Philadelphia artist C. Robin Marcotte

Name: C. Robin Marcotte
Career: Managing Director of the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
Home: Philadelphia
Hails from originally: Rochester, NH
Relationship Status: Married
Spotted on a typical Philadelphia Saturday night: Dining at a local BYOB
Next Project: Directing the Green Fairy Cabaret

The Green Fairy Cabaret is kicking off as part of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts. What’s the show going like?

True to PIFA’s theme of innovation and inspiration in the early 1900’s Paris, we are seeking to break the traditional idea of a “cabaret.” We will be blending it with music, circus and theatre to create a performance that even the Green Fairy herself would drool over.

What’s unique about the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts?
We are the region’s center for contemporary circus and variety arts. When you first walk into our facility, you are met with aerialist 30 feet in the air on colorful silks, trapezes, hoops and ropes. In addition to the aerial equipment, you can train on almost any circus skill here from Chinese Pole, unicycling, tightwire, juggling, contortion and acrobatics.

PIFA is already under way. Why is it an important festival for Philadelphia?

We already have an extremely successful and popular Live Arts and Fringe Festival, so adding this iexperience to the Philadelphia arts roster will put us even more solidly on the map as a city that’s dedicated to the arts. PIFA is reaching its arm all over the world to bring people to Philly.

What events are you most excited about?

Aside from our show and the flying trapeze lessons, I’m really looking forward to seeing all the unexpected collaborations.

If we’re coming in from out of town, where should we stay?
The Alexander Inn. It’s a wonderful gay-owned hotel in the heart of Philly’s Gayborhood. It is a few blocks from all the PIFA action at the Kimmel Center and a stone’s throw from great restaurants and bars.

Favorite bars?
Now that’s always changing. It’s really whatever I’m in the mood for. However, when I do go out, I usually end of at Tavern on Camac, a piano bar. Need I say more?

Dinner recommendations?
Close the gayborhood, there are outstanding restaurants on 13th Street – Lolita, Barbuzzo, Vintage.  However, East Passyunk Crossing has been called the “next Gayborhood.” There are some phenomenal restaurants and BYOBs on the avenue. Fond and Le Virtu, in particular, are two of our all-time favorites.

If someone’s in Philadelphia for 24 hours, what should they do?
If you can pull yourself away from all the PIFA programming, I would always recommend The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, but I’m also a huge history buff.  There’s something revitalizing about standing in the room and looking at the spot where George Washington signed U.S. Constitution.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a massive sight to behold.

Check out our Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts Guide here

Photos courtesy of C. Robin Marcotte and the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts

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