
see in late February. But you know, how did you
come up with the idea?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
So it's very interesting. Omnia means of all and belonging
to all. So I came to the idea after years
of being in the circus and watching families who couldn't join,
Or there was one day where there was audio description,
so you could come if you were blinder low vision
only on that day. Well, what if it didn't work
(01:23):
with your schedule, or there was one day that was
sensory friendly. But what if you have one child with
sensory needs and another child with a different set of needs,
and another child that has baseball practice, and another child
that has a ballet rehearsal. How why couldn't we make
access for anybody all the time. Why can't people enjoy
(01:45):
the circus as a family together with whatever their need is,
so that people can come together to enjoy it. So
that was the first idea. Then as I started digging
into that and figuring it out, I realized that it
was equally important to have representation looking back out at them,
(02:06):
so that you don't go to a show. And it's
not like going to Mars and watching martians do something.
These are human beings. You're a human being. Let's human together, right,
So let's have the performers be representative of the population
that they serve, but be that exemplary representation like the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Right right, right, Oh, I love that. And we're going
to talk more about accessibility everybody, because, as Lisa is
explaining here, and she'll get into more depth, that it
doesn't matter who or what you are, or what you
experience or don't have, you're welcome there for the ninety
minute show. And there's a lot of different ways that
you can experience the Omium Circus, which I think is
just such a delight that you're doing that. And I
(02:45):
know it's hard work to get all those things going
and all the moving parts. But for listeners that maybe
have not heard of the Amium Circus before, Lisa, why
don't you tell them what it is and what it's
involved in the ninety minute show because I know there's
a lot going.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
On, and there's a total lot going on.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So Omnium Circus is a fabulous circus production. It's a
great story Carrie taking the character through a journey of
feeling rejected and feeling not a part of the world
to where they discover the circus and they discover their
own possibilities within that.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
We've got original.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Music and it's just a heartwarming story with incredible skill,
incredible artistry, and at the end of it, my goal
is for everybody to walk out of there with a
big smile on their face, feeling like they've just had
a great time and they feel motivated to be their
best self, to be the best person that you can be.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Well, I love that. Now we should tell people and
this is the really cool part because I think everybody
in their lifetime, especially in my demographic, has been to
the circus over the years. And what's really cool about
what you're doing here is that if I'm to understand correctly,
then you can go into more about this, Lisa, that
twenty five percent of your performers are disabled and forty
(04:03):
percent of your team is disabled. So there's a lot
of people that are being included where maybe the old
style circus they were welcomed or it was a different
kind of deal way back then. But this is kind
of the whole thing that the inclusion of your performers
and your team are disabled, and once again the acknowledgment
to people that might have a disability in the crowd
(04:24):
would be able to relate. And I always tell people
and radio because I've been working in radio for a
long time, Lisa. One of the cool things that we
want our talk shows to do is to relate to
the audience, and that's exactly what you're doing here, and
that's what I love. Can you go more into that
for us?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
So you figured there's one hundred percent of the world, right,
twenty five percent of the world has a disability. So
when we're presenting a circus, we want to represent one
hundred percent of the world so that we can all
share joy together. So, yes, twenty five percent of our
on stage team has a disability. Mind you, not all
disabilities are our ring master. We have two ring masters
(05:03):
and they work in tandem. One is a singer and
has a gorgeous voice like Frank Sinatra. Wait till you
hear this. If you happen to be deaf, fine too.
Our other ring master is an incredible dancer who happens
to also be deaf. So everything is signed in this beautiful,
fluid American sign language to create that accessibility intrinsically, so
(05:28):
you're not watching a sign language interpreter way over on
the side and you have to miss the action. It's
included as a part of the production. We have a
performer who is a seven time NC double A gymnastics champion,
and he does a handstand on his wheelchair while it's
spinning around.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
He can also tap dance on his hands, which is
just hysterically.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I've seen it on video.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
It's a it's amazing, celebrating and mixed in with that,
it's not. What we want to is an inclusive and
a beautiful production, not a sideshow. I was told once,
never define yourself by what.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
You are not.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
What we are is a beautifully inclusive production. What we
are not is a side show. Everyone is presented in
full honor for their skill, for their talent, and for
their artistry.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I love that. I love that, And you know what,
I want to get more into accessibility now because I
think this is really important because you've started to mention
some of the things that you do, including the sign
lang whiche. Of course it's an English show with sign language,
but you know, if you hearing impaired, if you cannot see,
if you're site impaired, and all sorts of other kind
(06:42):
of sensory issues that maybe somebody has, you really do
handle everybody. I do want to choose to tell the
story that was featured in CBS, the young man who
did not be able to he didn't like the circus
because of the noises and the lights and everything. And
I want you to tell history in just a second.
But let's talk to people about how it's welcoming for
everybody that has any kind of issue that might stop
(07:04):
them from going to a circus, that they're welcomed, and
how you take such a good care of them.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
So the whole idea is that we want to bring
families together.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Right, So, if you are of the deaf.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Community and you want American Sign language, we've got that.
But there are also a lot of people who have
diminished hearing who don't necessarily sign, so it's fully captioned.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
We have full caption slides on the side.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
If you are low vision or blinde the entire show
is audio described, so that you have a set of
headsets that you check out when you come in and
you hear the entire show live action in front of you,
so you can share that excitement. We have a touch
table before you go in, which is for everybody. We
(07:50):
originally created it for people who were low vision or blind,
but we discovered very quickly that it's really fun for everybody,
so you get to feel the miniature props.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
How the balance works.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
So that when you enjoy the circuits, when you experience that,
you have a tactile experience along with it. And we
make sure that people with sensory sensitivities are also comfortable.
