ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
OMNIUM
A BOLD NEW CIRCUS
Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson
By Lisa B. Lewis, Founder & Artistic/Executive Director
mnium is a unique, visionary project that is breaking new ground in the world of circus entertainment. It will be the first fully diverse and inclusive circus company in the country. Our mission is to enrich empathy among people of all races, colors, ethnicities, and abilities creating opportunities and building healthier communities through shared positive experiences among the millions of people of all ages who enjoy the circus. Our artists are all experienced and gifted circus performers. We are Black, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, LGBTQ. We are young and old, highly trained, talented, and multi-skilled. We use a wheelchair, are Deaf, or blind. We grew up in different countries, have different families, and speak different languages. We have come together through different journeys, collaborating to create a jaw-dropping audience experience. Diversity is our strength! One in four people in this country has a disability. Full access and inclusion are provided for our audience at every single performance, both online and live, including American Sign Language (ASL), Audio Description, Closed Captioning and Simple Language. Once we go live after the pandemic, we will add reduced sensory seating, tactile experiences, and an additional calming area. The circus is an artform fabulous in its independence of language, thereby inclusive of non-English speakers. 74 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
Aerialist Jen Bricker-Bauer ©Daisy Seilern Photography