May 24, 2016

Photo Gallery: The dazzling, death-defying ‘Ghostly Circus'

Fire and aerial theater among the gravestones

By Thom Carroll
PhillyVoice Contributor

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Lauren Raske, director of "The Ghostly Circus: Heaven's Lobby" and co-owner of 7textures, performs during Friday evening's event at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

"The Ghostly Circus,” directed by 7textures, utilized the unique landscape of Philadelphia's historic Laurel Hill Cemetery to host an evening of fire and aerial theater amongst the cemetery’s gravestones, mausoleums, tombs and vaults on Friday, May 20, 2016.

Under the moonlit sky, more than a dozen performers took to three custom stages and brought both gasps of excitement and cringes of fear to the hundreds who attended the family-friendly event.

Below is a collection of images from "The Ghostly Circus: Heaven’s Lobby."

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Alicia Rennekamp, left, styles Laura Rennegade's hair before the performance.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Mary Wood prepares drinks in the aerial bar at the start of Friday evening's performance.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Lee Thompson quietly plays the ukulele while hanging from a lyra hoop during 'The Ghostly Circus' at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Moonlight illuminates the sky over Laurel Hill Cemetery, Friday, May 20, 2016.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Lee Thompson weaves aerial silks around a lyra hoop during part of her performance.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Rachel Lancaster, left, and Wei Wei Weintraub perform a fire hoop duet during 'The Ghostly Circus.'

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

The audience sat amongst gravestones while they watched the performances at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

MB Forrester performs with a fire rope on 'The Ghostly Circus' fire stage.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Laura Rennegade hangs from an aerial cube during a duet performance with Erin Flannigan.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Different stages for 'The Ghostly Circus: Heaven's Lobby' were built into the landscape of Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Samantha Hyman and Sharon 'Giggles' D'Angelo were some of the costumed stilt-walking trees that shared the landscape of Laurel Hill Cemetery during the performance.