2026 Philly Fringe lineup just announced! FringeArts Members Presale on now. Tickets go on sale to the general public 7/17 at 10am.
In this (optionally) interactive experience YOU learn to juggle ... while watching a circus! Between acts, Janoah the Jester engagingly guides you through the essentials: throwing, catching and (of course) messy-ing up!
Jaw-dropping juggling, precarious unicycles, shimmering puppetry, even a meticulously-prapered hot beverage – Janoah juggles all this and more! And YOU too become a juggling aficionado as you learn to keep this cohesive mix of stories, jokes, dances, performance art and ideas in the air, all at the same time.
Mesmerizing for kids, adored by adults, meSSeS immerses audiences in a whimsical exploration of metaphor, tossing together art forms to tell a tale of learning, emerging ecstatically from a colorfully chaotic pile of props.
And (of course!) what circus would be complete without popcorn & banana peels?
Mostly performance, a tiny bit workshop, entirely entertaining, meSSeS has wowed family audiences from San Diego to Halifax, winning "Spirit of the Fringe" (Elgin 2022).
"A sold-out sensation for a reason. Bailin’s infectious energy, skillful performance, and ability to connect with the audience leave you smiling from ear-to-ear. The show’s unique blend of laughter, interactive moments, and awe-inspiring feats create an experience that is truly unforgettable"
- Kevin Frenech, Apt613
"A clowning master class. . . . [Ze] performs some very original gags and spectacular feats of balancing, but it is in the allowing for some of [zir] stunts to go wrong that [zir] humor shines."
- Wendy Carson, Plays With John and Wendy
Notable previous appearances: The Quick Center (2026), the Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival (2025), and the New England Center for Circus Arts (2025).
Contact janoahanygoodjokes@gmail.com with questions, or for financial assistance.
Circus Campus hosts its fifth hub with the Philadelphia Fringe Festival: Circus Campus Presents! Since the establishment of Circus Campus in 2017, we’ve been fostering a tight-knit community of teachers, students, performers, creators, movers & shakers. Our hub strives to showcase the skills & variety of these incredible human beings.Circus Campus is an educational headquarters; it’s also a home for some of the most unique talent in the Philadelphia Area. We invite everyone from the Philadelphia metropolitan area to visit our restored church facility in leafy-green West Mt. Airy, located directly adjacent to Upsal Station.
6452 Greene St
General Admission: $20 (PWYW)
PWYC Options
6452 Greene St
General Admission: $20 (PWYW)
PWYC Options
Janoah Bailin / Janoah the Jester (ze/zir) makes insightful, inventive, and interactive family circus(+). Janoah learned unicycling in the empty after-hours corridors of zir middle school. As a teenager, ze toured New England with Circus Smirkus; Janoah is now Assistant Director for the Gym Dandies Children’s Circus (ME), and coach for the Children's Circus of Middletown (CT). Since 2017 Janoah has created and toured five original full-length performances. SpinS twirled across the Canadian Fringe circuit from Montreal to Vancouver, winning "Best Variety" in London 2019. meSSeS – has toured Halifax to San Diego, winning "Spirit of the Fringe" in Elgin 2022. mAyhEm – Janoah's busking-style circus – won "Pick of the Kids Fringe" in Orlando 2023. Accompanied by keyboardist Kafari, rOng replicates Restorative Justice's Circle Process. Janoah's latest solo CHRONIC PAin au chocolat explores zir one-sided body pain, premiering at Philly Fringe 2025. Janoah has received the 2020 Maine Arts Commission's Fellowship in the Performing Arts, and SPACE's 2026 Kindling Fund. Janoah travels New England and beyond, teaching and performing, leaving behind a wake of tumbled juggling props.
Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.
Audience Interaction
Optional participation
This event does not require masks to be worn