We leave the house lights on low so that if
you need to take a break, you can come, you
can go, it's no problems. We keep the volume of
(08:22):
the entire show between seventy five and eighty five decibels
so that it's comfortable, it's audible, it's comfortable. If you
need assisted listening, we have assisted listening headsets so that
you can amplify the volume for yourself if you need to.
We have a calming area set up in the lobby,
so if someone disregulates or needs to take a break, that's.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
No problem too.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
We want you to enjoy the show the way you
feel the way is best for you. We call it
relaxed seating, so we're relaxed, you're relaxed. Express yourself how
you need. If you stem, if you wiggle, if you
need to shout out, that's okay. If someone next to
you is moving in a way that you're like.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Wow, that's different. It's okay too.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You can sit here, you can sit there. We're all
in this world together. We're all human beings in this
world together. And to be able to share with one
hundred percent of our world accepting and loving of each other,
of who we are and being represented on stage is
just it's a magical experience.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
AI told me.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
It's where the it's where the magic of circus meets
the power of inclusion.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I love that that that's so well said. And you know,
there are so many things that we take for granted
as able body people, and that you're doing all this
and trying to really tackle all the issues that everybody
might have going to this between the lights and the
sound and flashing and you know, your calming room and
(09:57):
all the just it's wonderful. So that leads me to
something I referenced just a little bit earlier. I watched
a wonderful, nice ten minute story by local PBS featuring
you and the players and the whole Omnium circus, and
there was one man who cannot he couldn't go to
circuses with his mom because of the noise and how
(10:18):
loud it was and just all the things going on
anybody's been to a circus, there's a lot going on.
So they did a little part of the feature on
him being able to attend. Can you tell his story,
because I know you probably have hundreds of them, but
his was especially special because he can now attend, And
it's just another reason why your circus is so cool
for everybody. Can you share it?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
I can, And that young man is so special. I
met him in another circus I worked for. I met
him when he was very much afraid to come in,
and we worked very hard over the years to help
him to feel comfortable. His name is Eric Eric Lachern
and he's from Virginia. He's a young man with Down's
(11:00):
syndrome and when he started coming he was very very
much afraid. And the more we adjust the sensory, we
do whatever we can to really make him feel comfortable,
comfortable in his own skin, and he has.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
He's come to us.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
He's now the head of our Ringmaster Squad, which is
our volunteer organization.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
That's huge. I mean, it's a full circle story.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It is.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
And now the confidence that he has I tell him
all the time. If you see him walking around, you'll
see posters of us up everywhere, and Eric will tell you,
this is my circus.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
And it is.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
It really is because the confidence that he's developed in
the ability to tell people about his circus, to share
that with people, gives him a pathway.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Into a world from which he was excluded.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
So many people with different abilities or who have different
perspectives on the world are siloed and they don't feel
safe or comfortable coming into a.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
More mainstream world. So this has given him a.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Bridge to be able to come in and say, hey,
I've got something we can all share. I'm a part
of this and he is. Like I said, he's a
head of our Ringmaster squad. Another person told me at
a different show, we got a letter after the show
that their daughter, who was had no disabilities, sat next
(12:31):
to a young person same age like I think they
were both six or seven years old, sat next to
a young person who was deaf, and they struck up
a friendship. They would never have encountered each other in
the general world. They're in different school classes, they would
have never encountered each other, but they struck up this
beautiful friendship that can continue outside of the theater. So
(12:54):
we're working to build bridges in the larger community as well.
Another story, a kid said to me and from one
of my board members, there was a nonverbal person who
was an autistic nonverbal person does not speak on the
way home from seeing Omni and looked at his parents
and said, that was fun.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Wow, they spoke incredible.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
And people with like I said, with the magic. There's
as much magic happening in the audience as there is
on stage. Yeah, it's really an honor to be able
to share this.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
With the world.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Well, I know it's one of your end goals to
have stuff like this happened. I know it's not left
on you, but I always talk to people for what
inner industry they do, including mine. When you change lives
and maybe you don't realize it because you're moving so
quickly and you're organizing it and there's so much going on,
you don't have time to celebrate those small victories. But
I imagine with stories like this and when you hear from
(13:50):
families and parents, it must be pretty darn special that.
You know what, Lisa, This is why I get up
in the morning to do this when I get to
hear stuff like that, because those things are life changing
for families that you just I mean, you know, you
came up with this a great idea and you're doing it,
but lives are being changed and it's just frigging miraculous.
It just must be so cool.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
That's exactly what you said. That's what wakes me up.
That's what gets me out of bed every morning, because
this with any other business, the turkey's bite you in
the behind and you can get you down. But knowing
that every day I'm working towards creating something joyful and
it's not We do so much more even than the show.
Like you said, twenty five percent on stage, forty percent
(14:32):
of our company are persons with disabilities. We work on
a tripod of entertainment, education, and employment. So the entertainment
is our front facing, that's the experience to share. We
do employ forty percent of persons with disabilities in every
aspect of our work, from tech table to boardroom. Because
(14:55):
you have to have authentic voices. I can't make something
up about someone else. I don't know the shoes you
walk in, I don't know what your life experience is.
If we want to connect, we have to have all
of these voices in a room. And we do support
the education both in schools, in corporate, in DEI workshops,
in conversations, in training, we mentor performers. We really reach
(15:22):
out to make sure that everybody understands the value that
we can really all bring to each other.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
You know, this is such a big deal now, I
know on this tour, I believe it's ninth city tour
right that you're.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Doing ninth Yeah, nine states.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Nine states, and then of course this one at the
Warner Theater, as I mentioned off the top of the show, Saturday,
February twenty second, Warner Theater, Downtown DC. I've seen many
of shows there. It is a perfect spot to do
the circus two to three pm with an intermission. We're
going to do this at the end of our conversation.
