Put the sawdust on the floor, cue the elephants and send in the clowns. February is typically circus month in Atlanta. This time, two productions are going rubber nose-to-rubber nose: The three-ring extravaganza that is Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and the more intimate, one ring UniverSoul Circus.
HISTORY
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
The self-proclaimed “Greatest Show on Earth” dates back to 1907 when the Ringlings shelled out $400,000 and bought their most serious competitor: Barnum & Bailey Circus. The two shows toured separately before joining forces in 1919. Some of the most legendary circus names of the past 100 years have been part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey family including iconic clowns Emmett Kelly and Lou Jacobs, and muscle-bound, flaxen-haired animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams. Owned by Feld Entertainment, it is still the venerable strong man on the classic circus scene.
UniverSoul Circus
This Atlanta-based circus began stepping right up in 1994 as founder Cedric Walker’s African-American answer to the traditional concept. Soon hip-hop found its way under the big top. Walker’s soul-stirring circus vibe still remains in tact, yet today you’ll find a slew of international performers flying, contorting and goofing in a UniverSoul show. Although it’s a relative infant in circus years, critics often rank UniverSoul in the same ring as Ringling in terms of entertainment value.
INTERACTION
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Guests can arrive one hour before showtime and actually make their way down to the arena floor for the All Access Power Up Preshow. It’s there they can rub elbows with clowns, grab autographs, gander at animals and watch circus acts up close. Sometimes audience members get pulled into the act. The All Access Power Up Preshows take place before each performance except for the Friday morning shows.
UniverSoul Circus
Crowds continue to rise to their feet for this high-energy presentation. The audience plays a part in a big way as the cast encourages them to dance and clap along with the show. You might find yourself rapping to The Sugarhill Gang or line-dancing with the entire cast. In addition to the thumping hip-hop beat, expect a musical mash-up of jazz, Latin, gospel and classic R&B.
STAR ATTRACTION
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
They don’t call this production “Fully Charged” for nothing. Brian Miser, who they dub The Human Fuse, takes the human cannonball schtick to the next blazing level. Miser allows himself to be lit on fire and launches from a self-made crossbow. Expect to find him cutting through the air at nearly 65 miles per hour, while soaring 110 feet across the arena. Miser not only does the deed, but designs his cannons himself.
UniverSoul Circus
One of UniverSoul’s more recent additions hits the circus ring with chopsocky charisma. The Shaolin Warriors Acrobatic Kung Fu act blends Jackie Chan-style choreography with tests of strength and endurance. A particular stunt finds one of the Warriors balancing his body on the tips of spears held by his comrades.
RINGMASTER
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
It was an “American Idol”-esque experience for Brian Crawford Scott, who won the role at a 2010 New York City audition of Ringling’s national talent search. Scott, who had scored a Musical Theatre degree from the University of Northern Colorado, was working as a waiter in the Big Apple when a friend told him about the auditions. Now in his first year as ringmaster, Scott holds the distinction of being one of only 36 ringmasters in the history of the brand.
UniverSoul Circus
The free-flowing presentation of UniverSoul doesn’t call for a ringmaster. The closest thing to a host is Zeke, a larger-than-life little person, longtime UniverSoul performer and audience favorite.
DON’T MISS
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
It doesn’t get much glitzier than Ringling’s spin on the circus. Not-to-miss acts range from The Danguirs, a death-cheating high-wire troupe, to tiger tamer Tabayara.
UniverSoul Circus
Highlights include aerial contortionists from Mongolia and Caribbean dancers straight out of Trinidad and Tobago.
UniverSoul Circus
Feb. 9-26. (No shows on Mondays.) 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23 and 24; 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and 17; 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20; noon, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11, 18 and 25; 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12, 19 and 26. $21.65-$42. (Includes Ticketmaster fees.) Turner Field Green parking lot, 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Feb. 15-20. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 and 16; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Feb. 18 and 19; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 20. $14-$130. (Does not include Ticketmaster fees.) Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
Feb. 23-26. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Feb. 25 and 26. $25-$130. (Does not include Ticketmaster fees.) The Arena at Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
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