SAB Brings Aura of Both a Circus and a Carnival to Campus with “Carnivale”
Entertainer Mike DuBois and performer in Broadway’s “Pippin”, Viktoria Grimmy, performed in the Residential Quad on Friday, September 13, at 4 pm at “Carnivale.”
The Student Activities Board (SAB) along with co-sponsor Phi Kappa Psi fraternity hosted this event that was free and open to all students.
Despite a light drizzle within the first few minutes of the event, approximately 300 students still gathered to enjoy the festivities at “Carnivale.”
Tents were positioned in the Residential Quad filled with live wild animals, games and prizes, balloon artists, body painting, and candy. DJ Mike Gloria made a return from SAB’s previous event, “Monmouth Palooza,” and blasted electro-club dance music from his speakers.
The tent that gained the most popularity was the live animal tent which included a spider monkey named Mindy, a Geoffroy’s cat, an alligator, a parrot, two boa constrictors, a tarantula, a naked mole rat, an arctic fox, and a chinchilla.
At approximately 5:30 pm the rain began to clear which allowed DuBois and Grimmy to take the the stage.
DuBois performed his solo show of juggling, magic, and circus stunts while encouraging student participation. Prior to beginning his act, DuBois announced to the audience, “My show is based on energy – The more you give me, the better it’ll be.” DuBois then began to awe the crowd with tricks including his seven-ball juggle and escape from a straitjacket while simultaneously riding a unicycle.
This performer from New York has appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” as well as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
Dario Korpita, junior psychology major, said, “I could not stop laughing the entire time that he [DuBois] was performing. He was witty and overall he was an extremely talented person.”
DuBois and Grimmy would alternate acts. Grimmy is a contortionist and aerialist in Broadway’s “Pippin” in New York City. Grimmy tours the world, contorting her body in and around a hula hoop and ribbons that are suspended in the air.
Haley Brue, junior accounting major, watched Grimmy perform at the edge of her seat. “Viktoria Grimmy is so beautiful and graceful,” said Brue.
“I’ve never seen such a great performance in my entire life,” added Brue, “and I am so happy that I actually attended an on-campus event.”
This is the first year that SAB organized “Carnivale” as part of their special event programming. Lucy Russo, Vice President of Major Events, saw the performers at the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) in Nashville, Tennessee.
“For the past two years we went to NACA and we saw them perform. I finally decided it was time to showcase this event to everyone here at the University,” said Russo. “I’m glad it finally happened.”
Megan McGowan, Assistant Director of Student Activities and Student Center Operations, said, “SAB continues its efforts in increasing students staying on the weekends. We want to fight the stereotypical title of being a ‘suitcase school.’” SAB programs most of its events on the weekends as a challenge.
The event took approximately 3 hours in total to set up.
Funding for the event came from the SAB budget as well as money raised by the brothers of Phi Kappa Psi with their “Weekend Warrior Event.”
SAB encourages students to become involved and help plan events like “Carnivale.” The first meeting for general members will be held on Wednesday, September 25 at 2:30 pm on the third floor of the Rebecca Stafford Student Center in Carol Aflito Conference Room.
“‘Carnivale’ was hands down the best event I’ve ever been to here at the University,” said Brue. “I really hope there are more events like this in the future.”
PHOTO TAKEN by Brianna McCabe