But I think we got people excited that are probably
googling the website. But if they haven't done that, they
want to hear that in how to get tickets, So
(16:00):
why do we get them that information right now? And
then we'll do it again as we finish shop PLESA.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
That sounds great. So you have two ways to get tickets.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
You can go to our website which is omnium O
M N I U M Circus CI r c us
dot org. Yes, we are non forfit, not for profit organization,
so it's Omnium Circus dot org.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
And there's going to be a ticket.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Wiggling around in the top right corner of your screen.
So click that beautiful website, get to the Warner Theater
Warner Theater Tickets yep. Or you can go directly to
the Warner Theater box office and it's concerts dot Livenation
dot com and then backslash Omnium Dash Circus dash I'm possible.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Okay, very good. But if you go to the website,
I promise for the actual circus. There's a link there
and also a donate button. And you mentioned being a nonprofit.
I did want to ask you about being funded, because
these things aren't for free and you've got people working
very hard on your team. So how are you funded?
Right now? Then we'll talk about donating.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
So a couple of things. Ticket sales are a big
part of what we do. So when you buy your ticket,
you are supporting disability employment. You're supporting all of our
artists being able to tour, being able to travel. All
of our artists are paid professionally. We're also funded by
the New York State Council for the Arts. We are
funded by the Howard Gilman Foundation. We are funded by
(17:23):
the FS Foundation. Private donations are always welcome. We get
we get grants, we get support. We're just we're open
and always looking for new partnerships and new sponsorships.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
We just we love working with people.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
We love collaborating with organizations that are like minded, so
we can build each other up, all right.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
And I should mention that when you go to the
donate button on the top right hand corner of the website,
you can select different amounts, so you have a lot
of different choices there, and then you can also do
different you know, increments, and you know you can do
them monthly or a one time for either. There's lots
of different options. And then you've got a newsletter for
people too. What's in the newsletter? When, how often does
(18:08):
it go out? And what do they get in the newsletter?
Speaker 4 (18:10):
So we send out the newsletter about once a month.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
If you are living in DC, you're going to get
emails from us a few more times on our way, well,
probably once every two weeks once we don't have I
run out of bandwidth to write more than but the
newsletters just they spotlight our different performers. They announced when
we win another award. We've won so many. I'm so grateful.
(18:34):
We won so many awards for our work. It's really
really special. We've gotten the National Organization on Disability, the
New York Imagine Award.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Well it's well, it's well earned because it's special. But
it's different. And that's what's so cool about you and
your team. So this is a great segue because you've
talked about the people that are performing. I want to know,
and I bet our listeners, how does somebody get involved
in the circus to be a performer, whether they're able
bodied or not.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
So that's really a great idea.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
So if you are, if you are already at a
professional level of performing and you want to join our show,
you send There's a click on our website and you
just send me an email, send me a video reel.
Our artistic director is a man named Noe Espanya who
is phenomenal. He's a sixth generation circus performer and he
(19:25):
created the show that you are about to see. He
wrote it, he works with the music, he does the script,
he does all the casting. Noe is fabulous. So send
over your resume and video. If you are a younger
artist or an artist who's not yet professional and you
want to be, we are more than happy to help
guide you and help find you the appropriate training program
(19:48):
based on your skill set. Everybody's different, everybody's body works differently,
and part of what we do as our education is
to make sure that we can match people with the
appropriate trainers and guides for them because we want to
welcome you. We want to welcome everybody into this magical world.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
You know. That's the one thing that I'd like you
to expand on a little bit more, Lisa, because I
saw in the story. You know, there's a lot of
practicing going on, and folks just don't get on stage
and just kind of wing it. There's a ton of
practice and if anybody knows anything about the circus, it's
hours and hours and hours of doing the same thing
over and over to make sure that you perfect whatever
you're going to be doing. Can you talk a little
(20:28):
bit about the behind the scenes, about how everybody gets together,
the training and also the practicing that you do to
put on a ninety minute show like you do.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Actually, it's a wonderful, wonderful experience. So people that come
to us, by the time they join our show, they
have their quote act like, they have a skill that
they have been honing for years and have really really
perfected their particular art form. So when we get together,
we take all of these incredibly talented people and they
(20:59):
present their artistry and then we work together. Maybe there's
something that isn't in your act but that you're really
good at, so we'll have all of us juggle so
everybody can juggle together. We'll work together to create new material.
There's a very.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Funny piece and I'm not going to give it away,
but there's a.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Very funny piece coming up in the show that we
discovered totally by accident messing around backstage for a prece event.
We started playing and our clowns who are also phenomenal
and they also have a program that reaches out to
people with dementia, to children, to hospitalized children, and we
(21:38):
also work with them in that. It's called Laughterly And
we were just impro improvising sorry with our ring master
who is deaf, and they just created this beautiful piece
which is absolutely hysterical and practiced it and you guys
will have the honor of seeing.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
It, that's so cool. Now, I am imagine that you're
very busy watching each performance and making sure everything goes off.
But I was curious, are there times when you get
to glimpse at the audience, and that diverse audience said
maybe they've never been to a circus before, and that
they're being acknowledged by either something that they might be
the experienced personally, or that they never knew that they
(22:21):
could be able to relate to somebody that's on stage.
I imagine if you get a quick look to see
the amazement and the coolness that's happening in the crowd
from time to time, because I would do that, and
seeing all the smiles and the surprises and all the
things that go with your specific circus must be just
a real treat.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
It totally is. I'm always front of house for every show.
I'm out in the front. This is for the audience, right,
We do this for We do this for the world.
We love what we do, every one of us, every
one of my artists, myself, my team. We love what
we do so much that we want to share it.
And it's really all about the audio.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Now, you had mentioned the nine state tour. This time around.
