Most everyone loves the circus, but no one loves it more than nine-year-old Georgia Bryan. The young Palisadian has worked with the children’s circus in Culver City for the past two years.
In June, Georgia joined the professional company Le PeTiT CiRqUe, a pintsized version of Cirque du Soleil, and she is currently performing in the “The Journey of You” to sold-out houses at the Morgan-Wixson playhouse in Santa Monica. The last two performances will be 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20.
The cast of youths, ranging in age from 6 to 14, was recently scouted by Brazilian television in order to tape a full multi-camera video production, and director Nathalie Yves Gaulthier is in discussion with several larger theaters about the possibility of continuing the show after this run.
“The show is fast, and funny (in places),” said Georgia’s dad, Bill Bryan. “It’s also incredibly moving, with performances by two disabled girls who leave their wheelchairs behind, leaving few dry eyes in the audience.”
As a four-year-old, Georgia started taking dance lessons with Stephanie Scaggs at Village Arts Center, and a year later added gymnastics to her extracurricular activities.
When her parents let her try flying on the trapeze at the Santa Monica Pier (and also at Club Med in Mexico), Georgia’s circus quest began. “I loved it,” she said. “Then my mom heard about circus classes, so I started going once a week then twice a week and then three times.”
The Crossroads fourth grader normally practices two or three times a week when not preparing for a show, but upped her time to more than 15 hours a week as the circus troupe began rehearsing for “The Journey of You.”
“The practices can be anywhere from two to seven hours,” she said. “In the summer, I go for six hours a day, when I’m not at other camps.”
Even though she has a role in this circus, that role is not guaranteed from show to show. “We are always auditioning, every day, in every practice,” Georgia said. “A circus show isn’t like a play; it changes all the time. If I come up with a great new move or pose, my part gets bigger. And if I do really bad… .”
The talented youth said that she likes the physical challenges and being part of a big circus family. “My favorite part is that as soon as I’m in my makeup and costume, I feel as though I’m a totally new person.”
The circus travels internationally, and Georgia is looking forward to traveling. “So far I have only gone to Perris (near Riverside) for the opening of a new city park,” she said. “I got my first paycheck for $67.50. It was really fun to take it to the bank and make a deposit.”
A good student, Georgia loves writing, math and drama. She also performs musical theater with Ronnie Anderson, a Crossroads teacher. “He has a theatre company called CATS. Right now I am rehearsing for ‘Mamma Mia.’ The play is in January at the Rustic Canyon gym.”
The daughter of Jennifer and Bill Bryan has three brothers: Harry, 6; Teddy, 24, a medical student in Tel Aviv; and Billy, 25, a physical education coach at the Westside YMCA, who also teaches karate and personal training at Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center in the Palisades.
Georgia’s next show will be “Dream Halloween” at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica on October 26, which is a fundraiser for kids with HIV and AIDS. “I’m excited to be able to help people while I am doing what I love,” she said.
When asked her spare-time favorite activity, she answered: “Circus!!”
Visit: morgan-wixson.org or phone (310) 828-7519. Tickets: Adults $25, children 12 and under $15.
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