As the leaves begin to turn and the Halloween stores pop up all over, we start to think “Holiday Season”- It won’t be long before “Turkey Day” arrives followed by the Christmas holidays. Into the mix, here in Chicago, is the coming of the Circus. Not just any circus, but Ringling Bros.
and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS, an all-new
edition that unites iconic circus stars with living
mythological creatures in a celebration of the LEGENDS that
have captured imaginations for centuries, is slated to
appear Nov. 6-16 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill.,
and Nov. 19-30 at Chicago’s United Center. Ringmaster
Johnathan Lee Iverson guides Paulo the Legend Seeker
on his quest to discover real, living legends from around
the world and presents Paulo’s fantastic discoveries to
circus fans everywhere. “Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey is where legends live, and we constantly ask our
audiences to believe in the unbelievable. For this edition
we’ve combined a number of mythical themes and stories
into a lavish production of
sight and sound unlike any show we have ever
created,” says Producer Nicole Feld.
Mythology meets reality as Paulo
encounters the wondrous Pegasus and the amazing Unicorn, as
well as circus legends such as big cat presenter Alexander
Lacey; the Riders of the Wind Cossack horsemen; and
motorcycle daredevils, the Torres Family. They all
come together along with a cast spanning 25 countries in a
spectacular production.
Experience magnificent Asian elephants, a
twenty-acrobat troupe perched atop only a pair of bicycles,
and a never-before-seen double-wide, high-flying trapeze
act. “A
legend is something so magical and larger than life that
once you see it, you never forget it. The talent in this
show is unprecedented and embodies the name LEGENDS,” says
Producer Alana Feld. “My sister and I were speechless
when we saw these acts the first time. We searched the
world for the best of the best and put them together in an
unforgettable show.”
The extraordinary talent that can only be seen
at Ringling
Bros. Presents LEGENDS includes:
· Hailing from
Great Britain, Alexander Lacey’s special bond with
lions, tigers and a majestic leopard allow him to present a legendary mixed
cat display that has garnered him awards from the renowned
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo and The Festival International
du Cirque de Massy (France). With
each performance, Lacey demonstrates his lifetime dedication
to training and caring for these beautiful animals as he
showcases their natural agility, strength and the
unconditional respect and cooperation they share.
The Riders of the Wind
thunder into the arena on the backs of thoroughbred horses
and are the protectors of the mythological Pegasus and
Unicorn. These speeding daredevil Cossack riders display
their strength and amazing dexterity as they perform
intricate maneuvers, including a remarkable five-man high
pyramid, while galloping at more than 25 miles per hour in
a 46-foot-diameter,specially-designed ring.From Paraguay, the
fearless Torres Family shatters records and dares to achieve
the impossible by putting eight family members, including
one female rider, on speeding motorcycles inside the Globe
of Steel. Once locked inside the 16-foot globe, they will
orbit at an unprecedented 65 miles per hour with only six
inches to spare between each rider, avoiding collision by
relying on their rigorous accuracy and confidence in each
other.An elite super-group of
high-flying trapeze artists from the U.S., Brazil, Venezuela
and Mexico, The Solar Hawkspresent a
never-before-seen double-wide flying trapeze act
designed specifically for The Greatest Show On
Earth. This dream team exhibits precision, stamina,
strength and perfect form while attempting four consecutive
triple somersaults with only seconds between each
release.The Chinese National
Acrobatic Troupe from Beijing impresses audiences with a
number of diverse acts that include fast-paced hoop diving
through astonishingly tall and impossibly narrow hoops, an
elegant rolling ballet on bicycles where acrobats perform
feats and build an incredible pyramid and breathtaking pole
climbers executing flips and twists accompanied by
traditional, dancing Chinese lions.Also hailing from China,
the Jade Statues come to life in a graceful display
combining elegant choreography, precise timing and
coordination with jaw-dropping diablo juggling skills. The
spinning diablos dance in the air like synchronized
fountains and are caught by these masterful artists in a
unique and memorable performance.A heartwarming
presentation of showmanship with an animal menagerie ranging
from ten to 10,000 pounds can only be found at Ringling
Bros. Presents LEGENDS. Treasured Ringling
Bros. Asian Elephants, from the largest herd in North
America, are presented in an incredible spectacle that cannot be seen anywhere but
at Ringling Bros.Other legendary animals from almost
every continent include North American rescue dogs, donkeys
from Europe, pigs from Asia, llamas from South America,
kangaroos from Australia and a special
surprise…Woolly the Mammoth.Under the baton of bandleader Wages Argott, the
dynamic, nine-piece Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey® Bandperforms an original score of over 200
pieces of music arranged by award-winning Hollywood and
Broadway composers.An hourbefore show time, families can come to the arena floor and
participate in interactive, up-close circus experiences,
theAll-Access Pre-show and the brand new Ringmaster
Zone.
Free to all ticketholders, the All Access
Pre-show allows circus fans to learn juggling and
balancing skills, meet the performers of The Greatest
Show On Earth, get autographs, take photos and enter to
win a one-of-a-kind Pachyderm Painting.
For the ultimate circus fan experience, the producers
have created a new, exclusive, intimate experience: the
Ringmaster Zone. A combined value with the best seats in the
house, the Ringmaster Zone offers families an unprecedented
look behind the curtain of The Greatest Show On
Earth. Fans have the
opportunity to walk on the Ringling Red Carpet with
Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson and the stars of the show,
step inside the Globe of Steel, take photos on the
ringmaster’s float and have an up-close elephant
encounter.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Presents LEGENDS provides
hours of thrilling entertainment that is fun for the whole
family for about the price of a movie ticket. A great value
in family entertainment, Ringling Bros. is
Ticketmaster’s number one most purchased family event.
Tickets, starting at $15, are available through Ticketmaster
and the Allstate Arena and United Center box offices, by
calling 1-800-745-3000, or
visiting www.Ringling.com. Additionally, parking is FREE with
ticket purchase in all official Allstate Arena and United
Center parking lots. Service charges, facility and handling
fees may apply. For general show information, call the
Allstate Arena at (847) 635-6601, or
the United Center at (312)
455-4500.
The annual visit from the circus is coming soon. Get your family ready! It gets bigger and better every year!
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