Is it all the same players or do you have
people in other states that join the tour? Depending on
what region you're in.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
This particular tour, it's the same company that's going to
be touring throughout all.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
Of the nine States. Sometimes we do.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Sometimes the tour is such in such a way that
an artist will do a certain segment of the tour
and not another segment, and a different artists will come in,
and sometimes it works out that way. This particular tour,
we're very fortunate to have a really great core team.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
So some more behind the scenes for our listeners. So
to use an example, I'm in sports radio and have
been in for almost twenty five years now, and I
get a lot of young people that say, I want
to be a talk show host. Here's my tape, Da
da Da da da, And you hear so many and
some people are qualified in some art. So with using
that example, I imagine you're in this position that you
(23:55):
get a lot of videotapes, a lot of calls say hey,
I've always want to be in the circus, and maybe
they are, maybe they aren't. But I imagine that when
people reach out to you, you get to see probably well,
I guess my question is, have you seen something that
really surprises you in an audition tape that you never
thought of that could be part of the circus.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
I haven't seen anything that completely suprised me. I've seen
things that I thought were magnificent and I wanted to
figure out how to incorporate it right.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
And I've seen things.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
That were less than magnificent, and I wanted to support
that person in channeling their interest in a way that
would make them more, that would make them thrive.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
And I kill the dream. I get that part of
it too.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Yeah, so's there's all levels of it.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Yeah, and some things that are fantastic but might not
work for our particular show because we have I.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
Mean, we tore.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
It's not simple. It's boring stuff. It's not simple.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
So how does it work with the families, especially of
some of the disabled people that you have on your
staff that maybe need some extra care. How does all
the traveling and the care work, and the lodging and
all the traveling. How do I imagine it's a really
big deal. How does it all work.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
I have a phenomenal touring manager. I have a great
touring manager, and it we work together we are a family.
Circus is a family. We care for each other. Last
season we toured one of our artists had a fifteen
month old.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
They're not touring this season, but.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
They toured with us last year and we just like
when they went on stage, different people got to take
turns playing with the baby, and I love it.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
We love that baby was so cute.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
I imagine that. I imagine that you're a real tight family.
With all the people that you have on the team.
You have to be right.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
You have to be and also in the Circus, you
figure our lives are dependent on each other. We have
to be very close. We have to trust each other.
Any nonsense, there's no space for nonsense. It's really we
have to rely on each other. We have to trust
each other. We have to have each other's backs. You
(26:12):
have to be trustworthy, be trusting and trustworthy because we
hold each other carefully and closely to make sure that
we can be our best selves on stage.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
It's not simple what we do.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Yeah, I know it's not, and it's so folks. It's
just kind of like radio. We have to be down
to the second and our timing with everything. I imagine
without any assumptions Lisa, that's the way there's in the circus,
down to the second, with everybody's act.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Completely down to the second. You know, you're on the
beat of this music. If somebody has a slightly off day,
we all know it and we're there for them because
people do. It's human, right, We're all human. We are
all human together. Yeah, but we really you have to
be there for each other and we're there for our audiences.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
It's really about doing something positive for each and every
person and for the world simultaneously.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah. Well, I love that. Well, listen, we only have
about two minutes left. So what I'd like you to
do is talk about the date, the time, the location,
how to get tickets for Omnium Circuits. Just to make
sure that everybody has all that information as you come
to DC in late February, which is not far away now, folks,
So get your tickets now and to make sure that
they have all the information they need to check it out,
(27:27):
attend the tickets, everything else that's included the floors years Lisa,
go ahead, all.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Right, Well, it is February twenty second, at two pm
at the Warner Theater. The doors will open at one o'clock.
And I do encourage you to come early. We've got
stuff set up in the lobby. We've got little t shirts,
we have our whole touch table, We'll have different performers,
so I definitely encourage you to come early enjoy.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
The pre show.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
You can get the tickets at www dot omnium circus
dot org. Click on that wiggy ticket in the upper
right hand corner.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
And it will take you to a page that says
get tickets.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
You click on that, you can choose whatever seat you
like and all access is available. If you do need
an audio description, please put that in your ticket order,
and please don't forget to pick up your headset because
it will be audio described live by a phenomenal describer.
The energy is so much fun in that. And if
(28:32):
you have friends and family members who will be using
the audio description, assuming we have enough headsets, I would
encourage you to take one up as well so that
you can share their experience along with your own. And
we will be there at the Warner Theater February twenty second,
two pm. Can't wait to see you all there.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Well, thank you for that, and don't forget, folks that
if you want to donate to the cause. The donate
button is on the website. If you want to be
a partner with Lisa and that team, you can do
that as well. I'm sure Lisa will take all calls
and all email if you'd like to partner up. And
did you have one more thing?
Speaker 4 (29:06):
One more thing I forgot.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
We do have a ticket fund which is called Gift
a Ticket, and that particular fund we store so anyone
who can't afford to come to the circus if finances
are a barrier for you, we specifically have a gift
to ticket fund, so when you buy your tickets, if
you have a little extra money, put on an extra
donation and someone who can't necessarily afford to bring their
(29:31):
family will then be able to do so. And if
you are someone who needs that support, there's a button
on there that you can also click and say, hey,
I need a little bit of support and will help
you out too, because we don't want finances to be
a barrier to enjoyment either.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Well said Lisa, I can't tell you how much I
appreciate your valuable time. It's just so cool what you
and your team have come up with, and I just
wish you continue to success and look forward to the
great show. Thank you so much for joining us on
community DC.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Thank you so much for having me Hey
Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Community d C.
