Flotsam River Circus

Get ready for a splash of excitement! Riverlife has partnered with Flotsam River Circus to bring a series of enchanting riverfront performances to Pittsburgh.

Flotsam River Circus is a troupe of musicians, puppeteers, and circus artists who travel on a ramshackle raft, giving free performances in riverfront towns along the way. The Ohio River Tour will kick off on all three of Pittsburgh’s rivers August 16-18, 2024.

Flotsam Performance Schedule:

Friday, August 16, 2024: Point State Park (Allegheny River side)

Saturday, August 17, 2024: South Shore Riverfront Park (Monongahela River)

Sunday, August 18, 2024: Great Lawn (North Shore, Ohio River)

All performances begin at 6 PM and are free to the public. Donations will be accepted to support the troupe’s 2024 Ohio River tour.

Inspired by the American showboat tradition and recent floating art projects, Flotsam is captained by accordion troubadour Jason Webley. The crew comprises internationally renowned artists, including aerialist, acrobat, and self-described “giant ham” Sadye Osterloh, and illusionist and mime artist Matthew “Poki” McCorkle. Punk rock circus pioneer Tanya Gagne adds her innovative flair, while Henson Grant recipient Kalan Sherrard brings a touch of the absurd with his puppetry. Percussionist and composer Sari Breznau serves as musical director, with Malayali-American fiddler Miriam Oommen filling out the band. Balance artist and choreographer Amber Lian Gibson of Taiwan is the newest addition to the troupe.

The show is set in a post-apocalyptic world where climate change has raised temperatures and water levels leading to a takeover by invasive mutant fish. The loose story is told through acrobatics, mime, illusions, music, and puppetry.