The Creative Life of Miranda Troutt

It should come as no surprise that for many SANCA coaches, circus is just one of many creative endeavors. To celebrate the artists who make up our hardworking staff, we’d like to introduce you to some of their lives outside of SANCA.

We’ve been having such a great time with our camp coaches this summer, so it’s sad to know that our time with many of them is almost done (for now). Before she’s whisked away to her next adventure, we wanted to share with you a peek into the creative life of one of our camp coaches, Ms. Miranda Troutt.

She is a singer, aerialist, costume designer, and self-proclaimed Sci-Fi nerd, who has managed to find a way to make it in Seattle as a working artist.

Meet Miranda!

 

How did you get involved in circus?

Miranda: I took a silks class at Emerald City Trapeze and then got involved with athletic/dance pole. A friend connected me to Teatro ZinZanni and I was hired to teach in their camps. I learned as I went. I came to SANCA a few times because I worked with Amanda (Thornton) and she gave me a few private lessons – it was really fun. When the Teatro ZinZanni camp program was on hold last year I really missed being involved with circus. I was very excited to find out that SANCA also offers summer circus camps… so here I am!

What are your hobbies outside of circus?

Miranda: Ha! Well really almost every one of my hobbies has turned into a job, so, I guess I just do everything that I love!

What is one of the things you do that people might not know about you?

Miranda: My career is musical theatre, which I studied at Cornish. But I do a lot of types of singing. I’m a professional Christmas Caroler with the Dickens Carolers. I sing opera at a restaurant downtown, Pasta Freska.  I sing at weddings and have been featured on several albums. I also do burlesque, perform at the Washington Midsummer Renn Faire, and design/sew.

Tell us more about your sewing and clothing design!

Miranda: Wedding gowns are my most popular commission, but I also make burlesque, Renn Faire, and other costumes. Really anything someone asks for. The past few years I’ve really gotten into alterations and Frankenstein clothing and making full garments from recycled materials. You can find her custom costumes and gowns at Miranda Antoinette Designs on Facebook and Etsy.

How did you learn to sew?

Miranda: I taught myself. I started sewing when I was 12. My grandma helped me with my first project to make a costume for a character from a fantasy book series. I love fantasy and sci-fi; Star-Trek, Star-Wars, Firefly. I also love the Abarat Series, and Weave World (both by Clive Barker). I love Cloud Atlas. The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss.

So how did you get into musical theatre?

Miranda: I always loved musical theatre, Gilbert and Sullivan, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire. So, my parents one day said “Hey, Seattle Children’s Theatre has a summer program for kids to do musical theatre do you want to do it?”

I auditioned singing “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera, not realizing that Footloose was more of a rock opera. So I sang it, and they asked me to sing it again, but angrily, and I got cast! I’ve pretty much been doing musicals ever since. [See her sing here]

What is something you did recently?

Miranda: I just did Silhouette which was a world premier science fiction acapella musical at the Annex Theatre. Before that, I worked with Village Theatre understudying several parts for Into the Woods. I also did some stuff with Seattle Children’s Theatre and I’m excited to start working with them again in 2019.

What are you working on right now?

Miranda: I’m collaborating on an album right now, kind of poetic new age, but a lot of layers of sound. The composer calls the genre electronic dreamsong. Classical choir, string instrumentals, synthesizers. Very cinematic. I’m also doing some music for new musicals coming out.

Do you have a favorite composer?

Miranda: Picking favorites or one big thing I’m inspired by doesn’t really work for my brain. I’m a huge fan of traditional Irish music. One of my favorites is Carrickfergus. I also love Mika and Queen. And I’ll expose my stereotypical musical theatre nerd by admitting that I love Llyod Webber and Sondheim.

Photo Credit:
RAW SEATTLE PHOTOGRAPHERS | Jared Ribic & Memphis Ribic – Identity Crisis Studio & Framed for Life Photography

Did you learn how to read Gaelic?

Miranda: No, but I can listen to it and pick it up by sound.

I’m also really involved in dance. Socially. And I taught for a time too. I dance salsa and bachata (another Latin dance) as well as fusion.

Where do you dance?

Miranda: Century Ballroom  and Om Fusion.

 

Thank you for sharing more about you, Miranda!