I'm your host Dennis Glasgow.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
This morning we get a chance to talk about the circus,
specifically the Omnium Circus which is coming to the Warner
Theater on Saturday, February twenty second, with the founder and
the executive director, Lisa Lewis. Described as a bold news circus,
It's the first of its kind, a singularly inclusive and
accessible circus that is a multi abled and representative highlighting
(00:33):
and celebrating that disability and diversity shine through the joy
and excitement of circus arts. Here's Lisa to talk all
about it and how you can attend. I hope you
enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Good morning, Lisa,
Good morning. Well listen, I'm thrilled to talk to you
about Omnium Circus. Where did the idea come from it?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
And of course we're going to talk about the circus
the Warner Theater February twenty second, the ninety minutes show
all the cool things when it comes here to DC
see in late February. But you know, how did you
come up with the idea?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
So it's very interesting. Omnia means of all and belonging
to all. So I came to the idea after years
of being in the circus and watching families who couldn't join,
Or there was one day where there was audio description,
so you could come if you were blinder low vision
only on that day. Well, what if it didn't work
(01:23):
with your schedule, or there was one day that was
sensory friendly. But what if you have one child with
sensory needs and another child with a different set of needs,
and another child that has baseball practice, and another child
that has a ballet rehearsal. How why couldn't we make
access for anybody all the time. Why can't people enjoy
(01:45):
the circus as a family together with whatever their need is,
so that people can come together to enjoy it. So
that was the first idea. Then as I started digging
into that and figuring it out, I realized that it
was equally important to have representation looking back out at them,
(02:06):
so that you don't go to a show. And it's
not like going to Mars and watching martians do something.
These are human beings. You're a human being. Let's human together, right,
So let's have the performers be representative of the population
that they serve, but be that exemplary representation like the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Right right, right, Oh, I love that. And we're going
to talk more about accessibility everybody, because, as Lisa is
explaining here, and she'll get into more depth, that it
doesn't matter who or what you are, or what you
experience or don't have, you're welcome there for the ninety
minute show. And there's a lot of different ways that
you can experience the Omium Circus, which I think is
just such a delight that you're doing that. And I
(02:45):
know it's hard work to get all those things going
and all the moving parts. But for listeners that maybe
have not heard of the Amium Circus before, Lisa, why
don't you tell them what it is and what it's
involved in the ninety minute show because I know there's
a lot going.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
On, and there's a total lot going on.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So Omnium Circus is a fabulous circus production. It's a
great story Carrie taking the character through a journey of
feeling rejected and feeling not a part of the world
to where they discover the circus and they discover their
own possibilities within that.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
We've got original.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Music and it's just a heartwarming story with incredible skill,
incredible artistry, and at the end of it, my goal
is for everybody to walk out of there with a
big smile on their face, feeling like they've just had
a great time and they feel motivated to be their
best self, to be the best person that you can be.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Well, I love that. Now we should tell people and
this is the really cool part because I think everybody
in their lifetime, especially in my demographic, has been to
the circus over the years. And what's really cool about
what you're doing here is that if I'm to understand correctly,
then you can go into more about this, Lisa, that
twenty five percent of your performers are disabled and forty
(04:03):
percent of your team is disabled. So there's a lot
of people that are being included where maybe the old
style circus they were welcomed or it was a different
kind of deal way back then. But this is kind
of the whole thing that the inclusion of your performers
and your team are disabled, and once again the acknowledgment
to people that might have a disability in the crowd
(04:24):
would be able to relate. And I always tell people
and radio because I've been working in radio for a
long time, Lisa. One of the cool things that we
want our talk shows to do is to relate to
the audience, and that's exactly what you're doing here, and
that's what I love. Can you go more into that
for us?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
So you figured there's one hundred percent of the world, right,
twenty five percent of the world has a disability. So
when we're presenting a circus, we want to represent one
hundred percent of the world so that we can all
share joy together. So, yes, twenty five percent of our
on stage team has a disability. Mind you, not all
disabilities are our ring master. We have two ring masters
(05:03):
and they work in tandem. One is a singer and
has a gorgeous voice like Frank Sinatra. Wait till you
hear this. If you happen to be deaf, fine too.
Our other ring master is an incredible dancer who happens
to also be deaf. So everything is signed in this beautiful,
fluid American sign language to create that accessibility intrinsically, so
(05:28):
you're not watching a sign language interpreter way over on
the side and you have to miss the action. It's
included as a part of the production. We have a
performer who is a seven time NC double A gymnastics champion,
and he does a handstand on his wheelchair while it's
spinning around.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
He can also tap dance on his hands, which is
just hysterically.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
I've seen it on video.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
It's a it's amazing, celebrating and mixed in with that,
it's not. What we want to is an inclusive and
a beautiful production, not a sideshow. I was told once,
never define yourself by what.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
You are not.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
What we are is a beautifully inclusive production. What we
are not is a side show. Everyone is presented in
full honor for their skill, for their talent, and for
their artistry.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I love that. I love that, And you know what,
I want to get more into accessibility now because I
think this is really important because you've started to mention
some of the things that you do, including the sign
lang whiche. Of course it's an English show with sign language,
but you know, if you hearing impaired, if you cannot see,
if you're site impaired, and all sorts of other kind
(06:42):
of sensory issues that maybe somebody has, you really do
handle everybody. I do want to choose to tell the
story that was featured in CBS, the young man who
did not be able to he didn't like the circus
because of the noises and the lights and everything. And
I want you to tell history in just a second.
But let's talk to people about how it's welcoming for
everybody that has any kind of issue that might stop
(07:04):
them from going to a circus, that they're welcomed, and
how you take such a good care of them.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
So the whole idea is that we want to bring
families together.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Right, So, if you are of the deaf.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Community and you want American Sign language, we've got that.
But there are also a lot of people who have
diminished hearing who don't necessarily sign, so it's fully captioned.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
We have full caption slides on the side.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
If you are low vision or blinde the entire show
is audio described, so that you have a set of
headsets that you check out when you come in and
you hear the entire show live action in front of you,
so you can share that excitement. We have a touch
table before you go in, which is for everybody. We
(07:50):
originally created it for people who were low vision or blind,
but we discovered very quickly that it's really fun for everybody,
so you get to feel the miniature props.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
How the balance works.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
So that when you enjoy the circuits, when you experience that,
you have a tactile experience along with it. And we
make sure that people with sensory sensitivities are also comfortable.
