NATURAL BORN! Circus, Sideshow and the Art of Being Human ~ BOOK LAUNCH EVENTS
PRIZES!
SATURDAY, JUNE 7th at 4 pm ~ Coney` Island USA Shooting Gallery Annex. ~ FREE!
Panel Discussion, Book Signing, and PRIZES!
SUNDAY, June 8th at 4 pm ~ The American Mime Theatre, 137 West 25th Street. ~ FREE!
RSVP FOR SUNDAY AT THE AMERICAN MIME THEATRE
Award-winning author Aaron Smith’s highly anticipated new book, Natural
Born! Circus, Sideshow and the Art of Being Human will be released
on June 1st, 2025. This compelling work explores the vibrant intersection
of disability and performing arts through the remarkable stories of
professional circus and sideshow performers who have transformed
perceived limitations into extraordinary artistic expressions.
Through intimate portraits and in-depth interviews, Smith introduces readers to a diverse cast of performers who
have chosen the circus and sideshow arts as their creative calling. The book challenges conventional narratives
about disability while celebrating the autonomy, artistry, and professional achievements of its subjects.
“The circus ring and sideshow stage have long been spaces where society’s boundaries blur and transform,”
says author, Aaron Smith. “These performers aren’t just participating in these arts—they’re revolutionizing them,
creating new forms of expression that expand our understanding of what’s possible in the human experience.”
Aaron Smith’s non-fiction book, Natural Born! Circus, Sideshow and the Art of Being Human, features a
foreword by Lisa B. Lewis, founder of Omnium Circus. This work explores the lives and artistry of contemporary
sideshow performers with disabilities, known as “natural born.” Through interviews with artists like Mat Fraser
and Shorty the Half-man, the book offers a 21st-century look at their experiences and choices in this unique
art form in places like Coney Island and Omnium Circus. Natural Born! challenges perceptions of disability by
showcasing the talents and agency of these performers.
Aaron Smith ~ BIO
Aaron Smith is an award-winning journalist, author and former circus worker. He was born in Florida and through-hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. When he was 19, he joined the circus.
He worked as a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus vendor, living on the train and selling cotton candy. Then he was a vendor and roustabout for the Big Apple Circus, setting up and tearing down the big top.
He wrote a memoir about his teenage experiences called Circus Jerks. He lived on the Ringling train, travelling across America with clowns, elephants and dancing girls. He graduated from Northern Vermont University with a bachelor’s in creative writing and he lives near Coney Island, NY.
He’s been a journalist for decades. He is a business reporter for the Financial Times company, where he and his teammates won two Neal awards for business journalism. He was a CNN reporter for 13 years, covering the markets, the gun industry, the cannabis industry and white-collar crime. He interviewed Bernie Madoff. He also covered the gun industry for Forbes and the cannabis industry for High Times.
He was born to write about the circus. Now, with his new book, Natural Born! Circus, Sideshow, and The Art of Being Human, he’s taking on a controversial subject: disabled performers in 21st-century sideshows.