After a lifetime of watching Gamma Phi Circus shows, Community alum Eleni Lockett, an Illinois State University senior, is finishing her final season not just as a performer, but as a high wire captain—the one who runs the acts, teaches the tricks and builds the routines.

In this Q&A, Lockett talks about how she found her passion for the circus, what it’s like behind the scenes and why she thinks audiences should come see it.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: How did you first learn about the Gamma Phi Circus?

A: I’ve been going to their shows my whole life—My parents would take us to each of their shows. When they announced that they would be having summer camps for kids—where you could try the circus skills you see in the show—my parents signed me up for it as soon as they could. Ever since I was seven, I knew that my dream was not just to be in the circus, but the Gamma Phi Circus. That’s what lead me straight to ISU.

Q: What acts did you try at camp, and what do you do now?

A:  At camp, you get to try a lot. They have baby wires you can walk on that aren’t far off the ground. You can do some aerials—any apparatus that hangs in the air, like silks or lira hoop. They even let us try flying trapeze, which is not part of Gamma Phi’s actual shows, but it’s really cool that they can do that in camp.

When I first got to ISU I thought that I would be doing aerials, but I ended up on a different path.I’ve been in high wire for four years, and I have been a Captain for two. That means I run the entire act—I teach everyone the tricks and I put together their routine—which has just been the most incredible opportunity. I’ve also been involved in bike built for 10—it’s a person riding a bike with other people on top, and we do different tricks on and off it.

Q: What about the program made you admire it so much and want to be a part of it?

A: I was never really into sports growing up. I wasn’t put into soccer, and I only took a few gymnastics classes. I loved the variety of circus—It’s like a sport, but it’s also theater. I did like sports and I did like theater, but them together made me really love it, and that’s what the Gamma Phi Circus offered. It was theatrical athleticism, basically. They’re also very welcoming. 

They love the circus so much. The people that run it want you to love it as much as they do. It’s a very accepting atmosphere, it just makes you want to do it.

Q: This year is the 97th anniversary. What is it like to be part of such a long-running program?

A: It means so much to me. In recent years, we had a record-breaking year for ticket sales. It was incredible to see all of the people you know in the audience, people who have been coming for years, and people who were there for the first time—it meant the world to me.

Q: What has been the most rewarding moment for you?

A: Seeing all of your hard work throughout the year pay off at the end. When you stand up, hit your final pose and everyone’s on their feet applauding. It is the most rewarding thing.

Q: How has the show changed since you started?

A: The logistics and the technical side haven’t changed much, but the themes change every year, and the aerials change every year, too; one year we had silks, the next year we had chains.

Q: What are your most memorable moments?

A: One of the biggest moments was when I got put in as an alternate. When you’re an alternate, you’re really just there in case someone gets hurt. Otherwise, you’re just watching, and that’s hard. Getting thrown in there on our media day—when all the photographers there—it meant the world to me. And I ended up getting the Courage Award through Gamma Phi for it.

Another really memorable moment was last year when I got the opportunity to sing for two acts. My parents had no idea. Walking out singing this crazy note—everyone I knew was so surprised they were crying by the end. It was the most incredible feeling.

Also last year, we had a really difficult trick on the high wire. I was a solo captain, in the middle, basically catching two other girls. We hit it at exactly the right moment, and it all came together.

Q: Any funny moments or mishaps you still remember?

A: Last year during our kids show—the Friday morning show for schools—I was in bike and I missed a step and completely wiped out. I don’t think anyone noticed, but I did.

Another time, during the final trick, we weren’t getting it, and so I called it and said, ‘Okay, no more. We’re all done,’ and the girl behind me did not hear and kicked over for a handstand and she completely knocked me forward. It knocked my hair out. My parents told me later they knew I was okay because I tightened my ponytail.

Q: How has it been for you knowing this is your last year being a part of the Gamma Phi?

A: It’s a lot of different emotions. There’s of course that senioritis that creeps in where you think, ‘This is my last year, and that’s OK.’ But then there’s other moments where you realize you’re never gonna do this again. Small milestones hit you—like marching in the homecoming parade and doing tricks. Afterward, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s the last time I’ll ever be in the ISU parade.’ It’s a crazy feeling.

Q: Why should people come see the Gamma Phi?

A: Because you’re not going to get this anywhere else. Gamma Phi the only collegiate circus in the United States—and it’s student led.

We work so hard to bring people into the theme and make them feel like they’re part of it. This year our theme is carnival of dreams. We’re taking you through what it would be like to see all kinds of parade styles and carnival-like aspects. The costumes, the makeup, the hair, the acts—everything is so specific, and it is just for  the audience’s enjoyment. You get to see a great variety of theatrics and strengths in these people—who are also full time students. It’s a great way to spend a Friday or Saturday night.

Q: Anything else you want people to know?

A: The show is going to be on April 17 and 18th—Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.