We leave the house lights on low so that if
you need to take a break, you can come, you
can go, it's no problems. We keep the volume of
(08:22):
the entire show between seventy five and eighty five decibels
so that it's comfortable, it's audible, it's comfortable. If you
need assisted listening, we have assisted listening headsets so that
you can amplify the volume for yourself if you need to.
We have a calming area set up in the lobby,
so if someone disregulates or needs to take a break, that's.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
No problem too.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
We want you to enjoy the show the way you
feel the way is best for you. We call it
relaxed seating, so we're relaxed, you're relaxed. Express yourself how
you need. If you stem, if you wiggle, if you
need to shout out, that's okay. If someone next to
you is moving in a way that you're like.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Wow, that's different. It's okay too.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You can sit here, you can sit there. We're all
in this world together. We're all human beings in this
world together. And to be able to share with one
hundred percent of our world accepting and loving of each other,
of who we are and being represented on stage is
just it's a magical experience.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
AI told me.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
It's where the it's where the magic of circus meets
the power of inclusion.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I love that that that's so well said. And you know,
there are so many things that we take for granted
as able body people, and that you're doing all this
and trying to really tackle all the issues that everybody
might have going to this between the lights and the
sound and flashing and you know, your calming room and
(09:57):
all the just it's wonderful. So that leads me to
something I referenced just a little bit earlier. I watched
a wonderful, nice ten minute story by local PBS featuring
you and the players and the whole Omnium circus, and
there was one man who cannot he couldn't go to
circuses with his mom because of the noise and how
(10:18):
loud it was and just all the things going on
anybody's been to a circus, there's a lot going on.
So they did a little part of the feature on
him being able to attend. Can you tell his story,
because I know you probably have hundreds of them, but
his was especially special because he can now attend, And
it's just another reason why your circus is so cool
for everybody. Can you share it?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
I can, And that young man is so special. I
met him in another circus I worked for. I met
him when he was very much afraid to come in,
and we worked very hard over the years to help
him to feel comfortable. His name is Eric Eric Lachern
and he's from Virginia. He's a young man with Down's
(11:00):
syndrome and when he started coming he was very very
much afraid. And the more we adjust the sensory, we
do whatever we can to really make him feel comfortable,
comfortable in his own skin, and he has.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
He's come to us.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
He's now the head of our Ringmaster Squad, which is
our volunteer organization.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
That's huge. I mean, it's a full circle story.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It is.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
And now the confidence that he has I tell him
all the time. If you see him walking around, you'll
see posters of us up everywhere, and Eric will tell you,
this is my circus.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
And it is.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
It really is because the confidence that he's developed in
the ability to tell people about his circus, to share
that with people, gives him a pathway.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Into a world from which he was excluded.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
So many people with different abilities or who have different
perspectives on the world are siloed and they don't feel
safe or comfortable coming into a.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
More mainstream world. So this has given him a.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Bridge to be able to come in and say, hey,
I've got something we can all share. I'm a part
of this and he is. Like I said, he's a
head of our Ringmaster squad. Another person told me at
a different show, we got a letter after the show
that their daughter, who was had no disabilities, sat next
(12:31):
to a young person same age like I think they
were both six or seven years old, sat next to
a young person who was deaf, and they struck up
a friendship. They would never have encountered each other in
the general world. They're in different school classes, they would
have never encountered each other, but they struck up this
beautiful friendship that can continue outside of the theater. So
(12:54):
we're working to build bridges in the larger community as well.
Another story, a kid said to me and from one
of my board members, there was a nonverbal person who
was an autistic nonverbal person does not speak on the
way home from seeing Omni and looked at his parents
and said, that was fun.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Wow, they spoke incredible.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
And people with like I said, with the magic. There's
as much magic happening in the audience as there is
on stage. Yeah, it's really an honor to be able
to share this.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
With the world.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Well, I know it's one of your end goals to
have stuff like this happened. I know it's not left
on you, but I always talk to people for what
inner industry they do, including mine. When you change lives
and maybe you don't realize it because you're moving so
quickly and you're organizing it and there's so much going on,
you don't have time to celebrate those small victories. But
I imagine with stories like this and when you hear from
(13:50):
families and parents, it must be pretty darn special that.
You know what, Lisa, This is why I get up
in the morning to do this when I get to
hear stuff like that, because those things are life changing
for families that you just I mean, you know, you
came up with this a great idea and you're doing it,
but lives are being changed and it's just frigging miraculous.
It just must be so cool.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
That's exactly what you said. That's what wakes me up.
That's what gets me out of bed every morning, because
this with any other business, the turkey's bite you in
the behind and you can get you down. But knowing
that every day I'm working towards creating something joyful and
it's not We do so much more even than the show.
Like you said, twenty five percent on stage, forty percent
(14:32):
of our company are persons with disabilities. We work on
a tripod of entertainment, education, and employment. So the entertainment
is our front facing, that's the experience to share. We
do employ forty percent of persons with disabilities in every
aspect of our work, from tech table to boardroom. Because
(14:55):
you have to have authentic voices. I can't make something
up about someone else. I don't know the shoes you
walk in, I don't know what your life experience is.
If we want to connect, we have to have all
of these voices in a room. And we do support
the education both in schools, in corporate, in DEI workshops,
in conversations, in training, we mentor performers. We really reach
(15:22):
out to make sure that everybody understands the value that
we can really all bring to each other.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
You know, this is such a big deal now, I
know on this tour, I believe it's ninth city tour
right that you're.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Doing ninth Yeah, nine states.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Nine states, and then of course this one at the
Warner Theater, as I mentioned off the top of the show, Saturday,
February twenty second, Warner Theater, Downtown DC. I've seen many
of shows there. It is a perfect spot to do
the circus two to three pm with an intermission. We're
going to do this at the end of our conversation.
