On Sunday, April 23, 2023, at 7 p.m., Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts will welcome the return of one of the world's top circus troupes, Cirque Alfonse, for a journey to a reinvented land in their performance of Animal: A Farm Story.

Cirque Alfonse, established in 2005, is a Canadian circus company from Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez in the province of Quebec. Its founding members have worked with some of the most renowned “nouveau cirque” companies around the world. This family-tied company is composed of a group of professional acrobats who studied at the National Circus School in Montréal, as well as a professional dancer, an ex-skiing champion, and three talented and versatile musicians. This brave and creative group of young performers is blazing a new path that no circus troupe has yet dared to explore, blending the arts and techniques of the circus and infusing them with authentic facets of traditional Quebec folklore.

“If you missed Cirque Alfonse at the Quick in 2019 with their smash show, Tabernak, this is the perfect occasion to witness their incredible feats with flips, teeter board tricks, a tractor, mind-boggling balance work, and a ton more. The show is fun and will have your feet tapping with live musicians who get in on the action!” said Lori Jones, director of programming and audience development for the Quick Center. “Circus has such an incredible history in our community thanks to P.T. Barnum, and with artists like Cirque Alfonse, we get to watch the art form evolve and thrive in shows that are perfect for all ages.”

The artistic directors of Animal: A Farm Story, siblings Antoine and Julie Carabinier-Lépine, grew up on a farm in a small town outside of Montréal and drew their inspiration for this show from their experiences on the farm. Their barn is not just the setting for Animal but is also where the troupe develops their shows and practices their performances. This is also a multi-generational show as the siblings’ father will be on stage to show off his expert skills as well. The show is truly for family, by family.

Animal includes circus performance, theatre, dance, and original live music — an eclectic mix of traditional Quebec folk music, rock, and techno – fittingly described as “agricultural funk.” During the show, Cirque Alfonse will take the audience on a journey to a reinvented agricultural world, through a series of slightly surreal farm fables served up with a touch of irreverence, impressive virtuosity, and the company’s familiar comic touch; the farm will be turned upside down and the barn turned inside out!

Cirque Alfonse is supported, in part, by Government Offices of Québec - Boston and New York, In a Fairfield Minute, WPKN 89.5FM, and the Barnum Museum. Tickets are on sale now at quickcenter.com for only $30, or $20 for Quick Members. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting the Quick Center Box Office at 203-254-4010, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.