Sylvie Merryman-Lotze, 15, a Glenside resident and freshman at Cheltenham High School, has earned a spot with Circus Smirkus, an award-winning traveling youth circus that has performed for audiences across New England for more than three decades. 

Sylvie is a contortionist, acrobat, and juggler who has been training with the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts in Mt. Airy since she was five.

According to the circus’ press release, hundreds of applicants from across the country vied for a handful of available spaces for this summer, and through a two-phase audition process, Sylvie was one of only 30 youth who was chosen to perform on tour. 

“I’m so excited to be doing what I love with some of my favorite people and to experience the life of a traveling circus artist!” Sylvie said about the opportunity.

The 2025 Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour, which was recently recommended via the Boston Globe’s list of 10 fun things to do with kids this summer, opens June 28 at its home-base in Greensboro, Vermont and then takes to the road on 65-show tour that will visit 4 states and 16 towns over the summer.

Many of Smirkus’ Big Top Tour alumni now perform all over the globe with Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Bros., Big Apple Circus, and many other circus companies around the globe. Its performers have appeared on Jay Leno and David Letterman and have been featured on America’s Got Talent, the X-Factor, Superbowl commercials, on Broadway and numerous movies including The Greatest Showman, Alice in Wonderland, and Water for Elephants. 

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Photos: Circus Smirkus