Circus thrills kids - and kids at heart
Children ride elephants during intermission at the circus. / News-Leader file photo
Written byKatie Tonarely
FOR THE NEWS-LEADER
Mar. 7, 2012
Starting tonight and continuing through March 18, the Greatest Show on Earth comes to downtown Springfield with the return of the annual Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Circus. “The circus takes you to a different place where you can have a wonderful time,” says Tom Morris, administrator of Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque.
The 1903 building first hosted the circus in the 1930s, Morris says, and Carden Entertainment has been wowing audiences since 1963.Old favorites, new thrillersThough a time-tested favorite show, the Carden Circus also features a new tiger act for 2012. Daniel Raffo will present the Dynamic Royal Bengal tigers. Morris is sure the act will wow audiences. To get the tigers into the building before the circus, a crane will be used to lower them into the Shrine Mosque. “It’ll be a neat deal to watch,” Morris says.Along with the new tiger act, Springfield favorites will return, too. Morris’ favorite? The Arias Family’s fast-moving poodle. “That’s a really tremendous act,” he says. “It’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.” The fast-moving poodle dresses in an elephant costume and looks like a miniature elephant. The crowd, especially kids, goes wild when they see it’s a poodle inside the costume. “Maybe I’m a kid at heart, but that’s my favorite,” he says.
What would a circus be without tigers? This year’s Shrine Circus will feature a new tiger act.
Making it a family affairKids enjoy other aspects of the circus, too. Springfield mom Katie Maiden took her three young children to last year’s circus, and for them, the trapeze and the wheel of steel were the big hits. “I found it nerve-racking,” she says, “but the kids were amazed and in awe.”Morris agrees that the circus caters to children. “When you hear the excitement of the kids, it really makes you feel good that you’re doing something,” he says. Also, the performers are trained to cater to children and interact with them. “They get a response.”Entertainment for the greater goodIn addition to seeing daring feats, $2 of the ticket money will go to Shriners Hospitals on the Shrine Hospital Nights at the Circus. These shows will be tonight and next Monday-Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are only $8 on the Shrine Hospital Nights at the Circus. These special tickets can be purchased at Fast and Friendly convenience stores.“I would recommend the show,” Maiden says. “It was easily two and half hours, and we got our money’s worth in entertainment and excitement.”
The 1903 building first hosted the circus in the 1930s, Morris says, and Carden Entertainment has been wowing audiences since 1963.Old favorites, new thrillersThough a time-tested favorite show, the Carden Circus also features a new tiger act for 2012. Daniel Raffo will present the Dynamic Royal Bengal tigers. Morris is sure the act will wow audiences. To get the tigers into the building before the circus, a crane will be used to lower them into the Shrine Mosque. “It’ll be a neat deal to watch,” Morris says.Along with the new tiger act, Springfield favorites will return, too. Morris’ favorite? The Arias Family’s fast-moving poodle. “That’s a really tremendous act,” he says. “It’s the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.” The fast-moving poodle dresses in an elephant costume and looks like a miniature elephant. The crowd, especially kids, goes wild when they see it’s a poodle inside the costume. “Maybe I’m a kid at heart, but that’s my favorite,” he says.
What would a circus be without tigers? This year’s Shrine Circus will feature a new tiger act.
Making it a family affairKids enjoy other aspects of the circus, too. Springfield mom Katie Maiden took her three young children to last year’s circus, and for them, the trapeze and the wheel of steel were the big hits. “I found it nerve-racking,” she says, “but the kids were amazed and in awe.”Morris agrees that the circus caters to children. “When you hear the excitement of the kids, it really makes you feel good that you’re doing something,” he says. Also, the performers are trained to cater to children and interact with them. “They get a response.”Entertainment for the greater goodIn addition to seeing daring feats, $2 of the ticket money will go to Shriners Hospitals on the Shrine Hospital Nights at the Circus. These shows will be tonight and next Monday-Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are only $8 on the Shrine Hospital Nights at the Circus. These special tickets can be purchased at Fast and Friendly convenience stores.“I would recommend the show,” Maiden says. “It was easily two and half hours, and we got our money’s worth in entertainment and excitement.”
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