Julia Baccellieri
Circus, Clown, Interdisciplinary
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P.T. Barnum made a spectacle of Joice Heth. Strange Root turns the spectacle back on him.
In 1835, P.T. Barnum built the foundation of his career on the exhibition of Joice Heth, an enslaved Black woman whom he presented to paying audiences as a living curiosity. When Heth died, Barnum continued the spectacle, selling tickets to her public autopsy. Her exploitation helped launch the career of America’s most famous showman, but has largely disappeared from the history we tell about it.
For creator and performer Julia Baccellieri, a Black circus artist working nearly two centuries later, that history is anything but distant.
Strange Root, or the murder of P.T. Barnum by Joice Heth is a meditation on Heth’s life, her legacy, and the complicated inheritance of Black performance in America. Moving between historical record, theatrical play, and contemporary circus, the work traces a lineage of Black performance shaped by spectacle, minstrelsy, exploitation, and resistance.
Blending circus, physical theatre, bouffon, and Black performance traditions, Strange Root asks what it means to inherit an art form whose history contains excellence, resistance, and profound violence, and what becomes possible when a performer turns toward histories that have been obscured.
Created and performed by Julia Baccellieri, with Lex Alston as P.T. Barnum. Co-directed by Jenn Kidwell and Sam Landa. Development support provided by Almanac Projects.
Cannonball is the largest hub of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, championing a revolutionary artist-led model that prioritizes equity, experimentation, and community connection. Now in its sixth year, Cannonball presents more than 100 artists across five stages, representing nearly 30 percent of the overall Philadelphia Fringe Festival. From rebellious circus and delicious dance to fearless theater and activist art, Cannonball pushes the boundaries of live performance while creating a vibrant, artist-centered ecosystem for independent performance makers and adventurous audiences alike.
September 9, 2026 8.30pm
1400 N American St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
September 10, 2026 7.00pm
1400 N American St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
September 12, 2026 6.30pm
1400 N American St
General Admission: $25
PWYC Options
About the Artist
Julia Baccellieri was born and raised in the vibrant Chicago performing arts community, beginning their training as a dancer at the age of five. Recognized for their distinctive movement quality and advanced acrobatic skills, Julia specializes in dance trapeze, Chinese pole, hula hoops, and acrobatic dance. Their multidisciplinary approach and dynamic presence continue to make a strong impact across contemporary circus and performance art spaces.
Lex Alston is a New York based performing artist, actor and teaching artist. They received a BA in Theatre and Performance from Purchase College where they premiered their one-person silent physical-comedy show, Falling on Purpose. Lex has performed in all 5 NYC boroughs with Bindlestiff Family Cirkus’ Flatbed Follies as a member of their Clown Alley and works as a teaching artist with Bindlestiff’s Cirkus After School, Time Flies Circus, and The Muse as a youth circus skills instructor.
Obie Award-winner Jennifer Kidwell's performer-driven theater work addresses the complexities of race and notions of American history with sharp intelligence and wry humor. Invested in probing challenging social and historical truths, Kidwell says her work is "concerned with discomfort and/or confusion around normative practices and systems." With Scott Sheppard, she premiered and performed in Underground Railroad Game.
- Julia BaccellieriPerformer/Creator julia.baccellieri@gmail.com
- Lex AlstonPerformerl.exalston1@gmail.com
- Sam LandaCo-Director
- Jenn KidwellOutside Eyejennikkid@gmail.com
- Julia BaccellieriProducer
- Sam LandaProducer
Accessibility & Content Considerations
Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.
This event is appropriate for ages 13+
Violent ContentAdult Language
Strobe/Flashing Lights
Audience Interaction
Fog/Smoke Effects
Covid-19 Safety policy
This event does not require masks to be worn
Copyright © 2026 Philadelphia Fringe Festival
140 N. Columbus Blvd.
(at Race St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Directions
Tickets: 215.413.1318
Admin Office: 215.413.9006
