Prepping for “Circus of Death”

The show starts at the ticket booth, which Hull describes as having an “Emo-Goth” look.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Train rides will lead visitors through the theme park, through a plastic iceberg and a wood windmill stuffed with monsters. Seen here: one of the artful cabooses.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Hull has created the main structural pieces for the park, including a series of figurative sculptures that will contain speakers for a sound piece created by Gibby Haynes (otherwise known as the lead singer of the Butthole Surfers).  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

In one corner of Hull’s studio sits a seat for the Circus of Death merry-go-round. All of these have been painted by hand.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

A marionette depicting a character named Cindy, an invention of artist Barry Morse, sits in a corner of the studio. Morse will be decked out in a similar ensemble for “Circus,” which includes a central stage that will feature puppet shows and musical acts.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

An element of one of Hull’s carnival attractions pokes out from behind a stack of wood crates in Hull’s studio.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Hull says he read countless books about circuses in researching aspects of his carnival. A pair of clown heads sits on a pair of plastic trumpets.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

With “Circus of Death” being prepped, Hull’s studio is like a laboratory of carnival elements -- such as this jar of clown noses.  (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)