The Omnium Circus made its debut in 2021, but for founder and executive director Lisa B. Lewis, the journey began more than three decades earlier.
While performing as a clown, Lewis noticed an entire section of the arena sitting with their arms crossed and seemed angry. Despite being at the circus, they struggled to understand the acts going on around them. Lewis’ clown partner started telling jokes in sign language, and the group erupted in laughter.
“It was the power of inclusion,” she said.
In 1986 Lewis moved to New York and began working in a hospital performing a “Circus of the Senses” adapted show for children and their families. It was such a hit that parents wanted to know why they could come only once. So, Lewis created weekend and evening shows for families to experience and enjoy together. When the pandemic hit, Lewis began to push the idea further, asking how she and others could create this type of access all the time.
Omnium, a diverse, accessible, and inclusive circus, was born. The goal of the circus is to create an experience reflective and welcoming of all people. To mirror the one in four Americans with a disability, over 25 percent of the nonprofit’s performing company and 40 percent of its total team are members of the disabled community.
“The idea was to create representation so people can see themselves reflected on stage and know they are capable with hard work to be their best selves,” Lewis said.
When she presented her initial idea to current team members in 2020, Lewis worried it might have been too crazy. But no one talked her out of it. Instead, they joined her, and immediately got to work on building the show. The team behind Omnium Circus is made up of not only others like Lewis who have spent their entire careers in the industry, but newcomers as well, including members of the disabled community who never previously had the opportunity to join a circus.
For Ermiyas Muluken, a seasoned performer with over half his life dedicated to the circus industry, joining Omnium with his ladder-balancing act was more than just a new experience — it was a powerful extension of his mission to inspire through his craft.
“Circus is not just going and doing your thing and getting money,” he said. “It’s also to inspire people. It’s a message and you don’t have to speak it.”
An Ethiopian native, Muluken has since relocated to DC, where Omnium Circus will kick off its 2025 nationwide tour on February 22 at DC’s Warner Theatre.
In addition to Muluken’s ladder act, the audience will get to see the world’s fastest juggler, a chair-stacking act, and a hair-hanging act, to name a few.
During the show, Omnium offers different accessibility options including audio description for blind audience members, ASL integrated into the performance, a calming area in the lobby, ADA seating, and more. Lewis listens to members of the disability community and constantly asks how Omnium can make the experience better.
“Accessibility is not as hard as you think,” she said. “You have to pay attention and figure it out.”
Omnium Circus is an experience for the whole family to enjoy, a show for “human beings,” as Lewis explained. The 90-minute performance is an opportunity to connect and bond with others no matter the differences. During one show, for instance, a young girl sat next to another child who happened to be deaf. The two figured out how to communicate with one another and ended the show as friends.
Omnium is more than just a circus; it’s an opportunity to bring people together.
“So much is dividing us; we have to find more of what unites us,” Lewis said.
Omnium Circus – I’m Possible plays on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 2 pm, presented by Omnium Circus, performing at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th NW, Washington, DC. Tickets ($55–$115) are available online.
Running Time: 90 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission.
All Omnium Circus Performances Include:
Audio Description
Tactile Experiences
Integrated ASL
Assisted Listening Devices
Closed Captions
Relaxed Performances – All forms of self-expression are welcome!
Calming Area in Lobby
ADA Seating
Group Rates Available
For venue specific information, feel free to reach out to [emailprotected].
See also the Warner Theatre’s accommodations for guests with disabilities in the FAQ section here.
SEE ALSO:
Our amazing afternoon at the multi-abledOmniumCircus (review by John Stoltenberg and Sophia Howes, March 17, 2022)
Diverse, multi-abledOmniumCircus to play one special matinee
(news story, February 14, 2022)
