Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School presents Cirque Fantôme Nov. 3-5 on the Rearden Stage
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Photo courtesy Megan Morris/Rabun Gap-Nachoochee School. Cyrus Manoogian’24 of Rabun Gap, as Brian Dunning in Cirque Fantôme performs on the German wheel. Pictured in background, from left, are Juliette Teutsch ’24 of Demorest, Zoey Townsend ’23 of Cullowhee, N.C., and Parker Stribling’24 of Sautee Nacoochee, Ga. -
Photo courtesy Megan Morris/Rabun Gap-Nachoochee School. Toni “Totes” Chase, played by Brooksie Tate Martin '23 of Clayton, (far right) is spooked by ghosts in Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Cirque Fantôme. Pictured from left are Ava Grace Bonomo ’25 of Waynesville, N.C., Rebekah Wu ’23 of Frankin, N.C., Zoey Townsend ’23 of Cullowhee, N.C., Clara Pedall ’25 of Munich, Germany, and Juliette Teutsch ’24 of Demorest. -
Photo courtesy Megan Morris/Rabun Gap-Nachoochee School. Makenna Bilbrey ’26 of Otto, N.C., performs on the aerial silks in Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Cirque Fantôme. -
Photo courtesy Megan Morris/Rabun Gap-Nachoochee School. Amara Scott ’23 of Otto, N.C., performs in Cirque Fantôme at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
Audiences raved about this year's spooky show, with amazing aerial Cirque acts, incredible dancing, and a spooky storyline. Cirque Fantôme followed Untold Mysteries podcast hosts Annie Warren (Elizabeth Brenner '24 of Franklin, N.C.) and Brian Dunning (Cyrus Mannoogian '24 of Rabun Gap), director Caroline Hall (Jennica Ullrich '23 of Knoxville, Tenn.), sound engineer Toni "Totes" Chase (Brooksie Tate Martin '23 of Clayton), and paranormal expert Helen Hertz (Ella Loveland '23 of Rabun Gap) as they investigate the haunted Meddlebrook Manor. The audience was spooked by a surprise twist revealing the Little Girl (Sophia Moore '24 of Highlands, N.C.) as the evil one controlling an ensemble of ghosts. Students in Cirque Fantôme performed on apps including the aerial silks, lyra, German wheel, Cyr wheel, Spanish web, aerial sling, and trapeze.
Cirque Fantôme was written and directed by Mr. Sean Lakey, Rabun Gap's arts department director. More than 75 students were involved in this year's production, from on-stage performers to technical theater crew. There was also a student film crew that shot and edited footage for the show.
Rabun Gap is one of the only schools in the country with a Cirque program. Based on Cirque du Soleil, the program combines aerial acrobatics, circus arts, theatre, and dance to produce an original performance each year. This year, Rabun Gap alumni Chelsey Willoughby’14. David Perrin ’15, and Bailey Baker ’16 trained performers for the show.