“You come to our show because it’s a safe space for everyone. We’re not here to judge. We invite you to have a great time and lose yourself for a couple of hours in our crazy, paranormal world ‘” Steve
Doom: I do a lot of photography for freakshows shows out here in Phoenix. So, when I came across you guys, I was quite excited. You have thrills with the splash of horror. I do understand that it isn’t a family affair, correct?
Steve: That’s correct, paranormal search too is the perfect night out for adults. We don’t allow children under the age of 13 because our show contains horror violence and sexual humor. So, this is a perfect date night. It’s a perfect night out for a group of friends. We do allow teenagers as long as they have an adult with them that gives their permissions. So, its ages 13 through 17 are allowed with an adult guardian but otherwise this is a perfect show for adults.
Doom: What was your guy’s thought process on creating this unique Circus experience?
Steve: Well in America the circus is really thought of this family affair or for more children in general. The company that produces our show is Circuitallia and was founded by our owner Manuel Rebecca and he’s from Italy. They will have a show for families in the afternoon and then at night there’s an adult circus. So, he noticed that there’s really a lack of adult circus entertainment in the United States. Then back in 2018, he created the first unit of paranormal circus, and it was super popular. The second unit was started in 2022 and just last year, we opened a third unit. So right now, there is three paranormal circuit units, crisscrossing the country.
Doom: Is your audience mainly people from the alternative scene, or is it kind of all over the place?
Steve: it is largely people from the alternative scene, you see a lot of tattoos and dyed hair and a lot of black clothing, you know, stuff like that. Also, it’s a wide range of people. We’ll get, older folks, we’ll get younger couples on dates. We’ll get some parents that bring their teenage children. I’d say, overall, we cater to the alternative audiences, but we also attract people that are just looking for something different. We attract horror fans, and we attract people that just are looking for a good unique night of entertainment.
Doom: Nowadays people are looking for the full all-around experience. What sets your show apart from other shows out there? Is everyone in character the entire time?
Steve: Yes, our show paranormal circuit is a very immersive experience from the moment you enter our preshow tent. We have a haunted attraction. The pre-show begins one hour before every performance, so you can arrive an hour before the performance up until 10 minutes before the performance. All the performers that you’re going to see during the show are roaming around as skirt actors. So, they’re going to scare your pants off before they knock your socks off in the actual show. In addition to the haunted attraction, there’s also a lot of cool scenery to check out. My friend Ryan Combs and I have created the majority of the content that’s in the show this year. He decorated, and made all the tombstones, he made a majority of the set pieces too. So, there’s a lot of cool stuff to see especially if you’re a horror fan. There are a lot of hard Easter eggs that you can hunt around for. Like I said, our cast is out there. We also have cool souvenirs like light up masks and we have tasty snacks like traditional circus treats. Popcorn, cotton candy, and nachos. We also have penis and vagina shaped waffles! So, there’s something for every appetite!
Doom: That’s amazing. I love that so much. With any type of traditional circus, people are there to experience the odd and supernatural, often death-defying stunts and, of course, funny clowns. No one has really focused on actual human fears I noticed that you guys actually pry on that or go for the fear/horror aspect. Was this on purpose to add another element to your live show?
Steve: Well, we do like to have different elements of things. You’re going to see horror things like vampires and zombies, but you’re also going to see people that are risking their lives, right in front of your eyes. You know, you’re going to see these two guys running around on this giant pendulum jumping in the air, just barely landing. You’re going to see people walking on a slender cable, high above the stage. You’re going to see all kinds of amazing things like that, where people are risking their lives. We also have a lovely young lady from New York, who swallows swords. Shes definitely an over achiever! She’s swallows swords while balancing and spinning three plates. So, we’re going to stuff like that, and we also got acrobatics, to a beautiful roller-skating skit that is hand-to-hand between two vampire lover characters. So, there is all kinds of different types of things for people as well as lots of laugh out loud comedy because you need that release with so much tension and excitement built up. You need to have a good laugh!
Doom: Being that you travel all over the country and obviously the world is there any difference from the crowd that attends from the US to other parts of the world?