But I think we got people excited that are probably
googling the website. But if they haven't done that, they
want to hear that in how to get tickets, So
(16:00):
why do we get them that information right now? And
then we'll do it again as we finish shop PLESA.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
That sounds great. So you have two ways to get tickets.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
You can go to our website which is omnium O
M N I U M Circus CI r c us
dot org. Yes, we are non forfit, not for profit organization,
so it's Omnium Circus dot org.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
And there's going to be a ticket.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Wiggling around in the top right corner of your screen.
So click that beautiful website, get to the Warner Theater
Warner Theater Tickets yep. Or you can go directly to
the Warner Theater box office and it's concerts dot Livenation
dot com and then backslash Omnium Dash Circus dash I'm possible.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Okay, very good. But if you go to the website,
I promise for the actual circus. There's a link there
and also a donate button. And you mentioned being a nonprofit.
I did want to ask you about being funded, because
these things aren't for free and you've got people working
very hard on your team. So how are you funded?
Right now? Then we'll talk about donating.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
So a couple of things. Ticket sales are a big
part of what we do. So when you buy your ticket,
you are supporting disability employment. You're supporting all of our
artists being able to tour, being able to travel. All
of our artists are paid professionally. We're also funded by
the New York State Council for the Arts. We are
funded by the Howard Gilman Foundation. We are funded by
(17:23):
the FS Foundation. Private donations are always welcome. We get
we get grants, we get support. We're just we're open
and always looking for new partnerships and new sponsorships.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
We just we love working with people.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
We love collaborating with organizations that are like minded, so
we can build each other up, all right.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
And I should mention that when you go to the
donate button on the top right hand corner of the website,
you can select different amounts, so you have a lot
of different choices there, and then you can also do
different you know, increments, and you know you can do
them monthly or a one time for either. There's lots
of different options. And then you've got a newsletter for
people too. What's in the newsletter? When, how often does
(18:08):
it go out? And what do they get in the newsletter?
Speaker 4 (18:10):
So we send out the newsletter about once a month.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
If you are living in DC, you're going to get
emails from us a few more times on our way, well,
probably once every two weeks once we don't have I
run out of bandwidth to write more than but the
newsletters just they spotlight our different performers. They announced when
we win another award. We've won so many. I'm so grateful.
(18:34):
We won so many awards for our work. It's really
really special. We've gotten the National Organization on Disability, the
New York Imagine Award.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Well it's well, it's well earned because it's special. But
it's different. And that's what's so cool about you and
your team. So this is a great segue because you've
talked about the people that are performing. I want to know,
and I bet our listeners, how does somebody get involved
in the circus to be a performer, whether they're able
bodied or not.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
So that's really a great idea.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
So if you are, if you are already at a
professional level of performing and you want to join our show,
you send There's a click on our website and you
just send me an email, send me a video reel.
Our artistic director is a man named Noe Espanya who
is phenomenal. He's a sixth generation circus performer and he
(19:25):
created the show that you are about to see. He
wrote it, he works with the music, he does the script,
he does all the casting. Noe is fabulous. So send
over your resume and video. If you are a younger
artist or an artist who's not yet professional and you
want to be, we are more than happy to help
guide you and help find you the appropriate training program
(19:48):
based on your skill set. Everybody's different, everybody's body works differently,
and part of what we do as our education is
to make sure that we can match people with the
appropriate trainers and guides for them because we want to
welcome you. We want to welcome everybody into this magical world.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
You know. That's the one thing that I'd like you
to expand on a little bit more, Lisa, because I
saw in the story. You know, there's a lot of
practicing going on, and folks just don't get on stage
and just kind of wing it. There's a ton of
practice and if anybody knows anything about the circus, it's
hours and hours and hours of doing the same thing
over and over to make sure that you perfect whatever
you're going to be doing. Can you talk a little
(20:28):
bit about the behind the scenes, about how everybody gets together,
the training and also the practicing that you do to
put on a ninety minute show like you do.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Actually, it's a wonderful, wonderful experience. So people that come
to us, by the time they join our show, they
have their quote act like, they have a skill that
they have been honing for years and have really really
perfected their particular art form. So when we get together,
we take all of these incredibly talented people and they
(20:59):
present their artistry and then we work together. Maybe there's
something that isn't in your act but that you're really
good at, so we'll have all of us juggle so
everybody can juggle together. We'll work together to create new material.
There's a very.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Funny piece and I'm not going to give it away,
but there's a.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Very funny piece coming up in the show that we
discovered totally by accident messing around backstage for a prece event.
We started playing and our clowns who are also phenomenal
and they also have a program that reaches out to
people with dementia, to children, to hospitalized children, and we
(21:38):
also work with them in that. It's called Laughterly And
we were just impro improvising sorry with our ring master
who is deaf, and they just created this beautiful piece
which is absolutely hysterical and practiced it and you guys
will have the honor of seeing.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
It, that's so cool. Now, I am imagine that you're
very busy watching each performance and making sure everything goes off.
But I was curious, are there times when you get
to glimpse at the audience, and that diverse audience said
maybe they've never been to a circus before, and that
they're being acknowledged by either something that they might be
the experienced personally, or that they never knew that they
(22:21):
could be able to relate to somebody that's on stage.
I imagine if you get a quick look to see
the amazement and the coolness that's happening in the crowd
from time to time, because I would do that, and
seeing all the smiles and the surprises and all the
things that go with your specific circus must be just
a real treat.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
It totally is. I'm always front of house for every show.
