“Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages ...”
Johnathan Lee Iverson, the ringmaster who will boom that classic introduction to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's "Barnum's FUNundrum" for 11 shows beginning Thursday at Philips Arena and eight starting Feb. 24 at Gwinnett Arena, is more than a towering guy with a super-sized voice. He's also an unadulterated, unapologetic fan of the famously promoted "Greatest Show on Earth."
"The magic of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, and why we're the longest-running hit show in the world, is that there's a piece of magic in it all the time," said Iverson, who became the youngest Ringling Bros. ringmaster (at age 22) and the first African-American one when he signed on with the circus in 1998. "Excellence never, ever gets old."
Now 35, the New York City-raised former Boys Choir of Harlem lead tenor was recruited by circus producers Feld Entertainment shortly after graduating from the Hartt School, the University of Hartford's performing arts conservatory, with a vocal performance degree.
He embraces his role as the voice -- both announcing and singing -- of the show, the emcee who tries to link audiences and performers like cotton candy to a paper cone. "I joke that I'm P.T. Barnum and Don King's love child," said Iverson, whose wife Priscilla is also in the circus. "I get to brag, run my mouth and tell the world that Superman and Wonder Woman are in the building."
In a phone conversation from a recent tour stop in Charlotte, he did plenty of bragging about "Barnum's FUNundrum," which celebrates the 200th birth anniversary of the circus founder.
We quickly gave up trying to tame the enthusiastic ringmaster, surrendering as he turned his inner promoter loose. Here's but some of what Barnum -- er, Iverson -- shared ...
On the secret to Ringling's longevity: "We respect our audience's time, their imagination and their money."
On how he maintains his enthusiasm during performances even after seeing all the acts countless times: "It doesn't get old because, even though I know the people, I'm standing there and I'm fascinated, just as scared and thrilled as when I first saw them. Even more so now, because they've done it so many times. It's like Virginia [of Duo Fusion], barely 100 pounds, in 3-inch, fire-red pumps balancing her 150-pound husband Ihosvanys above her head again for the 500th time. Wow, to have that kind of focus and to manage to keep your body in that excellent condition ... These people are superhuman to me."
On being inspired by the animal trainers: "The commitment and discipline they have with these animals is incredible. I mean, these people are up at the crack of dawn. The reason why the animals are so good and they trust the trainers so much, is they're so consistent. They're always in the stables. Sometimes it's not for training but they're there just to be with the animals. I've seen it: grown men whispering and talking to elephants and singing to them while they feed them. They're building rapport, a relationship. It's like children."
On becoming the first black ringmaster: "Ever since the Feld family acquired Ringling Bros. back in the late '60s, they've always pushed that bar, for female progression and racial progression, to really make the show live up to what it says it is. It can't be the Greatest Show on Earth if we don't see people from all over the earth. One of the great things I take pride about in this edition in particular, is you'll see every hue on the planet represented. And the beauty of it is that nobody cares."
On a career in the circus: "It's kind of like being a marine: Once in, you're in. It's the sawdust mafia. You don't get out of this family."
On what he conveyed to his understudy about his chances of performing: "He's a buddy of mine, a third generation cowboy who hosts the pre-show. And he's wonderful at that. But I told him from the beginning of the tour, 'You're never going on. The only time you're going on, you know I'm dead.' And he's more than happy not to, he's not vying for this spot."
On the challenge of performing as many as eight shows over a three-day weekend: "It's not as strenuous as when I first started. When I started, it was like [singing] every other second. It was very traumatic. But because I'm older, I manage myself. I know when to push, I know when not to push. I know the situation coming in. My body actually understands the weather. I can sense if it's going to be dry, I need more water than usual."
On what P.T. Barnum would say if he could see this edition honoring him: "I think he'd really be proud. Because of the genius he was, I'm sure he'd come up with some other antics. Geniuses are never satisfied."
Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's "Barnum's FUNundrum"
Thursday though Feb. 21 at Philips Arena, Feb. 24 to 27 at Gwinnett Arena. Philips show times: 7:30 Thursday; 10:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Feb. 19; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Feb. 20; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. Feb. 21. Gwinnett: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24; 10:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Feb. 26; noon, 4 p.m. Feb. 27. Tickets, $14-$35, available via www.ringling.com, ticketmaster.com or the arena box offices ($35 tickets, Philips only), with limited VIP seats at higher prices.
"Barnum's FUNundrum"features 130 performers from six continents, including:
Trapeze artists the Flying Caceres. "They may even attempt a quadruple somersault, which has only been done three times in our history," ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson said.
Mongolian weightlifter Mighty Meetal. "The world's strongest man," Iverson claimed, "is going to attempt to bench-press half a ton of weight."
Trupe Fantasy, a Romanian acrobatic teeterboard act assembled by tough guy Marius Oraca. "I don't want to be caught with this guy in an alley," the ringmaster said.
Nano, a Capoeira artist from Brazil. "An extraordinary athlete," Iverson said of the small person. "You can't believe the energy of this guy."
Barnum Bouncers, a Chinese trampoline troupe from the city of Puyang, known as "the Land of Acrobatics."
Motorcycle daredevils the Torres Family from Paraguay, who attempt to crisscross on seven motorcycles at 70 miles an hour inside a 16-foot sphere known as the Globe of Steel.
100,000 pounds of pachyderms.
