Florida State University’s Flying High Circus is preparing to soar with an all-new Spring Performance Series, “Tall Tales,” in April.

“Tall Tales” is the first new production to use FSU’s new big top tent, installed in 2025.

“After two years of preparation, we will unveil our fully completed circus tent and venue, as well as a brand-new show full of new vibrant costumes and music,” said Chad Mathews, director of the FSU Flying High Circus. “We are very excited to finally showcase the full cast in our new circus tent and cannot wait to share it with everyone.”

Rivaling a professional circus, the FSU Circus was founded in 1947 and is an extracurricular activity under the Division of Student Affairs. Student performers rig their own equipment, sew their own costumes, produce lights and sound for performances, and set up the tent on campus.

Spun through the tale of a high-flying circus story, “Tall Tales” weaves in elements of fact and fiction to entertain audiences of all ages. The new costumes blend the glamour and sparkle of classic circus with the flora and fauna Florida is known for.

Hayden Bevis, a second-year nursing major, will showcase swinging trapeze, flying trapeze and Lyra acts. This is her second year performing in the circus.

“I have been working on some of my acts for two years now, and I’m really excited to perform in home shows and show them off,” Bevis said. “I am also looking forward to performing with all my friends because we have worked so hard. The circus is an organization that I hold close to my heart, and I love performing because we get to show everyone what we’ve been working on.”

Carina Novarro, a sophomore majoring in chemistry, will perform routines on triple trapeze, low casting and Lyra.

“I am so excited to see our hard work come to life under the big top and to perform for the FSU community,” she said.

Limited tickets are available for all shows. Admission is free for students with an FSU ID. Faculty and staff receive an FSU employee discount. Gates open one hour prior to showtime.

For tickets and more information about the FSU Flying High Circus, visit circus.fsu.edu.

To learn more about the program, view the podcast episode “Connect with VP Amy Hecht: Flying High with FSU Circus.”

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After a one-year hiatus due to tornado damage, Florida State University’s Flying High Circus is back under the big top for its 15th annual Halloween Show Series.

The family-friendly Halloween-themed performances will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17; Saturday, Oct. 18; Friday, Oct. 24; and Saturday, Oct. 25. Doors open one hour before showtime.

The show features a thriller-style production with flying skeletons and dancing zombies, marking the circus’s first full performance in its new tent, which replaced the one destroyed last year.

“This year’s Halloween show series is so exciting because not only is it our first show series back under the big top, but I know that a lot of people, including myself, are looking forward to showing everything we’ve been working on for the past year,” said Jake Radtke, a senior double-majoring in psychology and criminology and fourth-year cast member.

Chad Mathews, director of the FSU Flying High Circus, said he is always excited for any show launch, but this year feels especially meaningful.

“With all we have gone through over the past year and a half, it’s a relief to be able to function like normal,” he said. “Our Halloween show presents so much differently than our other traditional shows. Once in their makeup and costumes, our performers really have fun and get into character. That, along with the music, lighting and effects we employ, really make for an enjoyable experience.”

The circus hosted three sold-out sessions during Family Weekend in September, featuring tent tours, juggling and concessions. The Halloween Show Series will be its first full production since April 2024.

Iris Dahlborg, a junior pursuing a degree in civil and environmental engineering and third-year performer, said she is looking forward to returning to the stage.

“It’s so exciting to see all of our hard work from the past year pay off, both in terms of physical labor put into rebuilding the tent and getting to showcase some of the work from the past year,” Dahlborg said. “A huge aspect of clowning is breaking the fourth wall, so I’m especially looking forward to interacting with a live audience again.”

Limited tickets are available for all shows. Admission is free for students with an FSU ID. Faculty and staff receive a special discount. Only clear bags will be allowed inside the performance tent.

For tickets and more information about the FSU Flying High Circus, visit circus.fsu.edu.

FSU Circus “Stake” Holders

Just as the Big Top relies on its stakes for stability, the FSU Flying High Circus depends on community support to thrive. Help lift the program to new heights by becoming an FSU Circus “Stake” Holder. Donations will help fund student training, costume fabrication, equipment, community outreach and more.

Learn more about preserving the circus for future generations.

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After the tornadoes passed, the damage came into focus.

In just half an hour, three twisters tore through Tallahassee on May 10, 2024, flattening trees, tearing roofs and shredding one of Florida State University’s most beloved landmarks: the Flying High Circus tent.

Since the mid-1960s, the FSU Flying High Circus has been the only collegiate circus to boast its own big top tent. The tornadoes left the circus without its iconic tent that had been visible for decades as a symbol of school spirit and tradition.

For nearly a year, the circus team trained in tight corners and made do without their signature space.

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On the morning of May 10, three tornadoes touched down in Tallahassee in less than 30 minutes, leaving behind a trail of destruction that destroyed FSU’s iconic circus tent.

Since the mid-1960s, the FSU Flying High Circus had been the only collegiate circus in the United States with a big-top tent. Now, the tent’s fabric is in tatters, its steel structures and seating in disrepair. The tent and all its contents underneath, including equipment, are unusable.

With a cast of 100 student volunteers and staff members led by Director Chad Mathews, the circus is a fully operational production with routines including on-stage acrobatics, aerial acts, clowning, dancing and a ringmaster.

“The circus has been an integral part of FSU’s history and tradition since 1947, providing entertainment and education to thousands of students and community members every year,” said Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy, but we are also determined to recover and rebuild better with more sustainability.”

The circus was one of the first ways of integrating men and women after Florida State became co-ed and serves as an extracurricular activity for students under FSU’s Division of Student Affairs.

FSU alumna Nicole Viverito, who works in the FSU Office of Research, said, “I sought out FSU because of the circus and met some of my best friends. It’s the biggest family I’ve ever had.”

Viverito said her father, Wayne Fearnbach, a high-wire performer at FSU from 1969-1973, played a part in influencing her decision to leave New Jersey and join the FSU Flying High Circus while getting her degree. During her time at FSU from 2007-2012, she mastered aerial cradle and the flying trapeze. She also met her husband, Matt, who went on to be a professional flying trapeze artist and now works at FSU’s Department of Psychology.

Her love for her circus family didn’t end when she completed her degree. Viverito served as the president of the Circus Alumni Association for three years and was instrumental in the 75th anniversary of FSU’s Flying High Circus celebration.

“You make such wonderful connections with not only peers and their families, but the Tallahassee community as a whole,” Viverito said. “The circus touches so many people in so many positive ways.”

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Florida State University’s Flying High Circus returns this fall for its Halloween Show Series centered around “SPOOKI,” a fictitious biotechnology company that conducts research and experiments on extending human life.

Performances range from balancing and aerial acts to strongmen made of stone and flying skeletons. Shows run from Thursday, Oct.19, through Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Florida State University Jack Haskin Circus Complex.

“My favorite part of Halloween shows is seeing all of the audience, specifically the children, smile,” said Lexy Glor, president of the Flying High Circus. “Getting to bring such a happy aspect to their lives is so enjoyable and makes me so proud of the job we all do.”

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The Florida State University Flying High Circus presents an intergalactic rendition of the annual spring show series, giving a futuristic twist to iconic circus acts.

“COSMIC!” runs from Friday, April 7, through Saturday, April 22, at the Florida State University Jack Haskin Circus Complex.

“I’m always in awe watching the drive and determination that the students and staff bring to the FSU Circus,” said Celina Dezzuto, creative director for the FSU Circus. “The artistry and skill of the cast has made the annual spring show series a community favorite that is enjoyed by Tallahassee families and FSU students alike.”

All members of the performance cast and the technical crew are FSU students.

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