Circa and Wheeler Opera House Spotlight Aspen’s Creative Spirit

On a brilliant fall morning in downtown Aspen, the internationally acclaimed Australian contemporary circus company Circa joined the Wheeler Opera House team and photographer Craig Turpin of Rising Sun Photography for a dynamic photo shoot celebrating movement, artistry, and the joy of being fully alive.

The shoot captured Circa’s acrobats in spontaneous, expressive moments across several of Aspen’s most recognizable locations. “Yesterday’s dynamic photo shoot with the amazing troupe Circa was an incredible experience,” said Turpin. “We captured an eclectic set of images from some of Aspen’s most iconic locations around town.”

“Aspen’s natural beauty is exceptional,” said Mike Harrington, Executive Director of the Wheeler Opera House, “and I am finding that circus really resonates with the community here, in part due to the incredible athleticism of the artists. We took Circa’s Aspen premiere as an opportunity to explore what happens when we put incredible humans in remarkable settings. The result captures not just their artistry, but the spirit of Aspen itself — bold, creative, and pushing the limits of possibility.”

The Wheeler Opera House was thrilled to host Circa’s Aspen premiere on October 22 with Humans 2.0 an internationally celebrated symphony of acrobatics, sound, and light that’s been hailed as “a flawless display of human physicality” (The Scotsman) and “a striking spectacle of beauty” (La Presse). Created by Circa Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz, the production explores balance, adaptation, and the beautiful chaos of being human.

Harrington is working on inviting more contemporary circus companies to Aspen, including a potential return of Circa in February 2027.

Photo Credit: All images © 2025 Rising Sun Photography, commissioned by and owned by the Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, CO. Images feature performers from Circa, the internationally acclaimed Australian contemporary circus company known for its groundbreaking production Humans 2.0.