We just got home from the Cirque Us performance at the CoMMA in Morganton, and wow—what an experience! From start to finish, the show was full of energy, and jaw-dropping talent that kept all of us captivated (as did the popcorn and cotton candy).
Just a heads up, I opted not to take any photos once the performance started in order to stay engaged and present.
I had never been to the CoMMA before, so that was a great experience in itself. We were running a little late this afternoon due to soccer practice, so I didn’t have the opportunity to really explore the facility but the CoMMA (City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium, also known as the CoMMA Performing Arts Center) is a gem for the region. Opened in 1986, it has welcomed everything from major Broadway tours to dance performances and community theater.
There is a beautiful fresco (“Sacred Dance and the Muses” by Ben Lon) that I only had the opportunity to briefly glance at. But hopefully, we will attend another performance there and I can really look at it.
The facility itself was clean, well-maintained, the seats comfortable and the staff incredibly pleasant. We felt so welcomed.
About Cirque Us
Cirque Us is a New England-based circus collective founded in 2016 by Doug Stewart and a group of friends who shared a vision of a circus as being something more than just spectacle.
Their mission is two-fold: performative and educational. They aim to “connect audiences to each other, the stage, and the world,” while also running workshops, camps, residencies—making circus arts available to people of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds.
They’re committed to keeping ticket prices reasonable, offering scholarships for their camps/workshops, and ensuring that access is broad. In fact, they hosted a juggling /clowning workshop earlier that day at the Burke County Public Library (which, of course, we missed out on)!
What Makes the Show Special
- Acts that awe: The floating chair act, the hula hoop, aerial moments—these are more than tricks. Each movement, each balance, each loop of the hoop carries with it years of training. When asked by my youngest son how they did that – it was a great opportunity to remind him how powerful practicing your passions can be.
- Personal connection: It was beautiful watching my oldest totally keyed in by something very technically dazzling (the chair act), while the youngest was just entranced by the experience as a whole. He loved clapping for the acts, cheering, and there were a few times when I glanced over at him to see him dancing along in his seat.
- Artistic control & trust: I kept finding myself thinking about just how much control the performers have—control of strength, of balance, of timing, of danger. Performing feats that look effortless often hide enormous risk and precision. It’s amazing to see the performers trust in their own body, but also trust in their training and in one another.
If you missed out, their next stop is in Norfolk, VA (a stiff 5-hour trip from Hickory, I know, but it’s near my hometown, so I may have some local friends there reading this who will make the trip).
And if you can go to one of the workshops beforehand, that adds another dimension—seeing not just the finished act, but what goes into creating it.