I'm out in the front. This is for the audience, right,
We do this for We do this for the world.
We love what we do, every one of us, every
one of my artists, myself, my team. We love what
we do so much that we want to share it.
And it's really all about the audio.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Now, you had mentioned the nine state tour. This time around.
Is it all the same players or do you have
people in other states that join the tour? Depending on
what region you're in.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
This particular tour, it's the same company that's going to
be touring throughout all.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
Of the nine States. Sometimes we do.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Sometimes the tour is such in such a way that
an artist will do a certain segment of the tour
and not another segment, and a different artists will come in,
and sometimes it works out that way. This particular tour,
we're very fortunate to have a really great core team.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
So some more behind the scenes for our listeners. So
to use an example, I'm in sports radio and have
been in for almost twenty five years now, and I
get a lot of young people that say, I want
to be a talk show host. Here's my tape, Da
da Da da da, And you hear so many and
some people are qualified in some art. So with using
that example, I imagine you're in this position that you
(23:55):
get a lot of videotapes, a lot of calls say hey,
I've always want to be in the circus, and maybe
they are, maybe they aren't. But I imagine that when
people reach out to you, you get to see probably well,
I guess my question is, have you seen something that
really surprises you in an audition tape that you never
thought of that could be part of the circus.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
I haven't seen anything that completely suprised me. I've seen
things that I thought were magnificent and I wanted to
figure out how to incorporate it right.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
And I've seen things.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
That were less than magnificent, and I wanted to support
that person in channeling their interest in a way that
would make them more, that would make them thrive.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
And I kill the dream. I get that part of
it too.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Yeah, so's there's all levels of it.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Yeah, and some things that are fantastic but might not
work for our particular show because we have I.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
Mean, we tore.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
It's not simple. It's boring stuff. It's not simple.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
So how does it work with the families, especially of
some of the disabled people that you have on your
staff that maybe need some extra care. How does all
the traveling and the care work, and the lodging and
all the traveling. How do I imagine it's a really
big deal. How does it all work.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
I have a phenomenal touring manager. I have a great
touring manager, and it we work together we are a family.
Circus is a family. We care for each other. Last
season we toured one of our artists had a fifteen
month old.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
They're not touring this season, but.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
They toured with us last year and we just like
when they went on stage, different people got to take
turns playing with the baby, and I love it.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
We love that baby was so cute.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
I imagine that. I imagine that you're a real tight family.
With all the people that you have on the team.
You have to be right.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
You have to be and also in the Circus, you
figure our lives are dependent on each other. We have
to be very close. We have to trust each other.
Any nonsense, there's no space for nonsense. It's really we
have to rely on each other. We have to trust
each other. We have to have each other's backs. You
(26:12):
have to be trustworthy, be trusting and trustworthy because we
hold each other carefully and closely to make sure that
we can be our best selves on stage.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
It's not simple what we do.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Yeah, I know it's not, and it's so folks. It's
just kind of like radio. We have to be down
to the second and our timing with everything. I imagine
without any assumptions Lisa, that's the way there's in the circus,
down to the second, with everybody's act.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Completely down to the second. You know, you're on the
beat of this music. If somebody has a slightly off day,
we all know it and we're there for them because
people do. It's human, right, We're all human. We are
all human together. Yeah, but we really you have to
be there for each other and we're there for our audiences.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
It's really about doing something positive for each and every
person and for the world simultaneously.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah. Well, I love that. Well, listen, we only have
about two minutes left. So what I'd like you to
do is talk about the date, the time, the location,
how to get tickets for Omnium Circuits. Just to make
sure that everybody has all that information as you come
to DC in late February, which is not far away now, folks,
So get your tickets now and to make sure that
they have all the information they need to check it out,
(27:27):
attend the tickets, everything else that's included the floors years Lisa,
go ahead, all.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Right, Well, it is February twenty second, at two pm
at the Warner Theater. The doors will open at one o'clock.
And I do encourage you to come early. We've got
stuff set up in the lobby. We've got little t shirts,
we have our whole touch table, We'll have different performers,
so I definitely encourage you to come early enjoy.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
The pre show.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
You can get the tickets at www dot omnium circus
dot org. Click on that wiggy ticket in the upper
right hand corner.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
And it will take you to a page that says
get tickets.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
You click on that, you can choose whatever seat you
like and all access is available. If you do need
an audio description, please put that in your ticket order,
and please don't forget to pick up your headset because
it will be audio described live by a phenomenal describer.
The energy is so much fun in that. And if
(28:32):
you have friends and family members who will be using
the audio description, assuming we have enough headsets, I would
encourage you to take one up as well so that
you can share their experience along with your own. And
we will be there at the Warner Theater February twenty second,
two pm. Can't wait to see you all there.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Well, thank you for that, and don't forget, folks that
if you want to donate to the cause. The donate
button is on the website. If you want to be
a partner with Lisa and that team, you can do
that as well. I'm sure Lisa will take all calls
and all email if you'd like to partner up. And
did you have one more thing?
Speaker 4 (29:06):
One more thing I forgot.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
We do have a ticket fund which is called Gift
a Ticket, and that particular fund we store so anyone
who can't afford to come to the circus if finances
are a barrier for you, we specifically have a gift
to ticket fund, so when you buy your tickets, if
you have a little extra money, put on an extra
donation and someone who can't necessarily afford to bring their
(29:31):
family will then be able to do so. And if
you are someone who needs that support, there's a button
on there that you can also click and say, hey,
I need a little bit of support and will help
you out too, because we don't want finances to be
a barrier to enjoyment either.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Well said Lisa, I can't tell you how much I
appreciate your valuable time. It's just so cool what you
and your team have come up with, and I just
wish you continue to success and look forward to the
great show. Thank you so much for joining us on
community DC.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Thank you so much for having me Hey
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