Steve: There are always slight differences, but the main thing is that we’ve noticed for all of our performances people come to escape from the real world for a couple of hours. They’re ready to escape from their problems from the world’s problems, and that’s the great thing about live entertainment. It “you come to our show because it’s a safe space for everyone. We’re not here to judge. We invite you to have a great time and lose yourself for a couple of hours in our crazy, paranormal world”.
Doom: So last two questions here. When I was watching some videos online, it kind of took me back to when I was a kid and went to the circus. One of the things I was always amazed with was the motorcycle, stunt. You know the one where they’re in a sphere where and go around it? I saw you guys took it to another level which had motorcycle rider on a single line with a performer down below. Is that correct?
Steve: That is actually one of our other paranormal shows, but not to fear, we have plenty of other death-defying things in this show. Because we have three units of the same type of show, we have different acts, different comedy, even slightly different acts on each one. Which is nice because we go all over the United States, so our shows are crisscrossing. So even if you get Paranormal 2 this year, you’ll get Paranormal 3 or 1 in the coming years. You’re going to see a completely different show but it’s still going to be signature horror themed highly rated circus!
Doom: Was keeping traditional circus acts in the show a focus when you started creating all these different stunts and different acts?
Steve: We just wanted to bring people amazing, top-quality acts with a horror flare. That’s the main thing! That with horror and entertainment is something people just haven’t seen before! One of the top comments that we get often, is actually a great compliment is “people call us a Vegas quality show” From Chandler to Kingman Arizona. We bring the same great, quality show, it’s a two-hour show and you get on the attraction show beforehand. So, I mean, it’s a great value for a unique night of live entertainment.
Doom: Do you prefer waffles or pancakes?
Steve: Myself. I prefer waffles, especially if they’re shaped, like, penises are vaginas. Which I might add you can get at our show and the best part is, you can get your top of choice of toppings, you can get them with chocolate caramel or Marshmallows! So, you can have your, penis or vagina your way.
Doom: Last but not least, what’s your favorite dinosaur?
Steve: My favorite dinosaur would have to be the one that killed Newman from Seinfeld. I think that was a dilophosaurus.
Get tickets online here or you can always buy them at the box office.
Doom: Perfect. Was there anything else?
Steve: Our tent is climate controlled. That’s an important one when it’s 30, 60 degrees outside or warmer, like it usually is in that area. So, yeah, our tent is climate controlled. There is a lot of brand-new content since we were here in 2022. So even if the people saw the show two years ago, it’s practically like a new show because they saw us right at the beginning of our run and we’ve added a lot of new acts and features since then!
Thursday night in Chandler, Arizona was a cold one and not a demon, witch, or zombie was in sight. Or were they? Tucked away in the back of a strip mall was the giant red and white tent for Paranormal cirque. When you walk up, you’re greeted by a demon\staff and through the black curtains you go, stepping into the madness that is Paranormal cirque! The preshow is characters roaming around scaring you from all corners of the room to the haunted house right in the middle of the floor. I’m not going to give it all away but honestly you need to experience this show! If you’re a fan of haunted houses, circuses, horror, and gore then this is the show for you. After I got done chomping down on my dick waffle covered in blood (strawberry sauce), I headed to my seat. As you walk through the blood red corridor you’re instantly greeted by the undead staff to help you find your seats. All the staff were extremely helpful and really delightful. They also have staff roaming around selling masks, cotton candy, and what looked like neon slushes fit for the atomic avenger. It was finally time to witness the main attraction! As the tent went completely dark a deep evil voice rang out while creepy fog came out from the center of the stage. A figure came out of these huge gates that had a giant pentagram on it. I knew from the start that this was going to be a damn good time.
The main show was phenomenal, dramatic, funny, sexy and full of surprises. The sword swallower had to be one of my favorite performers as she gracefully swallowed 5 swords like it was nothing.
Paranormal Cirque offers something for everyone from burlesque dancers that go from sultry to creepy, to the vampire love story that left everyone in the audience jaw dropped. Even though the show had serious dark undertones, they added a bit of raunchy comedy to the mix which had the crowd laughing its ass off all throughout the show. Every performer brought their A game! We’re always looking for that next thrill and Paranormal Cirque definitely filled my little black heart with hope. I’m hoping it does the same for you when you check it out. As I was on the edge of my seat for most of the night, this is not the show you want to sleep on. It runs from January 18th to the 28th at Phoenix Premium Outlets in Chandler, AZ.
