In fewer than three weeks, Philadelphia can boast of another “American first” courtesy of a sprawling three-acre campus formerly known to its Mt. Airy neighbors as St. Madeline Sophie Roman Catholic Church and School.

There, in early September, the non-profit Circadium School of Contemporary Circus will officially open as an educational institution. The full-time, three-year training school for circus artists will be the first of its accredited kind in the country, according to its backers.

On Monday, Circadium hosted a “groundbreaking” event at the site along Greene Avenue right next door to SEPTA’s Upsal Regional Rail station. It featured a performance by home-grown performer Kyle Driggs (who can be seen in this video from a recent Phish show) and offered the first public walk-through of the sanctuary space.

All those frills were gone three days later, when Greg Kennedy and Kitsie O’Neill – co-owner and director of programming for the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA), respectively – gave PhillyVoice a private tour and chatted about their plans for the school.

Both Circadium and PSCA will be housed on what they’ve termed a “Circus Campus,” as will several related entertainment outfits.

Link to Full Article at Philly Voice.