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The Orbiting Human Circus

WNYC Studios and Night Vale Presents

Discover a wondrously surreal world of magic, music, and mystery. This immersive, cinematic audio spectacle follows the adventures of a lonely, stage-struck janitor who is drawn into the larger-than-life universe of the Orbiting Human Circus, a fantastical, wildly popular radio show broadcast from the top of the Eiffel Tower. WNYC Studios presents a special director’s cut of this joyous, moving break from reality. Starring John Cameron Mitchell, Julian Koster, Tim Robbins, Drew Callander, Susannah Flood, and featuring Mandy Patinkin and Charlie Day. Season one of The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air) is a co-presentation of WNYC Studios and Night Vale Presents. read less
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Episodes

Naughty Till New Years: Season Finale, Part Two
Jun 17 2020
Naughty Till New Years: Season Finale, Part Two
Our grand conclusion.  The Orbiting Human Circus in Naughty Till New Years was a co-production of WNYC Studios and Night Vale Presents.  Though this season has come to an end, The Orbiting Human Circus will return as soon as we can with live performances around the world, and production will begin soon on a new Orbiting Human Circus podcast, in which all your favorite characters will return and all will be revealed, so join our mailing list at orbitinghumancircus.com or follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on everything to come. In the meantime, look out for the final songs from the season on Apple Music, Spotify, Bandcamp and more this summer and a special bonus episode coming very soon!  The Orbiting Human Circus in Naughty Till New Years is dedicated to Walter Lowery, Marjorie Hirsch, Joan Hirsch, Jeremy Ayers, and Charlotte Koster. Naughty Till New Years featured Drew Callander, Julian Koster, David Barlow, John Cameron Mitchell, Susannah Flood, Dan Solomon, Jessie Shelton, Miche Braden, Nicholas Carter, Walter Lowery, Marjorie Hirsch, Harrison Beckwith, Jonah Mussolino, Hy Wolfe, Andy Lauer, Magali Charron and Alaska Charron Cacchione, Juno McLarnon and Keiran McLarnon, Steve Bello, Charlotte Koster, and Tim Robbins.  Written and directed by Julian Koster and produced by Christy Gressman.  Musical composition and arrangement by Thomas Hughes; music and songs by the Music Tapes, featuring horns by Robbie Cucchiaro; music by the Orbiting Quartet, featuring Gauvain Gamon on bass, Benjamin Miller on piano, Kolja Gjoni on drums, and Romica and North the Singing Saws, who were encouraged to sing by Julian; and piano performance by Benjamin Miller and Andy Lauer.  Lead editor Grant Stewart, editor Jaanelle Yee, and assistant editors Emily Marinoff and Jeff Tobias, with Julian. Sound design by Jonathan Siri-Mohs, foley by John Ringhofer, lathe cutting by Steve Espinola, and engineering by Vincent Cacchione. Additional production and mixing by Will Stanton.  Music from the show is released by Merge Records: https://smarturl.it/OrbitingS2songs. Become a Friend of the Orbiting Human Circus on Patreon: patreon.com/orbitinghumancircus, check out shirts, pins, and more at topatoco.com/collections/orbiting-human-circus, and follow us on Instagram @orbitinghumancircus or Twitter @orbitinghuman. For our mailing list and more information on live shows and other OHC things to come, go to orbitinghumancircus.com.  Check out Stellar Firma, a semi-improvised science fiction comedy podcast that follows the misadventures of Stellar Firma Ltd. planetary designer Trexel Geistman and his bewildered clone assistant David 7, at www.rustyquill.com/stellar-firma or wherever your get your podcasts. If you love Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or Red Dwarf, you’ll love this award-winning and absurd comedy podcast!
Naughty Till New Years: Eleventhly, It's a Scream (Pt. 1), plus Season Recap
May 6 2020
Naughty Till New Years: Eleventhly, It's a Scream (Pt. 1), plus Season Recap
How to escape. Escape with the Janitor! The Orbiting Human Circus returns with twice the fun: the first half of a special double episode. It’s a scream! The first half of a scream. A co-production of WNYC Studios and Night Vale Presents. Featuring John Cameron Mitchell, Susannah Flood, Harrison Beckwith, Walter Lowery, Julian Koster, and Drew Callander. Written and directed by Julian Koster and produced by Christy Gressman With musical composition and arrangement by Thomas Hughes; music by the Music Tapes and the Orbiting Quartet, featuring Gauvain Gamon on bass, Benjamin Miller on piano, Kolja Gjoni on drums, Romica the Singing Saw, who was encouraged to sing by Julian; lead editor Grant Stewart, editor Jaanelle Yee, and assistant editors Emily Marinoff and Jeff Tobias, with Julian; sound design by Jonathan Siri-Mohs, foley by John Ringhofer, and lathe cutting by Steve Espinola; engineering by Vincent Cacchione; and additional production and mixing by Will Stanton. Julian’s performance in the recap was directed by guest director Dennis Koster, Julian’s father.  Music from the show is released by Merge Records: https://smarturl.it/OrbitingS2songs. Become a Friend of the Orbiting Human Circus on Patreon: patreon.com/orbitinghumancircus, check out shirts, pins, and more at topatoco.com/collections/orbiting-human-circus, and follow us on Instagram @orbitinghumancircus or Twitter @orbitinghuman. For full credits and more information, go to orbitinghumancircus.com.
Naughty Till New Years: Sixthly, the Flea Talks
Jan 22 2020
Naughty Till New Years: Sixthly, the Flea Talks
Tim Robbins stars as the flea. Yes, we convinced an Oscar winner to portray a flea. Poor man. He did nothing to deserve this. A co-production of WNYC Studios and Night Vale Presents. Starring Tim Robbins, John Cameron Mitchell, Drew Callander, Susannah Flood, David Barlow, Dan Solomon, Miche Braden, Nicholas Carter, Hy Wolfe, Jessie Shelton, Magali Charron and Alaska Charron Cacchione, Juno McLarnon and Keiran McLarnon, Walter Lowery, Julian Koster, and Julian’s grandmother, Charlotte Koster, as Laeticia’s downstairs neighbor. Written and directed by Julian Koster and produced by Christy Gressman; with musical composition and arrangement by Thomas Hughes and music by Gauvain Gamon, Benjamin Miller, Kolja Gjoni, and the Music Tapes; lead editor Grant Stewart, editor Jaanelle Yee, and assistant editors Emily Marinoff and Jeff Tobias, with Julian; sound design by Jonathan Siri-Mohs, foley by John Ringhofer, and lathe cutting by Steve Espinola; engineering by Vincent Cacchione; and additional production and mixing by Will Stanton. Music from the show is released by Merge Records: https://smarturl.it/OrbitingS2songs. Become a Friend of the Orbiting Human Circus on Patreon: patreon.com/orbitinghumancircus, check out shirts, pins, and more at topatoco.com/collections/orbiting-human-circus, and follow us on Instagram @orbitinghumancircus or Twitter @orbitinghuman. For full credits and more information, go to orbitinghumancircus.com.